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Kidnapped
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Kidnapped Hardcover - 2009

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

Kidnapped is the classic story of David Balfour. Left in poverty when his father dies, David goes to his uncle, but finds himself kidnapped on board a ship. David manages to escape, but is accused of murder and hunted down across the Scottish moors.

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 Hardcover
  • Edition Abridged edition
  • Pages 3
  • Volumes 1
  • Language ENG
  • Publisher Puffin Audio
  • Date 2009
  • Abridged Yes
  • ISBN 9780141328386 / 014132838X
  • Ages 08 to 11 years
  • Grade levels 3 - 6
  • Reading level 780
  • Dewey Decimal Code FIC

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