Kidnapped is a historical fiction adventure novel by Robert Louis Stevenson. It was marketed as a boys’ novel to the same audience as Treasure Island attracted. Kidnapped was serialized in the magazine Young Folks from May to July 1886. The hardcover novel was published later in 1886. It was acclaimed by Henry James as Robert Louis Stevenson’s best novel.
Narrated by 17-year-old David Balfour, the young lad is plunged into penniless peril on Page One! Balfour’s parents have recently died and he is given a letter by a family friend, a minister of Essendean named Mr. Campbell, to be delivered to his family’s ancestral estate, the House of Shaws in Cramond. Balfour hopes that the letter will allow him to obtain financial assistance from his only living relative – his uncle Ebenezer, a man he has never met.
Tricked by this wicked uncle who has stolen his inheritance, young David Balfour is then kidnapped and bound for danger in America. That plan blows up when the the ship, The Covenant, David Balfour is on runs into trouble. Fog-bound near the Hebrides, the ship strikes a small boat. All of the small boat’s crew are killed except one man, Alan Breck Stewart, who is brought on board and offers Captain Hoseason a large sum of money to drop him off on the mainland. Belfour later overhears the crew plotting to kill Stewart instead.
Belfour and Stewart barricade themselves in the roundhouse, where Stewart kills a murderous helmsman and Belfour wounds the Captain. Stewart then kills five more men and intimidates the remaining crew into surrender. The Covenant tries to negotiate a difficult channel without a proper chart or pilot and is soon driven aground on the notorious Torran Rocks. Belfour and Stewart are separated in the crash, with Belfour being washed ashore on the isle of Erraid, near Mull, while Stewart and the surviving crew row to safety on that same island.
Belfour and Stewart meet up and a strange and difficult friendship is results with Stewart committing to helping Belfour to gain his legitimate inheritance. Stewart, however, also seeks vengeance.
If you’re in the mood for High Adventure in the classic mode, give Kidnapped a try! GRADE: A
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I have always meant to read this but never have. I finally read Treasure Island for the first time several years ago and loved it.
Steve, I loved TREASURE ISLAND–both the book and the 1950 movie with Robert Newton as Long John Silver. Most critics find KIDNAPPED “more serious.”
I’ve not read it and if I saw a movie version I don’t remember it! How’s that for adding to the discussion?
Bob, I may include a copy of KIDNAPPED in the next OWLHOOT box, too! You’ll love it!
Appreciate it!
It’s funny, but I would have guessed that I read it, but reading the plot, clearly I haven’t. I must have watched one or more of the movie adaptations. They’ve starred such young actors as Freddie Bartholomew, Roddy McDowall, James (Danno) MacArthur as Balfour.
Jeff, KIDNAPPED has some political subplots but with enough adventures to keep the action moving.
I’ve read “Treasure Island” but somehow missed this one. I’ll look for a copy. I loved the Signet books as a kid and adolescent and it’s tragic to think that boys no longer read classic adventure stories and instead rot their brains on crap like manga. This is not an age bias. Manga is utter crap.
Byron, boys no longer read classic adventure novels because they are too busy playing games on their phones. I’m not a Manga fan, too.
I always regarded these as boys books and never read them. I am sure I read much lesser books than these.
Patti, there’s a female character in KIDNAPPED who plays a key role in the action.
A few years ago I picked up a Kindle version of The Complete Robert Louis Stevenson for a couple bucks (the Bybliotech version; they seem to have fewer typos than many of these giant collections). So far I’ve just (re)read Treasure Island. Not sure what to expect these many years later, I enjoyed it thoroughly. So Kidnapped is definitely on my radar.
Jeff, I loved TREASURE ISLAND when I read it as a kid. Later, I read Stevenson’s classic Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and found it disturbing. KIDNAPPED is somewhere in the middle.
I remember watching the 1960 Disney version with James MacArthur and loving it as a kid. Peter finch, Bernard Lee, Peter O’Toole (his first feature film)… Interestingly enough, the director and screenwriter was named ROBERT STEVENSON, who directed a pile of Disney films, including MARY POPPINS, OLD YELLER, JOHNNY TREMAIN, DARBY O’GILL AND THE LITTLE PEOPLE, THAT DARN CAT!, THE LOVE BUG, BEDKNOBS AND BROOMSTICKS, THE SHAGGY D.A>, and SON OF FLUBBER; his non-Disney films included KING SOLOMON’s MINES (1937), JANE EYRE (1943), and MACAO (1952). He also wrote the dialogue for the English Language version of Curt Siodmak’s turgid science fiction adventure F.P.1 DOESN’T ANSWER (1933).
You’ve got me chomping at the bit to actually read KIDNASPPED, George, and to revisit that Disney film.
Jerry, KIDNAPPED might be the perfect Summer Book for you! I know you’ll love it!
Champing at the bit, not chomping.
No, Cap’n; I’m tempted to gobble this one up.
KIDNAAPPED and a few other Stephenson works can justify their existence just by virtue of the N.C. Wyeth illustrations they inspired.
Dan, I love those N.C. Wyeth illustrations!