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Kidnapped Paperback - 1994

by Robert Louis Stevenson

About this book

Considered one of Robert Louis Stevensn's best works, Kidnapped is a historical fiction adventure novel, first published in Young Folks magazine from May to July 1886. The novel is considered a companion to Stevenson's Treasure Island. A Sequel, Catriona, was published in 1893.

The full title of the book is Kidnapped: Being Memoirs of the Adventures of David Balfour in the Year 1751: How he was Kidnapped and Cast away; his Sufferings in a Desert Isle; his Journey in the Wild Highlands; his acquaintance with Alan Breck Stewart and other notorious Highland Jacobites; with all that he Suffered at the hands of his Uncle, Ebenezer Balfour of Shaws, falsely so-called: Written by Himself and now set forth by Robert Louis Stevenson. 

The story is set around real 18th-century Scottish events, notably the "Appin murder", which occurred in the aftermath of the Jacobite rising of 1745. Many of the characters are real people, including one of the principals, Alan Breck Stewart. 

Robert Louis Stevenson is the author of Kidnapped and The Children's Garden of Verses as well as the adult book, The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. During his short life Stevenson travelled the world from the South Pacific to the USA, Europe to Australia. He died at the age of 44 years old on a small Samoan island in the Pacific. -

From the publisher

Set amidst the real world events which occurred following the Jacobite rising of 1745, Robert Louis Stevenson's 1886 novel "Kidnapped" is the story of David Balfour, who travels to meet his uncle and collect his inheritance following the death of his father. Betrayed by his Uncle, David finds himself kidnapped by Captain Hoseason of the brig "Covenant", who plans to sell him into slavery in the Carolina Colonies of America. However the ship is blown of course and driven back towards Scotland where in the fog it strikes a small vessel and brings aboard the Scottish soldier and Jacobite Alan Breck Stewart. With the help of Alan, David is able to escape his captors and soon finds himself in the middle of the struggle between the Scottish Highlanders and soldiers of the English government. Stranded in the Scottish wilderness David must fight for his life and return home to collect his rightful inheritance. Through the characters of Alan and David the conflict over Scottish independence from English rule is adventurously depicted. This edition is printed on premium acid-free paper.


First Edition Identification

London: Cassell & Company, Limited, 1886. First edition, first issue with "business" on p. 40, line 11, all additional required points, and the ads dated 5.G. 4.86 and 5.B. 4.86. Folding map printed in colours. 8vo, publisher’s original red cloth, the covers ruled in blind, the spine lettered in gilt. viii, 311, [17] ads pp.-

Details

  • Title Kidnapped
  • Author Robert Louis Stevenson
  • Binding Paperback
  • Pages 64
  • Volumes 1
  • Language ENG
  • Publisher Lake Publishing Company (CA)
  • Date 1994-06
  • ISBN 9781561034949 / 1561034940
  • Weight 0.19 lbs (0.09 kg)
  • Dimensions 7.82 x 5.18 x 0.24 in (19.86 x 13.16 x 0.61 cm)
  • Ages 08 to 11 years
  • Grade levels 3 - 6
  • Reading level 630
  • Dewey Decimal Code FIC

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