Kidnapped

What Is Kidnapped About?

After his father's death, young David Balfour travels to claim his inheritance from his uncle Ebenezer — who promptly tries to kill him and then has him kidnapped aboard a ship bound for the American colonies.

On the ship, David befriends Alan Breck Stewart, a Jacobite rebel: brave, proud, vain, and fiercely loyal. When the ship wrecks off the Scottish coast, David and Alan must journey together through the Highlands, evading government soldiers and navigating clan politics.

The novel is both a gripping adventure and a study in friendship between two very different men — the cautious, honest Lowlander and the flamboyant, honor-bound Highlander.

Why It Still Matters

• Friendship across difference — David and Alan disagree about everything — politics, religion, temperament — but their loyalty to each other is absolute.
• Courage and integrity under pressure — David must navigate a world of treachery while maintaining his principles.
• History made vivid — The aftermath of the Jacobite rebellion comes alive through personal stakes and real danger.

Why Classical Schools Teach It

Kidnapped combines adventure with historical education, making it ideal for the logic stage. At Saints Classical Academy, students read it alongside British history, understanding how fiction illuminates the human dimension of political events.

Recommended Editions

• Penguin Classics — Scholarly edition with helpful notes on Scottish history.
• Oxford World's Classics — Thorough annotations and introduction.

Famous Quote

"I have a great mind to try what a few words of honest English can do."
— David Balfour