Biggles Flies West by W. E. Johns was first serialized over 12 issues of The Modern Boy issues 490 to 501, from 26 June 1937 to 11 September 1937. The first instalment had the title Haunted Treasure while the rest were called Biggles' Treasure Island. The story first published in book form by Oxford University Press in 1937. There have been at least 18 editions altogether in the English language, with the most recent being the 1996 edition by Red Fox. The story was also included as part of The Biggles Flying Omnibus which was published in 1941 by OUP.
The story was also serialized (in French) in the French comic series Heroic from 1 Sep 1955-1 Mar 1956 under the title Biggles et le tresor des filibustiers, with illustrations by Raphael Marcello.
The story was adapted into comic form in French and published by Artima as the 5th and 6th issues of their Biggles small format comic series. The two-part story appeared in December 1963 and January 1964 under the titles Le tresor des flibustiers - 1 and Le tresor des flibustiers - 2.
Synopsis[]
If in later years, Biggles talks about his distaste for treasure hunts (see The Case of the Mandarin's Treasure Chest and Biggles at World's End among others), this was certainly not so in the 1930s. Here Biggles, Algy and Ginger meet Dick Denver, whose father, a sailor, has sent him a gold doubloon and a description of where more could be found. Biggles does not hesitate to go on a treasure hunt to the Caribbean, not knowing that the doubloon carries an ancient curse.
Plot[]
Note: The sections below contain spoilers. In particular, the plot subpage (click here) has an extended summary of the narrative in the book
Characters[]
- Biggles
- Algy Lacey
- Ginger Hebblethwaite
- Colonel Raymond - mention only
- Mrs Symes
- Dick Denver
- Jack Denver
- Joe Dawkin
- Deutch
- Sam Hankin
- Tom Allen
- Joe Stevens
- Charlie Bender
- Mallichore
- Timms
- Frisco Jack
- Harvey
- Pedro Martinez
- Captain Crocker
Characters from the 17th Century backstory[]
- Louis Dakeyne
- John Chandler
- Joseph Bawn
- Jamaica Joe
- Lorton
Historical figures mentioned[]
- Exquemelin
- Morgan
- Sir John Modyford
- Lord Arlington
- Bartholomew Roberts
- L'Ollonois
Aircraft[]
- Sikorsky amphibian
- Pan American flying boat
Ships[]
Places[]
Visited[]
- London
- Number 1, Bride's Alley, Wapping
- Biggles' flat in Mount Street
- New York
- Floyd Bennet Field
- Marabina
Mentioned[]
- Port Royal
- Providence - most probably Old Providence Island or Providencia
Research Notes[]
References to the past[]
Incongruities[]
- the dating of Bawn’s execution in 1689 is clearly a typographical error. Charles II died in 1685 and the “cabal cabinet” ceased to exist about 1674. By 1689 the Stuart kings were gone from England and Scotland and William of Orange and Mary were the joint sovereigns. A better date for Bawn’s execution would be 1669.
Chronology[]
Editions[]
International titles[]
- Czech: Biggles á zlaté dublony (Toužimský & Moravec 1940)
- Portuguese (Brazil): Biggles voa para o oeste (Ediçao da Livraria do Globo 1941)
- Portuguese (Brazil): Biggles voa para as Antilhas (Edições de Ouro 1976)
- Danish: Flyveren og Sørøverskatten (Gyldendal 1946)
- Swedish: Biggles flyger västerut (Bonniers 1947, Pojkarnas Flygbok 1953, Wahlströms 1974)
- French: Biggles et Le trésor des flibustiers (Presses de la Cité 1948)
- Norwegian: Biggles og sjørøverskatten (N.W. Damm & Søn 1948)
- Malay: Biggles lanun modem (Eastern Universities Press 1978)
- Sinhala: කාසියේ ශාපය - kasiye shapaya (Tharanga)