Kidnapped: The Adventures of David Balfour (The World's Best Reading)

By Robert Louis Stevenson, Steven Crossley, Louis Rhead, et al.

Book Overview

Unsure of his place in the world, David Balfour, a poor orphan, sets out to find his destiny. Upon learning that he is part of the prestigious Balfour family of the Shaws, he seeks out his kin. He... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0895772329
• ISBN13: 9780895772329
• Release Date: January 1986
• Publisher: The Readers Digest Association, Inc.
• Length: 222 Pages
• Weight: 1.22 lbs.

Customer Reviews

This is a CHILDREN’S EDITION!

There was no clear indication that this is a children’s edition when I ordered it. It was advertised as “Kidnapped” by Robert Louis Stevenson when I ordered it. I thought I was buying the original version. Not only that, but the cover of the book is incorrect. It has the cover for the Three Musketeers NOT Kidnapped which should’ve been clearly advertised as well. I realize now, if I go to the very bottom of the page to the description it states that it is a “retelling”, but there is not always a description on every book and even when there is, it’s not always a correct description. I am very upset. they should have made it clear that this is not the original. EDIT: Now it is clearly advertised, but it most certainly was NOT when I ordered it. I had even triple checked to ensure I was buying the correct book.

Wonderful!

I don't have to review this classic story, but just the illustrations, which are totally wonderful! I almost always buy a particular children's book by its illustrations, and the ones in this book are fantastic!

High adventure and edge of your seat suspense...

I find that Mr. Stevenson is a very talented writer because his story was described excellently and the suspense seemed very real.Kidnapped is the story of a young man's adventures. This particular young man was named David Balfour. After his parents passed away David set off in search of his rich uncle, to find himself a new home. Little did he know that on his arrival that his uncle would try to chase him away with a gun, and would be the most miserly person David had ever met. For fear of having to feed David, the uncle had him kidnapped aboard a ship that would take him to America to work on the plantations. Due to an unexpected change in the weather, however, the ship was wrecked on the coast of Scotland, and there the adventure began.On the back of the novel it says that this book has been enjoyed by generations and shall be enjoyed for generations to come. When I chose to read this novel I wasn't sure if that statement would be true. I was pleasantly surprised. I really enjoyed the story, I found it to be well written and exciting. I looked forward to the end because I was curious to see what would happen. I'd say any book that is good enough to be deemed a classic has an importance all it's own. I have not read many classics but I find this book important because it holds a lot of information pertaining to the history and culture of Scotland and it's people. In other words, this is a great story, read it!

On "Kidnapped"

"Kidnapped" is the second of Stevenson's two most famous adventure novels, the other being "Treasure Island." The novel is not only a marvelous tale of adventure, friendship and suspense, but is also an exploration of the eighteenth-century Scottish culture. Through brilliant use of dialect and faithful imitation of the Scottish Highlanders, Stevenson conveys to us the life of the Highland rogue during that period. Also, the book can be viewed as a story of a sixteen-year-old's passage to manhood, achieved through risk-taking, friendships and bravery. An essential read.