Kidnapped  (English, Paperback, unknown)

Kidnapped is a classical tale of adventure set against a historical backdrop.

Summary Of The Book

The political situation and events in eighteenth century Scotland form a perfect backdrop for the adventures of a naive seventeen year old boy who flees with a man accused of murder, through the Scottish Highlands.

In Kidnapped, David Balfour, at seventeen, loses his father. He had lost his mother some years before. Now orphaned, he is told he has relatives, in the House of Shaws in Cramond. by a family friend. He never knew he had any relatives other than his parents. He now sets out to find the House of Shaws.

He locates the house and sees his uncle. The House of Shaws and its master seem to suit each other, as they both seem old, dark, and somehow, evil. The house is falling apart and Uncle Ebenezer is a miser who exists on frugal meals,with no help around the house.

David soon begins to suspect that his father might have been the elder brother in which case the whole Balfour estate would be his by rights. After an accident in the dark house, he also begins to suspect that his uncle wants to get rid of him.

Meanwhile, Ebenezer Balfour arranges with an unscrupulous sea captain to have David kidnapped and sold as a slave in America. David finds himself on board the brig, Covenant.

The crew is a rough lot and things soon get out of hand as the first mate kills the cabin boy Ransome while in a drunken rage. David now takes Ransome's place and wonders what his fate is going to be. Meanwhile, the crew pick up a highlander named Alan Breck after the Covenant hits a boat killing everyone except for this man.

David discovers that the crew is plotting to kill Alan Breck for his money. The two form a team, surprise the rough crewmen and kill most of them, including the first mate. But the Covenant is wrecked and while escaping the sinking ship, David and Alan get separated.

After a few adventures and misadventures, they meet again and continue their journey together. Unfortunately, they get caught up in the Appin Murder incident. Accused of complicity in the crime, David Balfour and Alan Breck Stewart flee through the highlands, encountering many obstacles and dangers on the way.

Originally written as an adventure tale for young boys, this books is now considered a classic, a fast paced historical adventure that used real events, places and people to move along its plot.

About Robert Louis Stevenson

Robert Louis Stevenson was a Scottish novelist.

Other books by Stevenson - Treasure Island, and The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.

He wrote novels, short stories, poems and travelogues.

Robert Louis Stevenson was born in 1850 in Edinburgh, Scotland. He was descended from a family of engineers on his father’s side. His father, Thomas Stevenson, was himself a lighthouse engineer. But Robert Louis Stevenson was more inclined towards literature than towards building lighthouses, and his father gave in, on condition that he studied law, for some security.