Fiction · Adventure
Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson — Summary, Key Ideas & Full Text
266 pages30 chapters5h 20m read3h 47m speed read✦ 8-min Big ideasFree · no account
What is Kidnapped about?
Cheated of his inheritance, sold into servitude, and shipwrecked on the Scottish coast, young David Balfour flees across the Highlands with the dashing outlaw Alan Breck — a breathless classic of adventure and friendship.
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Get smart in 8 min
Skip the 266 pages · 10 key ideas · read or listen
- 1A Journey Begins
- 2The House of Shaws: A Deceptive Welcome
- 3Uncle Ebenezer's Treachery
- 4The Harrowing Escape
- 5Friendship and Loyalty: Meeting Alan Breck
+5 more ideas · 🎧 listenRead or listen to the summary →
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Speed readNew
Read the full book up to 3× faster — one focus word at a time, in about 3h 47m.
Notable quotes
“‘The house is a big, muckle house.’”
“‘What cause you have to fear me, to cheat me, and to attempt my life—’”
“‘It would be a fine consummation to take the upper hand, and drive him like a herd of sheep.’”
A glimpse inside
A Journey Begins
David Balfour’s adventure begins on a bright June morning in 1751 as he sets off from his father’s house, driven by a sense of curiosity and a desire to improve his fortu…
The House of Shaws: A Deceptive Welcome
Upon reaching the House of Shaws, David is met not with the warm embrace of family but with suspicion and hostility. His uncle, Ebenezer Balfour, is a twisted figure who…
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About the author
Robert Louis Stevenson
Robert Louis Stevenson has 3 works free to read on Lumina, including Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, Treasure Island.
All 3 books by Robert Louis Stevenson →Frequently asked
Yes — the complete text of Kidnapped is free to read online, with no account and no ads. The 8-minute Big-ideas summary and audio narration are unlocked too.
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