Title : Kidnapped
Author : Robert Louis Stevenson
Kidnapped is a classical adventurous story of a boy named David Balfour written by Robert Louis Stevenson and was originally published in 1886. The title of the book very finely suggests that story deals with seizing someone.
The author begins the story by throwing light on the life of the protagonist named David Balfour. David was living alone in his house as his father and mother both had been passed away. After his father’s death he was told that it was his father’s last wish for him to reach the city Edinburgh and find out “The House of Shaws” to deliver a letter.
Then he started his journey in search of The House of Shaws. After reaching there he finds that there lived an old man who is none other than his own relative. He was his father’s brother i.e. his uncle named Ebenzer Balfour. The house of Shaws was very huge but its condition was grungy and unkempt. He found that something is wrong with his uncle and he is hiding something.
Later on he discovered that his uncle was an atrocious man and dislikes him. After then Ebenzer has sold his own nephew to a man named Hoseason who is supposed to sell him again. David was then kidnapped and taken to a boat named covenant and was locked up. David was in shock when he came to know about this and was cursing his uncle. Then he managed to escape from there by the help of a man named Alan Breck Stewart. Alan was a new comer to the boat. As the covenant struck his own boat he has been called up at covenant by the captain of the covenant.
David and Alan became good friends. In meantime David was lost but he again met his friend Alan Brek Stewart and they continued their journey. They had to go past from several places to reach their destination and amidst this they have to face soldiers who are searching them to kill.
The story rolls out holding on so many episodes and at last David was successful in acquiring his house. And also successful in knowing the truth of his father, in knowing that he belongs from a rich family, in knowing that his father was kind hearted person, in knowing that his father has chosen his love in between love and The House of Shaws.
The first half of the story was not so catchy but as the second half starts the story becomes interesting. The way author had mentioned about the sea, the woods and different places in the journey of the protagonist were impressive and tantalizing. I was stick to the story from the beginning till the end. The story was written so wonderfully and the narration of the story was up to the mark.
All the chapters gracefully unfold the story providing a good flow to the story. The storyline was admirable and the writer owns a good writing fashion. The way he put on his thoughts are satisfactory. He had briefly explains the places which he had mentioned in his book. The main characters (David and Alan) are very much attractive and the behavior and nature they hold are enthralling.
The downfalls which I found was that some of the events in the story are spun out unnecessarily and it can fill reader’s mind with the feeling of boredom. The characters are confusing at times leading sometimes strenuous for reader to understand.
An interesting read.
Rating : 4/5
Reviewer : Megha Biloniya