Kidnapped Study Guide

Robert Louis Stevenson was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1850 to a respected family of civil engineers, known especially for designing lighthouses. As a sickly child suffering from chronic lung issues—likely tuberculosis—he spent long periods confined indoors, where he developed a vivid imagination and a love for storytelling. His father hoped he would follow in the family profession, but Stevenson eventually turned to writing, studying law at the University of Edinburgh while secretly nurturing literary ambitions. Even as a student, he traveled across Europe, often alone and in poor health, recording his experiences in essays and travelogues. Stevenson gained literary fame with Treasure Island (1883), a pirate adventure written initially for his stepson. He followed it with The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde (1886), a psychological horror novella about the dual nature of man, and Kidnapped (1886), a historical novel set in post-Jacobite Scotland. His work blends adventure, moral complexity, and a keen interest in human behavior. Later in life, Stevenson moved to Samoa, where he wrote prolifically and became involved in local affairs. Known affectionately as “Tusitala” (the teller of tales), he died there at the young age of 44.

Kidnapped is set in the aftermath of the 1745 Jacobite rising, a failed attempt by Charles Edward Stuart (who later became known as Bonnie Prince Charlie) to reclaim the British throne for the exiled House of Stuart. The defeat of the Jacobite forces at the Battle of Culloden in 1746 led to a harsh crackdown on Highland clans, with widespread disarmament, evictions, and cultural repression. The novel captures the lingering tensions between supporters of the Jacobite cause—especially Highland Catholics—and the British government, which enforced loyalty to King George II through legal, military, and economic pressure. A key historical event in the novel is the Appin Murder of 1752, in which government agent Colin Roy Campbell (the Red Fox) was assassinated while attempting to evict Stewart tenants in the Highlands. Though the true killer was never identified, James Stewart of the Glens was tried and executed, even though he was widely believed to be innocent.

Kidnapped sits within the tradition of historical adventure fiction and shares many qualities with the novels of Sir Walter Scott, particularly Waverley and Rob Roy, which also explore Scottish identity, political conflict, and personal honor. Like Scott, Stevenson combines fictional characters with real historical events, such as the Appin Murder, to create a dramatic and immersive portrayal of 18th-century Scotland. Stevenson’s own sequel to Kidnapped, titled Catriona, continues the story and focuses more on legal and political intrigue, as well as David’s romantic life. Beyond these, Stevenson’s Treasure Island similarly centers on a young protagonist caught in dangerous circumstances, using adventure as a vehicle for moral growth. Stevenson’s The Master of Ballantrae (1889) also returns to Scottish themes, dealing with rivalry and betrayal against the backdrop of the Jacobite risings.