Name: Kidnapped
Author: Robert Louis Stevenson
ISBN: 9780191655920

Kidnapped

Robert Louis Stevenson

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Author Description

'Your bed shall be the moorcock's, and your life shall be like the hunted deer's, and ye shall sleep with your hand upon your weapons.' Tricked out of his inheritance, shanghaied, shipwrecked off the west coast of Scotland, David Balfour finds himself fleeing for his life in the dangerous company of Jacobite outlaw and suspected assassin Alan Breck Stewart. Their unlikely friendship is put to the test as they dodge government troops across the Scottish Highlands. Set in the aftermath of the 1745 rebellion, Kidnapped transforms the Romantic historical novel into the modern thriller. Its heart-stopping scenes of cross-country pursuit, distilled to a pure intensity in Stevenson's prose, have become a staple of adventure stories from John Buchan to Alfred Hitchcock and Ian Fleming. Kidnapped remains as exhilarating today as when it was first published in 1886. This new edition is based on the 1895 text, incorporating Stevenson's last thoughts about the novel before his death. It includes Stevenson's 'Note to Kidnapped', reprinted for the first time since 1922. ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.

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 the Scottish Highlands to reclaim his birthright. David Balfour, an orphaned youth, finds his life upended when he is kidnapped and forced onto a ship bound for the Americas. Following a shipwreck, he forms an uneasy alliance with Alan Breck Stewart, a fugitive Jacobite soldier. Together, they traverse the rugged Scottish terrain while evading government forces, testing their loyalty and survival instincts in a world defined by clan tensions and political upheaval. The narrative is presented through a first-person perspective, grounding the reader in David's evolving worldview.

INSIDE THE PAGES

First-person retrospective narration
Historical setting following the 1745 Jacobite Rising
Focus on the contrast between lowland and highland cultural values
Pacing centered on physical pursuit and evasion
Development of an unlikely friendship between disparate characters
Detailed descriptions of the Scottish landscape as a narrative obstacle
Exploration of themes regarding inheritance and political loyalty
Use of Scots dialect to establish regional authenticity

THE COLLECTIVE ECHO

Readers and critics frequently highlight the novel's influence on the modern thriller genre, particularly regarding its pacing and tension. Discussion often centers on the dynamic relationship between the pragmatic David Balfour and the volatile Alan Breck Stewart, which serves as the emotional core of the narrative. Many observers note that the atmospheric depiction of the Scottish Highlands functions as a character in its own right, heightening the sense of peril. The balance between historical context and high-stakes adventure continues to generate interest among scholars and casual readers alike. The work is widely recognized for its ability to maintain narrative momentum through its focus on physical survival and moral ambiguity.

Page Count:
257

Publication Date:
2014-01-01

Publisher:
OUP Oxford

ISBN-10:
0191655929

ISBN-13:
9780191655920

Adventure

English & College Success

Historical

English

classic

Scottish literature

Coming of Age