Kidnapped: Being Memoirs of the Adventures of David Balfour in the Year 1751

Written by Robert Louis Stevenson

Narrated by B. J. Harrison

The attempt at murder failed. Risking everything to keep young David Balfour from his just inheritance, his wicked uncle has him kidnapped - condemning his nephew to seven long years of slavery in the Carolinas. However, on the way, David runs into one of the greatest characters in English Literature: Alan Breck Stuart. These two heroes band together, and before he knows it, David finds himself embroiled in political intrigues that chase him across the wild Scottish Highlands.

• Language: English
• Publisher: B.J. Harrison
• Release date: Jan 1, 2008
• ISBN: 9781937091286

Robert Louis Stevenson

Robert Louis Stevenson (1850-1894) was a Scottish poet, novelist, and travel writer. Born the son of a lighthouse engineer, Stevenson suffered from a lifelong lung ailment that forced him to travel constantly in search of warmer climates. Rather than follow his father’s footsteps, Stevenson pursued a love of literature and adventure that would inspire such works as Treasure Island (1883), Kidnapped (1886), Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde (1886), and Travels with a Donkey in the Cévennes (1879).

Reviews for Kidnapped

[tanya8dogearedcopy · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

KidnappedBy Robert Louis StevensonNarrated by Kieron ElliottⓅ 2015, Recorded Books9 hrs and 7 minsCLASSIC / ADVENTURESet in the seventeenth century, newly orphaned seventeen-year old David Balfour, discovers that he is of the wealthy House of Shaws and heads to Edinburgh to meet his relatives. Once in the city, however, he finds that his only extant relative is a squirrelly uncle who is clearly a threat to David’s own life. After a particularly close brush with death, David is tricked onboard a ship and whisked away on to a life of hardship and adventure including ship battles, ship wreck, mutiny, and running with outlaws. The story is everything you would want and expect for a tale of swashbuckling heroism, clever ruses, and breath taking scenes of danger! The only thing missing is a damsel in distress; but as a “boy’s tale” the lack of a romance isn’t surprising.Kieron Elliot is a “Scottish actor, host, voice over artist and comedian” who narrated this classic tale, slowly and carefully; and with a full-on Scottish brogue. There is the temptation to speed up the recording; but the special (nautical), archaic, and idiomatic language of the novel demands a more considered approach, especially to American listeners’ ears. However, as much of a sucker for a Scottish accent that you may be [Ahem, me], his deliberate pace and lack of narrative flow mark him as a novice audiobook narrator. Indeed, it appears that he has only narrated one other audiobook, a romance for Harper Audio under the name Kieran Elliott, 'To Marry A Scottish Laird' (by Lyndsey Sands). Still, I would have liked to have heard more from this narrator. There is the sense that once he “gets” narration as an admixture of voice over and performance, he would be a top tier narrator.OTHER: I received a CD Library edition of Kidnapped (by Robert Louis Stevenson; narrated by Kieron Elliott) from Recorded Books in exchange for review. I receive no monies, goods (beyond the audiobook) or services in exchange for reviewing the product and/or mentioning any of the persons or companies that are or may be implied in this post.

[eadieb-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Book Description
Spirited, romantic, and full of danger, Kidnapped is Robert Louis Stevenson's classic of high adventure. Beloved by generations, it is the saga of David Balfour, a young heir whose greedy uncle connives to do him out of his inherited fortune and plots to have him seized and sold into slavery. But honor, loyalty, and courage are rewarded; the orphan and castaway survives kidnapping and shipwreck, is rescued by a daredevil of a rogue, and makes a thrilling escape to freedom.

My Review
I love Robert Louis Stevenson's writing and Kidnapped, I believe, is his best book. He gives us the character of David Balfour who you can't help but wish that things would go his way and he would come into his inheritance. It is set in the 18th century Scottish highlands and I would recommend this book to anyone who loves historical fiction.

[kale.dyer · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A young man is dispossessed by his 'evil' uncle and has many challenges on his way back to reclaiming his inheritance. Despite the unrealistic story line the hardships of young David Balfour are portrayed realistically.

[wisewoman_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

It's always fun to revisit childhood favorites. Robert Louis Stevenson's classic adventure story Kidnapped held two distinct memories for me—David's terrible climb in the dark up the stairs (which somehow seemed much longer and more tortuous to my younger self), and the hideout on the top of the rock, right above the heads of a whole troop of soldiers (so clever!). To get a start in life, recently orphaned David Balfour must make his way to his uncle Ebenezer, but miserly Ebenezer Balfour has a secret to guard. He arranges for David to be kidnapped aboard the Covenant, where the young man has little hope of rescue until a rich stranger is picked up from a shipwreck. Overhearing the captain's plans to ambush and rob Alan Breck, David assists the little Highlander in defending the ship's cabin and winning free. Then follows a wild adventure through the heather, as David must flee or be caught up in a Highland feud. And behind it all is the mystery of why Uncle Ebenezer would go to such lengths to rid himself of an unwelcome nephew.Stevenson's gift for writing believable characters never shows to better advantage than in his depiction of Alan Breck. Despite his diminutive stature, Alan towers large in both vanity and open-hearted friendship. Generous and brave but possessing a quick temper and a weakness for gambling, Alan becomes David's constant companion and guide through the physically and politically treacherous Highlands. I appreciated the realism of their friendship, quarrels and all. It was fascinating to read this directly after finishing Rob Roy, which was apparently Stevenson's favorite of Sir Walter Scott's historical novels. I can see the influence. Stevenson dials the Scots back a bit (thank heavens) but still manages to give his dialogue a little Highland flavor. It was also interesting to note the passing mention of the estate Rest-and-Be-Thankful, which is the setting of Elizabeth Marie Pope's novel The Sherwood Ring. Actually, reading Kidnapped and Rob Roy so close together gave me several insights on Pope's story, which takes elements of both novels (notably the villainous uncle and the Robin Hood-like outlaw characters) and reworks them into a fully satisfying tale in its own right. Young readers can't do much better than to read Stevenson, and I look forward to reading his novels to my son when he's old enough. Recommended!

[judygibson-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I really enjoyed becoming acquainted with the Scottish dialect in this book, lots of fun with an unfamiliar branch of English. I was helped by the glosses in the Project Gutenberg version, and the dictionary built into my e-reader had definitions of a surprising percentage of the words. The story itself was not too intriguing, a fairly pedestrian (well, they WERE on foot the whole way) adventure tale but it kept my interest throughout.

[laytonwoman3rd · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I read this for the first time in 2017, as a retired old lady. I had a pretty good time with it, but it was clearly not written with me in mind. The copy of the book I read from was a very nice edition, with color plates of illustrations by N. C. Wyeth. I should have been very familiar with the story, as my daughter loved it when she was a kid and watched the movie multiple times. But all I could have told you before picking this up was that David Balfour was done wrong by some relative to keep him from inheriting an estate in Scotland. The details were all new to me. It was fun to see him triumph over treachery, greed, shipwreck, hunger and a bit of temptation. Some of the scenes are just priceless, but there are many holes in the story that I'm sure young readers of even a century ago would not have minded or noticed. Suspension of disbelief came a little hard for me, and I wasn't quite enamored enough of the characters to set that aside and revel in the story. Still, I wasn't tempted to quit, and I'm glad to have this one in my mental database now.

[aliceanna-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I liked it but not as much as I thought I would. Honestly, the main problem for me was how long Alan and David were on the run. Chapter after chapter after chapter after chapter of running through bogs and over mountains and through rocky terrain in extreme weather. Instead of being suspenseful, I just found it tedious. I really enjoyed the rest of it, particularly the character of Alan.

[soylentgreen23 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Kidnapped - the classic adventure story. What is there left to say about this beloved tale? The story flows easily, but it is the characters that really stick in the mind. Alan Breck, hotheaded and proud; our naive narrator who must learn the ways of the world; and a collection of other side characters who each comes across well and lingers in the memory long after the story has concluded.

[reader1009-863136 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

adventure fiction (at sea in the 19th century). Ralph Cosham's narration was impressive (scottish accent seemed excellent, irish accent maybe slightly less so, but I'm definitely not an expert on either). I keep falling asleep after 10 minutes or so of listening, but that's kind of the point.

[melorak-374565 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I loved it

[deltaqueen50 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson is a classic adventure story about David Balfour who is tricked by his miserly uncle in order to steal his inheritance. David finds himself spirited away upon a sailing ship bound for America. The plan is to sell David into slavery, but fugitive Jacobite, Alan Stewart is brought on board and comes to David’s rescue when the ship runs aground just off the east coast of Scotland. It is 1751 and Scotland is still feeling the effects of the bloody revolt against England that was doomed to failure. David is a Whig and supports England, and Alan, a Jacobite, is considered a traitor, yet these two form an alliance and journey across the Scottish highlands, escaping from Alan’s political enemies with the goal of outwitting David’s uncle and claiming his inheritance. They face many hardships together that tests their friendship but they remain loyal to each other. While Kidnapped isn’t quite as gripping as Treasure Island, it is still an excellent and stirring adventure story that has appealed to young readers for generations. As it was originally considered a boy’s story, the plot has been kept quite simple which left me rather detached from the story. However, it’s themes of loyalty and justice are as fresh today as they were when the book was first published.

[larryking1-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

After reading my boyhood favorite, Treasure Island, last month, I decided to extend the 'enjoyment factor' and return to another RL Stevenson classic, Kidnapped. It was time well spent! This is, pure and simple, a boy's adventure story set in the Scotland of 1751. It has shipwrecks, evil uncles, kidnappings, pursuits, sword fights, soldiers, treachery, grifters, and even a 'bonnie lass.' (I would have liked a Dinosaur on its pages, or at least an Ichthyosaur like Nessie from Loch Ness, but one cannot have everything, or as they would say in Scotland, the story's locale, ye cannae have ither thin.') Some years ago, I drove the carefree and beautiful roadway from Glasgow over the Highlands, through Fort William, to the Isle of Skye. Little did I realize then that my route was somewhat the reverse of our hero, David Balfour's, the very one he 'fought' his way home, back to safety in the south, with the dashing Highlander, Alan Breck Stewart. There was a time when critics dubbed Kidnapped a work of 'romance,' but as many of its characters were historical figures, I see this book as another historical novel, and a rousing one at that!

[amerynth · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I think Robert Louis Stevenson's novel "Kidnapped" suffers in comparison to "Treasure Island," which is much superior. Overall, it's an OK adventure type story, but I really didn't like it.The unfortunate David Balfour loses both his parents and is cheated by his uncle out of his fortune -- and kidnapped by sailors to boot. I really enjoyed the opening of the story and everything up to the shipwreck -- the running about the country parts got a bit too same old, same old by the end. Overall, this was a mediocre read for me... I didn't hate it, but had a sort of "meh" reaction to it.

[danielstj · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Disappointing and dated.

[cbl_tn · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

After his father's death in 1751, young David Balfour learns about an uncle he'd never heard of before. David is surprised to learn that he is the heir to an estate, but before he can get used to the idea, his uncle has him kidnapped on a ship headed for the American colonies. En route, he befriends Jacobite Alan Breck Stewart. Although the highland Catholic Alan and the lowland Protestant David make an unlikely pair, they share adventures including shipwreck and pursuit through the highlands. It's an entertaining tail of adventure, and it's worth reading just to get acquainted with David Balfour. I listened to the audio version and I found it difficult to understand the reader's accent and the somewhat archaic Scots dialect.

[rajivc_18 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I must say that, for once, I found a book a bit difficult to follow. He has written the book very well. No doubt about this. There is lots of local flavour when it comes to the language. However, I did not follow the plot as well as I usually do, and was a bit happy when the book finally ended!

[jeffome · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

St. Barts 2017 #7 - Famous Stevenson tale that i have heard about my entire life, and is usually the case, i cannot believe i have not ever read. So off on my vacation it came, and i read it at the same time as a friend. I certainly enjoyed the adventure, but the Scottish dialect language, even with the Stevenson-installed footnotes, and the very confusing political climate at the time of this story left me spinning more than i wanted. Scottish clan battles and English Kings obviously dominated daily lives at the time of this story, and having absolutely zero knowledge of the players and the motives, it was just a lot of distracting clutter to me. Our hero David Balfour does struggle mightily with many things not going his way, and tells this story with a certain charm and self-deprecating style that saves this for me. Lots of swashbuckling sea-faring excitement, some time spent on an island, & a healthy dose of eclectic characters challenge David as he struggles to survive his ordeal. I always thought of this as a children's book, but i think i was either wrong, or I am just way in over my head. Very glad that it is now on the pile of books i have read!

[tonifgmamtc · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This book is pretty much non-stop adventure. He's sent to live with his uncle who tries to cause him to have a fatal accident to keep him from his inheritance. When that doesn't work he tricks him on ship to be sold in slavery. His ship wrecks. He's marooned. He's continuously at the wrong place at the wrong time, getting caught up in a murder and other craziness. I'm interested enough that I'll read book 2 at some point.

[kristelh_15 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I found it simplistic and believe it's description as a boy's adventure novel fitting. It gives some good lessons for "coming of age" young people. I liked the Scottish dialogue, learning a bit of history and the description of the countryside to be an enjoyable part of the book.

[brakketh-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A young man is dispossessed by his 'evil' uncle and has many challenges on his way back to reclaiming his inheritance. Despite the unrealistic story line the hardships of young David Balfour are portrayed realistically.

[leslie398 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I enjoyed Michael Page's narration very much & his Scottish burr seemed spot on to these American ears. Betrayal, friendship and adventure in 1751 Scotland with some Jacobite politics in the background... What fun!

[hhornblower_3 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

It's been such a long time since I've read this. A ripping good yarn!

[mbmackay · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Written for teens. Has much more character development than Treasure Island and covers quite a bit of Jacobite history. Good stuff.Read in Samoa June 2004

[bookworm12_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Swashbuckling adventure set in Scotland, the author of Treasure Island revels in this wild story. It didn't really come alive for me until the shipwreck. Even then, it's not one that sucked me in with every page. An entertaining adventure story. I can see loving this one if I read it when I was young, but as an adult it didn't hold my attention as much.It fell into the same category as The Swiss Family Robinson, Treasure Island, A Journey to the Center of the Earth, all excellent stories. But I think I would've loved them more if I had read them when I was younger."To be feared of a thing and yet do it is what makes the prettiest kind of a man."

[themulhern · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

An awesome adventure and nothing trivial or cliche about it. It is really the first part of a two volume story; it ends abruptly in Edinburgh with only some things resolved and its sequel, Catriona, picks up the story of David Balfour about an hour later. It inspired some thrilling illustrations by N.C. Wyeth and has some very funny bits. David's internal musings are moving and amusing and Allan Breck is a right handful. There is no extreme of weather that poor David does not endure.

[abbottthomas · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Coming late to this adventure, I enjoyed reading it, even with the use of the Scots language (the free Kindle version has frequent footnotes translating the more unguessable words). The story is set in the year 1751, five years after the battle of Culloden which finally ended the Jacobite uprisings. Scotland is a divided nation and the old clan system is under threat. Highlanders are forbidden to carry arms and wearing the tartan is proscribed. The divisions between the clans are deep, particularly between those that have accepted Hanoverian rule and the Jacobite sympathisers.The book's hero, David Balfour, is a Lowland Scot. His parents both dead, he sets out to find his extended family. The book starts and ends with his search for his rightful inheritance but the bulk of the book is the story of an epic journey, first in an ill-fated brig around Scotland and then across the country on foot as a fugitive with a colourful Jacobite companion, Alan Breck Stewart. Stevenson takes a true event, the Appin murder, as the start of this. Colin Roy Campbell, the King's factor in the Western Highlands was shot and killed by an unknown sniper. Alan Stewart (an historical character) was blamed by many, probably wrongly, but never apprehended. In a major miscarriage of justice, James Stewart, a clan chief, was hanged as an aider and abetter. Kidnapped has David Balfour joining up with a fictionalised Alan Stewart and sharing his flight to safety.The first part of the book with the kidnap and the time at sea is exciting although, to be honest, the flight across the heather in the second part is fairly uneventful, focussing more on the variable relationship between David and Alan than any derring-do. The descriptions of the changing Highland weather and landscape are worth reading for the sense of atmosphere.This was regarded, like Treasure Island, as the equivalent of a YA book in my youth and it is interesting to read in Stevenson's dedication that he doesn't necessarily expect the dedicatee to enjoy it but he thinks his son might. I am glad I caught up with it.

[atimco-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

It's always fun to revisit childhood favorites. Robert Louis Stevenson's classic adventure story Kidnapped held two distinct memories for me—David's terrible climb in the dark up the stairs (which somehow seemed much longer and more tortuous to my younger self), and the hideout on the top of the rock, right above the heads of a whole troop of soldiers (so clever!). To get a start in life, recently orphaned David Balfour must make his way to his uncle Ebenezer, but miserly Ebenezer Balfour has a secret to guard. He arranges for David to be kidnapped aboard the Covenant, where the young man has little hope of rescue until a rich stranger is picked up from a shipwreck. Overhearing the captain's plans to ambush and rob Alan Breck, David assists the little Highlander in defending the ship's cabin and winning free. Then follows a wild adventure through the heather, as David must flee or be caught up in a Highland feud. And behind it all is the mystery of why Uncle Ebenezer would go to such lengths to rid himself of an unwelcome nephew.Stevenson's gift for writing believable characters never shows to better advantage than in his depiction of Alan Breck. Despite his diminutive stature, Alan towers large in both vanity and open-hearted friendship. Generous and brave but possessing a quick temper and a weakness for gambling, Alan becomes David's constant companion and guide through the physically and politically treacherous Highlands. I appreciated the realism of their friendship, quarrels and all. It was fascinating to read this directly after finishing Rob Roy, which was apparently Stevenson's favorite of Sir Walter Scott's historical novels. I can see the influence. Stevenson dials the Scots back a bit (thank heavens) but still manages to give his dialogue a little Highland flavor. It was also interesting to note the passing mention of the estate Rest-and-Be-Thankful, which is the setting of Elizabeth Marie Pope's novel The Sherwood Ring. Actually, reading Kidnapped and Rob Roy so close together gave me several insights on Pope's story, which takes elements of both novels (notably the villainous uncle and the Robin Hood-like outlaw characters) and reworks them into a fully satisfying tale in its own right. Young readers can't do much better than to read Stevenson, and I look forward to reading his novels to my son when he's old enough. Recommended!

[lisa.johnson.james · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Well, even though this is supposed to be a kids' book, it was pretty engaging even for this Mom. I loved the fact that in my 1948 edition anyway, that even though the author sometimes writes in dialect, he takes the time to do footnotes of unfamiliar Scottish words that he uses in his writing. Most of it is fairly easy to figure out, but I appreciated it.The story itself is of a young man of 17 who's father passes away & leaves him an orphan, since the mother passed years before. David gets instructions from Mr. Campbell, his father's laird, to go seek his uncle Ebenezer, since he is the last of the Balfour family. Uncle Ebenezer, like the other famous character by that name, is not a nice guy. He arranges to have his nephew shanghai'd by a boat crew, to be sold as a white slave in the Carolinas. Well, all manner of mishaps occur, & the boat never makes it because it's wrecked off the coast. David makes his way across Scotland with Alan, who's a bit of a bad guy himself, but, he takes care of David, & that's how that odd friendship develops. Eventually, David makes his way back...I won't give away the ending, you'll just have to read it for yourself

[fuzzi_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Forty plus years after reading "Treasure Island", I have finally completed my second book by Robert Louis Stevenson, "Kidnapped".Protagonist David Balfour is the heir to his uncle's estate, but his uncle doesn't want to share, so he arranges for his nephew to be taken to the Carolinas as a slave. Sometimes plans just don't follow through as we'd like, and David finds himself on the run, trying to survive long enough to get home and enact revenge.Good story, should be interesting and/or readable for youth and up.Note: I gave this book three stars: the story moved along nicely, although the Scottish words used throughout the text had me skipping to the glossary in the back of the book, a lot.

[stuart10er_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Two hundred page buildup for a four page payoff. Reminds me of a much shorter "Count of Monte Cristo". All setup for revenge. But with both writers, what a sweet payoff as we see Balfour's uncle get his due. Fantastic. I can read it fairly easily, but the dialect is beyond children now.