Kidnapped

August 29, 2016
In 1751, after the untimely deaths of his parents, Scotsman David Balfour, the 17-year-old protagonist and narrator of Stevenson’s classic adventure yarn, travels to his father’s childhood home to meet with his uncle, Ebenezer. Instead of a warm welcome, Ebenezer pays the captain of a pirate ship to kidnap his nephew and transport him to America. On board, David meets dashing Highlander Alan Breck Stewart, and together they manage to take over the ship, beginning a friendship that continues through several land-based adventures. One of these involves witness (and escaping blame for) a murder. Scottish actor Rintoul does an amazing job of delivering a bouquet of brogues—including David’s mild-mannered narration, his uncle’s croaky, angry snarl, and Alan Stewart’s almost musical, supremely confident pronouncements.

Care to travel across Scotland with a native guide? Interested in experiencing local hospitality? Are you willing to do it against your will to seek out your rightful inheritance? Then join David Balfour on his 1751 quest, guided by the guileful Alan Breck. Narrator Jim Weiss's brisk pace and unpretentious voice make listeners feel as if they're hearing an intimate account of the story. Portraying the characters, Weiss brings bravado and a Scots brogue into play. He blusters as a clan leader and gratingly connives as devious Uncle Ebenezer. As David, Weiss is eager or apprehensive as the situation merits--whether the character is shipwrecked at night, hiding for his life by day, or cave-bound and delirious with sickness. A.R. © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine


Stevenson's classic novel of murder, betrayal, and adventure on the high seas tells of the trials of young David Balfour, who is kidnapped by his miserly Uncle Ebenezer and carried off to the Carolinas. While Shakespearean actor Ralph Cosham does an especially good job with Scottish accents, his main narrative seems somewhat flat, conveying little of the enthusiasm you might expect from a young boy telling his harrowing tale. P.B.J. (c) AudioFile 2003, Portland, Maine