Kidnapped is an adventure novel by Scottish-born author Robert Louis Stevenson that was first published in 1886. Set in Scotland in the year 1751, it centers on the daring exploits of 17-year-old David Balfour, whose villainous uncle has him kidnapped to steal his inheritance. This conflict occurs against the backdrop of a larger struggle between Scotland’s Jacobite Highlanders and the Whig Lowlanders.

Summary

Read the detailed chapter-by-chapter Summary & Analysis or the Full Book Summary of Kidnapped.

Characters

See a complete list of the characters in Kidnapped and in-depth analyses of David Balfour, Alan Breck Stewart, and Ebenezer Balfour.

Literary Devices

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Quotes

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Deeper Study

Go further in your study of Kidnapped with background information about Robert Louis Stevenson and historical background on the events in the novel as well as mini essays on key topics.