Kidnapped

Kidnapped, being Memoirs of the Adventures of David Balfour in the Year 1751

Authored by Robert Louis Stevenson, Kidnapped is available now in the digital e-book PDF format.

About the Author

Robert Louis Stevenson (1850–1894) was a Scottish novelist, poet, essayist, and travel writer. He spent the last part of his life in the Samoan islands. His best-known books include Treasure Island, Kidnapped, The Master of Ballantrae, and Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.

About the book

Kidnapped is a finely honed, stirring adventure about the orphan David Balfour. Tricked by his villainous uncle who has stolen his inheritance after his father’s death, young David was kidnapped and bound for America, or, at least that was the plan, until the ship ran into trouble.

David was rescued by Alan Breck Stewart, a fugitive Jacobite and, by his own admission, a ‘bonny fighter’. A strange and difficult friendship was born, as their adventures begin. Both travelled the entirety of the Scottish Highlands, hiding in the rocks and heather from rival clans and the British Army. Being a canny lowlander, David finds an echo of some wilder and more romantic self in the wilful and courageous Highland spirit of Alan Breck.

Set in 18th century Scotland during the Jacobite period, Robert Louis Stevenson penned a fictional character and a real historical figure intertwining them together to fill in the gaps to what could have really happened during the Appin Murder of 1752, and where one of the suspects of the murder could have eluded off to when trying to escape the wrongful blame of events. It was believed that David's companion was that real historical figure connected to a mysterious murder that really happened in Scotland in 1752.

Kidnapped is a cracking tale of low skulduggery and high adventure. The author’s vivid descriptive powers were never better than in his account of remote places and dangerous action in the Highlands. Readers were led to romp through Jacobite Scotland in this true classic historical romance piece. It is also justly famous as a novel of travel and adventure in the Scottish landscape.

Generations of readers were enthralled since its first publication in 1886. This is a book for thrill-seekers of all ages, with character lessons abound, especially from young David.

Enjoy!