Name: Kidnapped
Author: Robert Louis Stevenson
ISBN: 9780006913771

Kidnapped

Robert Louis Stevenson

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Author Description

Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson, 1886. Kidnapped is an historical fiction adventure novel by Scottish author Robert Louis Stevenson, written as a "boys' novel" and first published in the magazine Young Folks in 1886. The novel has attracted the praise and admiration of writers as diverse as Henry James, Jorge Luis Borges, and Hilary Mantel. Kidnapped/ is set around 18th-century Scottish events, notably the "Appin Murder", which occurred near Ballachulish in 1752 in the aftermath of the Jacobite rising of 1745. Many of the characters were real people, including one of the principals, Alan Breck Stewart. The political situation of the time is portrayed from multiple viewpoints, and the Scottish Highlanders are treated sympathetically. Robert Louis Stevension (1850-1894). Though the originality and power of Stevenson’s writings was recognised from the first by a select few, it was only slowly that he caught the ear of the general public. The tide may be said to have turned with the publication of Treasure Island in 1882, which at once gave him an assured place among the foremost imaginative writers of the day. His greatest power is, however, shown in those works which deal with Scotland in the 18th century, such as Kidnapped, and in those, e.g., The Child’s Garden of Verse which exhibit his extraordinary insight into the psychology of child-life. Stevenson’s style is singularly fascinating, graceful, various, subtle, and with a charm all its own.

Menrva's Summary

THE PULSE

After being betrayed by his uncle and sold into servitude, young David Balfour must navigate the treacherous political landscape of 18th-century Scotland to reclaim his rightful inheritance. Following his kidnapping and subsequent shipwreck, David finds himself thrust into the company of Alan Breck Stewart, a Jacobite fugitive. Together, they traverse the rugged Highlands, evading government soldiers while caught in the crossfire of post-Jacobite rising tensions. The narrative, presented through David’s first-person perspective, emphasizes the physical toll of the terrain and the shifting loyalties of a fractured nation.

INSIDE THE PAGES

First-person retrospective narration by the protagonist, David Balfour.
Integration of historical events, specifically the 1752 Appin Murder.
Portrayal of the cultural and political divide between the Scottish Highlands and Lowlands.
Dynamic character development through the evolving alliance between David and Alan Breck Stewart.
Use of authentic 18th-century Scottish dialect and period-specific vernacular.
Focus on themes of betrayal, identity, and the struggle for justice.
Vivid descriptions of the harsh, unforgiving Scottish wilderness.
Pacing driven by constant flight and the necessity of survival in a hostile environment.

THE COLLECTIVE ECHO

Kidnapped has long been held in high regard by literary critics and fellow authors for its narrative precision and atmospheric depth. Writers such as Henry James and Jorge Luis Borges have noted the work's structural integrity and its ability to capture the spirit of 18th-century Scotland. The novel is frequently cited for its sympathetic treatment of Highland culture and its successful blending of historical fact with high-stakes adventure. Modern readers continue to appreciate the interplay between the pragmatic David and the romantic, volatile Alan Breck Stewart. Its enduring status as a classic is cemented by its consistent ability to engage readers with its vivid prose and historical authenticity.

Page Count:
190

Publication Date:
1886-01-01

Publisher:
HarperCollins Publishers

ISBN-10:
0006913776

ISBN-13:
9780006913771

History

Adventure

Classics

Historical Fiction

Fiction

Coming of Age

Classics