Page:The Black Arrow - Stevenson, 1888.djvu/340

 "The adventures in 'Kidnapped' are so continuously thrilling as to preclude the chance of any one laying the book down before the last page is reached. "—St. James's Gazette.

Price 5s.

"KIDNAPPED." BY ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON, Author of "Treasure Island," &c., &c.

" 'Kidnapped is almost, if not quite, as fascinating as 'Treasure Island;' and in some respects we prefer it. The interest is as steadily sustained, and there is more sobriety in the sensations. From the beginning to the end there is a rich variety of vividly dramatic incidents. 'Kidnapped,' as we think, ranks rather before 'Treasure Island,' inasmuch as there are deeper and more delicate discriminations of character. And that is rare in a short tale of stirring adventure, although written with the romantic but realistic minuteness of Defoe."—The Times. "It is the best thing he has ever done out of many good things, better even than 'Treasure Island;' nay, and I would go farther, and say it is the best thing any man has done for many a long day. The tale, which is genuine narrative, a story pure and simple, is told by a young Scottish lad, kidnapped by a rascally old uncle, who is keeping him out of his kingdom, and packed over sea to be sold to slavery in the plantations. After some rousing scenes, and especially a notable fight in which young Balfour (the story-teller) and one Alan Breck, a Jacobite adventurer (a rare character, worthy almost of Sir Walter), keep the round-house against the whole ship's crew, the brig is wrecked off the coast of Skye, and thence onward the theme is the Ulyssean wanderings of Balfour and Alan through the Highlands, at that time swept backwards and forwards by King George's troops on the watch for proscribed rebels—a situation much complicated by the too timely removal of an inconvenient Campbell."—The World.

"Mr. Stevenson's study in Highland character in * Kidnapped,' in its strength and its weakness, is the best thing of the sort which has been written since 'Rob Roy,' if, indeed, it is not better than 'Rob Roy.'"—Daily News.

"Its description of the scenery of the Highlands in the old, wild times, is as charming as a vivid imagination could make it; and the description of the cowardly old miser who plotted his nephew's death rather than give him up his inheritance, is as vivid as anything which Mr. Stevenson's singular genius has yet invented for us."—Spectator.

"A graphic story here you'll find, by R. L. Stevenson, It beats the Treasure Island—or any he has done! From opening unto finish your attention's kept alive— The scene is laid in Scotland, just after 'Forty-five— 'tis a tale of wild adventure most marvellously told, And cunningly the writer does his clever plot unfold; Throughout the narrative we find the author at his best, 'Tis full of fight and bustle and of thrilling interest; The characters are drawn, you'll find, with most consummate skill— A book you ought at once to read, and read at once you will."—Punch.

CASSELL & COMPANY, Limited, Ludgate Hill, London; and all Booksellers.