Introducing Kidnapped
Of one thing, there can be no doubt: the 1880s was a decennium mirabilis for Scottish novelist, poet, and story writer Robert Louis Stevenson. In 1883, he released his genre-defining high seas adventure novel, Treasure Island. In 1885, he delivered a lovely and lasting collection of poetry: A Child&#8217;s Garden of Verse; and in 1886, he delivered two of the most popular works of English fiction: the harrowing and at nail-biting, The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde, and the breathtaking and rollicking, Kidnapped. 
Kidnapped follows the journey of young David Balfour as he tries to reclaim his rightful inheritance and clear his family name after being kidnapped by his uncle. Along the way, he meets the charming but unpredictable Alan Breck Stewart, a Jacobite rebel on the run. The two form a close bond as they travel through the rugged and romantic Scottish Highlands.
One of the strengths of Kidnapped is Stevenson&#8217;s vivid and detailed depiction of the Scottish landscape, which he brings to life with his evocative descriptions of the mountains, moors, and lochs. His characters are also well-developed and believable, and the relationship between David and Alan is particularly well-done. The plot is fast-paced and full of subversions, zig-zags, and suprises, and the richly-evinced historical flavor adds a delicious layer of depth and interest to the story.
Overall, Kidnapped is a thrilling and enjoyable read, back in an age when a magnificent generalist writer like Stevenson could freely write genre fiction, or whatever came into his fancy. Today&#8217;s genre fiction, in contradistinction, appears to be a realm and discipline consigned solely for specialists, and their is often a paucity of wisdom and intellectual depth, at which, by contrast, Stevenson&#8217;s work excels. It is a testament to Stevenson&#8217;s skill as a storytelling raconteur and his ability to transport readers to another time and place that this book continues to be read and adapted, well over a century since the author&#8217;s death.
Happy Reading!
-Allen Guy Wilcox