Buy used:
$6.45
FREE delivery May 16 - 17. Details
Or fastest delivery May 10 - 14. Details
Used: Good | Details
Sold by ThriftBooks-Seattle
Condition: Used: Good
Comment: Pages can have notes/highlighting. Spine may show signs of wear. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less
Access codes and supplements are not guaranteed with used items.
Amazon book clubs early access
Loading your book clubs
There was a problem loading your book clubs. Please try again.
Not in a club? Learn more
Amazon book clubs early access

Join or create book clubs

Choose books together

Track your books
Bring your club to Amazon Book Clubs, start a new book club and invite your friends to join, or find a club that’s right for you for free.
Explore Amazon Book Clubs
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Follow the authors

John Grant
+ Follow
Robert Louis Stevenson
+ Follow
See all
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

Kidnapped (movie tie-in): Tie In Edition (Penguin Classics) Paperback – August 30, 2005

by Robert Louis Stevenson (Author), Donald McFarlan (Editor)
4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 4,092 ratings
See all formats and editions

Set against the aftermath of the 1745 Jacobite Rebellion, the gripping drama of Kidnapped—originally published in 1886—takes readers to the danger and intrigue of a Scotland sundered by revolution. The story is told by David Balfour, a young Whig and Lowlander whose odyssey is a microcosm of the struggles besetting his country. Tricked by a miserly uncle, he survives attempted murder, kidnap, and shipwreck, only to escape through the Highlands in the company of Alan Breck—a Jacobite adamantly opposed to Whigs like Balfour. Running for their lives, the two fugitives must rely on each other even as the ancient misunderstandings between them force tensions to the breaking point. A riveting page-turner and work of social commentary, Kidnapped is one of Robert Louis Stevenson’s greatest works.

  • Includes an introduction that explores the social and political background to the novel, notes, and a glossary
Read more Read less
Previous page
  1. Print length
    272 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Penguin Classics
  4. Publication date
    August 30, 2005
  5. Reading age
    18 years and up
  6. Dimensions
    5.1 x 0.51 x 7.74 inches
  7. ISBN-10
    0143039407
  8. ISBN-13
    978-0143039402
  9. See all details
Next page
The Amazon Book Review
The Amazon Book Review
Book recommendations, author interviews, editors' picks, and more. Read it now.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Donald McFarlan, a Glasgow native, has worked in publishing and is the author of The Guinness Book of Why?.


Donald McFarlan, a Glasgow native, has worked in publishing and is the author of The Guinness Book of Why?.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Penguin Classics; Reissue edition (August 30, 2005)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 272 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0143039407
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0143039402
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 18 years and up
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 7.2 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.1 x 0.51 x 7.74 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 4,092 ratings

About the authors

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Previous page
  1. John Grant

    John Grant

    Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
    Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

    Discover more of the author’s books, see similar authors, read author blogs and more

    See more on the author's page
  2. Robert Louis Stevenson

    Robert Louis Stevenson

    Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
    Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

    Discover more of the author’s books, see similar authors, read author blogs and more

    See more on the author's page
Next page

Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
4.2 out of 5
4,092 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

T. S.
5.0 out of 5 stars Classic historical fiction by R.L. Stevenson
Reviewed in the United States on August 24, 2009
Verified Purchase
Originally written as a boy's adventure novel, modern readers will probably consider it more a book for adults. My father gave it to me when I was eight, after I'd read _Treasure Island_, and I disliked it then immensely, put off by the lack of plot movement, the Scots dialect, and the total absence of pirates. Re-reading it now on the Kindle, I admit it's a lot more enjoyable, partly because the Kindle's dictionary helps translate some of the Scots dialect, partly because I'm a more mature reader.

The plot is fairly straightforward (skip this paragraph if you want to avoid spoilers): Our Hero, David Balfour, is tricked out of his rightful inheritance by an evil uncle, shanghaied, shipwrecked, partnered with a historical figure (one Alan Breck Stewart) and caught up in the events of an unsolved historical mystery (the "Appin Murder"). The body of the novel is a day-by-day description of their flight through the Scottish highlands, on the run from the Redcoat troops searching them out.

Overall, the novel succeeds in creating some degree of tension and suspense, especially in the first half or so, with some classic melodrama elements. The latter half of the novel drags a bit, though, and would probably be less appealing to younger readers and more enjoyable for readers more interested in Stevenson's prose style. There is a great deal of Scots dialect, but the most obscure words are footnoted and some (but not all) of the less-obscure words are in the Kindle's dictionary.

Overall, I'd recommend this highly to a fan of books like Sir Walter Scott's _Waverly_ or _Rob Roy_, or to anyone who had a particular love of historical fiction set in the 18th-century scottish highlands.

There is a sequel, written by Stevenson, with the alternate titles of _David Balfour_ and _Catriona_. Those wishing more information about the "Appin Murder" can find a chapter discussing it in Andrew Lang's "Historical Mysteries" (also available as a free Kindle download).
90 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Elizabeth Tobias
4.0 out of 5 stars nice enough version
Reviewed in the United States on November 26, 2012
Verified Purchase
comment on the free Kindle version:

As with any Kindle book, there are always a few typos - here there are very few, a pleasant surprise despite the frequent archaic words/Scots dialect. The formatting is occasionally off - with a paragraph break in the middle of the paragraph, infrequently, but enough to be annoying.

Several 1-star comments seem to revolve primarily around the language. Written in 1886, and purporting to be about events in 1751 in Scotland, Stevenson obviously selected language that is both Scots-English and, to 21st-century eyes, extremely archaic language. I think the Scots dialect is likely a larger hurdle, since it is often not in modern dictionaries. Quite a bit of it is not in the Kindle-dictionary.

It is the story of a young man David Balfour confronting the possibility that he is, in fact, heir to an estate of significant value. His uncle, not wishing to give up his ill-gotten gains, arranges for the young man to be kidnapped and shipped to the American colonies as slave labor. Saved by both a Scotsman and a shipwreck on the Scottish coast, 'Kidnapped' follows Balfour's adventures and trials of returning home to recover his estate. The Scot, being a Jacobite outlaw, seeks to return to France. He assists Balfour's efforts with his native knowledge and contacts; and a friendship develops. It is a nice picture of the trials and tribulations a friendship can survive through differences in politics and personal goals.

And, as mentioned, much of the language is used with old-fashioned or even archaic meanings. e.g. 'nice' meant 'exact', rather than 'pleasant'. If this is offered to students or as a sample of Victorian literature, a list of commonly used words and their modern equivalents/meanings should be included, e.g. braw, nae, fine.
8 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Of course it is a classic
Reviewed in the United States on January 1, 2024
Verified Purchase
I’m reading some of the old classics and am learning why they are regarded as such. This is a wonderful story!
Helpful
 Report
David Swan
3.0 out of 5 stars Not the Story I was Expecting
Reviewed in the United States on December 4, 2014
Verified Purchase
I always like to read books about the ocean when I go on vacation near the ocean. In previous trips I’ve read Treasure Island, Robinson Crusoe and Mutiny on the Bounty so this time I chose Kidnapped. The cover of my book features two men on the deck of the ship facing off, one with a sword and the other a pistol. I also thought I’d heard that kidnapped took place on the open seas but sadly I was mistaken. Our main protagonist, David Balfour, does spend a few chapters on a ship but most of the time is spent running around Scotland. Putting aside my disappointed expectations is it a great read? Well, I won’t deny that Robert Louis Stevenson is a great writer and it’s a well-crafted book but it just did not enthrall me. If I were to rank Kidnapped with the other three books I mentioned it would come in last.

Following the death of his father David Balfour is sent to his uncles house where he begins to suspect something isn’t right. His uncle has a terrible reputation and it appears he may have attempted to kill David. David also discovers that his father might have been older than his uncle which is contrary to what he had always been led to believe. For reasons David had yet to discover his Uncle hired an unscrupulous ship’s Captain to Kidnap David and sail him to America where he would work on a plantation. Things go awry and the boat shipwrecks off the coast of Scotland where David Belfour and the real life Alan Breck Stewart try to escape capture for a murder they didn’t commit.

Kidnapped is very loosely based on the real life Appin Murder and many of the characters are real people. David Balfour is created for this book but may have been based on the kidnapping of a boy named James Annesley. My biggest issue was that I found most of the book dull and repetitive. I simply could not get into the story. There is a lot of Scottish accents that are sometimes difficult to read and I found myself zoning out. Other people have clearly gotten more enjoyment out of Kidnapped than myself because it’s considered a classic but for me one read through was more than enough.
One person found this helpful
Helpful
 Report

Top reviews from other countries

Translate all reviews to English
govind pandey
5.0 out of 5 stars Finished it in one read!
Reviewed in India on February 17, 2021
Verified Purchase
The delivery was on time and the book was is good condition.
The binding of the book was really good.
the content of the book was really interesting and fun to read.
2 people found this helpful
 Report
ACS
4.0 out of 5 stars un racconto di piacevole lettura.
Reviewed in Italy on August 28, 2020
Verified Purchase
un racconto di piacevole lettura.
Report
C
5.0 out of 5 stars This is a compelling & exciting adventure. A really good read.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 24, 2020
Verified Purchase
I love this book. I remember the story from the 1970's TV mini-series, which I loved in my youth. But I rediscovered it recently when I found it on the BBC Sounds Audio Books section where the reader Kenny Blyth was outstanding and brought the adventure alive through his love of the old-Scots language. But the book has even more to offer, as your own imagination creates the dramatic scenes, such as the cruel uncle, the sword fight, the shipwreck, the running for dear life, the lochs, the bonny becks and mountains, and all the interesting characters along the way. This rip roaring adventure is more than just a children's story, for the Scottish dialect and language in Robert Louis Stevenson's hands is beautiful. The bond of brotherhood in adversity between David Balfour and Alan Brek brings a tear to your eyes. Its a really good adventure, and, its based around true events in Scottish/English history, so you learn something too. Give it a ride. You won't be disappointed.
5 people found this helpful
 Report
Françoise Mouriaux
5.0 out of 5 stars Seul au Monde...
Reviewed in France on February 17, 2018
Verified Purchase
Dans ce récit de son séjours aux Hébrides au Nord de l'Ecosse, Stevenson retrouve le bonheur de la solitude dans une Nature toujours belle et brute à la fois!
Report
Tania M C Lewis
5.0 out of 5 stars exciting and ageless
Reviewed in Australia on August 23, 2022
Verified Purchase
I came to this with very little foreknowledge and left with a desire to learn more about Scottish history. Stiring stuff, with skulduggery, derring-do and characters never to be forgotten. I did feel that the story lagged a little in the middle, with wandering reminiscent of the Jews in the wilderness. However, I was deeply moved with David’s plight when he found himself marooned. I enjoyed reading the Scots accented dialogue which gave it an air of mystery as well as antiquity. A great read.
One person found this helpful
 Report