Play Audiobook Sample
Kidnapped Audiobook
Play Audiobook Sample
(3.00) - 21,599 listener ratings
Quick Stats About this Audiobook
Total Audiobook Chapters:
Longest Chapter Length:
Shortest Chapter Length:
Average Chapter Length:
Audiobooks by this Author:
Publisher Description
In this spirited and romantic saga of high adventure, a young heir named David Balfour meets his miserly uncle Ebenezer, who has illegally taken control of the Balfour estate. Ebenezer kidnaps David and plots to have him seized and sold into slavery on a ship to the Carolinas.
A couple of days into the voyage, a shipwreck throws David together with Alan Breck, a roguish Scotsman returning from political exile in France, and the two of them journey together. When they are witnesses to a murder, suspicion falls on them. What follows is a thrilling escape to freedom across the wild Scottish highlands.
Download and start listening now!
"I loved this book when I was about ten years old. Years later, I reread it, and still found it engaging. David Balfour's journey is exciting and attention-keeping for readers of any age."
— Abigail (4 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
-
“A masterpiece.”
— Henry James -
“This tale of high adventure, told simply but colorfully, is woven around a true incident; Stevenson’s characters, from all classes, noble and ignoble, are skillfully drawn and develop convincingly as they pass through kidnappings, battles at sea, murders, and other adventures…David and Alan have contradictory points of view and antithetical sociopolitical commitments; yet they work together and form a lasting bond on the basis of friendship and loyalty that transcend their differences. Here is Stevenson the novelist at his best—forsaking dogma and eschewing ideology in favor of humanistic values. Stevenson was a master storyteller.”
— Masterpieces of World Literature -
“One of the classic coming-of-age stories for children and young adults today.”
— School Library Journal -
“The workmanship was admired and the horrors were related with such charm and freshness, joined to refinement, that readers of fine taste found the work a source of genuine pleasure.”
— New York Times, 1894 -
“One of the best-loved adventure books of all time.”
— Guardian (London)
Kidnapped Listener Reviews
-
—
Swanand, 10/3/2022
-
" This is my favorite of all RLS's novels thus far. "
— Aileen, 2/19/2014 -
" Don't want to bash a classic, but it wasn't as exciting as I expected - I LOVED Treasure Island (from what I remember of it anyway, it was 6th grade when I last read it, mind you...). I thought Kidnapped would be all about David Balfour's adventure on the high seas, but most of it was traipsing across Scotland. While I do love a good bit of Scottish brogue, it took awhile to get through...wandering around the wilderness trying to escape soldiers can only go so far. :) "
— Julie, 2/1/2014 -
" This adventure tale might have been great for it's time but doesn't hold up well over the years. Stevenson wrote many other better stories that are more worth your time. "
— Chris, 1/28/2014 -
" A topological novel. Much mre original/ even SUBVERSIVE than I expected. a very quick read. "
— Anna, 1/21/2014 -
" Decided to return to the classics - haven't read this since high school......it was a great reading journey for me. "
— Rhonda, 1/20/2014 -
" very good, I first read this aloud to my sons and enjoyed it greatly! "
— Imjyfl, 1/3/2014 -
" great classic but is a little hard to read "
— Olivia, 12/26/2013 -
" Not the best Stevenson I've read, but gives a good historical perspective. "
— Michael, 11/21/2013 -
" It was an okay book. Don't read it if adjectives are your enemy. :-) "
— Akshay, 11/13/2013 -
" I enjoyed it, until the middle chapters when they're wandering around Scotland...it was kind of boring. And the ending kind of left you hanging. But I liked the rest of the parts more than Treasure Island. "
— Stephanie, 10/31/2013 -
" They called this a kid's book when it was written. I find it hard to believe, but it was a fairly good read for adults. As with all books written so long ago, you have to get through the language. "
— Karenbike, 10/19/2013 -
" bit slow a times but over very good "
— Blake, 6/15/2010 -
" Maybe it's just me, I found it tedious. "
— Bev, 9/18/2009 -
" This book has daring exploits, intrigue, pirates, shipwrecks, kidnapping (obviously), and derring-do. Yet it is the most boring book I have ever read. Stevenson is a true genius. "
— Arneyt, 5/7/2009 -
" Hadn't realised it was all set in Scotland. Not as gripping or plot led as Treasure Island. "
— Aileen, 8/13/2008 -
" Each week I try to read one book for fun and one book for my own good, either a classic or a self-help type thing. This was my classic. Sometimes the language was difficult to understand at times. Deep storytelling. "
— Melinda, 4/26/2008 -
—
dzyner, 9/1/2007
-
" Wish I had read it when I was much younger. Great page turner. "
— Aaron, 6/18/2006
About Robert Louis Stevenson
Robert Louis Stevenson (1850–1894) was born in Scotland. He studied engineering and law at the University of Edinburgh and then began writing while traveling in France. The publication of Treasure Island in 1883 brought him fame and entered him on a course of romantic fiction beloved by young and old alike.
About Frederick Davidson
Frederick Davidson (1932–2005), also known as David Case, was one of the most prolific readers in the audiobook industry, recording more than eight hundred audiobooks in his lifetime, including over two hundred for Blackstone Audio. Born in London, he trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and performed for many years in radio plays for the British Broadcasting Company before coming to America in 1976. He received AudioFile’s Golden Voice Award and numerous Earphones Awards and was nominated for a Grammy for his readings.