Robert Louis Stevenson’s sequel to “Kidnapped” picks up where the first left off. David risks his life and fortune to testify for a man wrongly accused of murder. During this time, he falls in love with Catriona, a young woman with a perplexing and deceitful father. A page-turner to the end, David Balfour might be better than its more famous prequel.
The story is set in mid-18th-century Scotland, six years after the English victory over the Scottish clans and Bonnie Prince Charlie’s attempt to restore his father to the British throne.
The central characters include Lord William Grant Prestongrange, a powerful judge and politician, Alan Breck, a valiant warrior, the fiery and honorable Catriona, and James MacGregor Drummond, her father.
Early in the book, a man named Fraser—secretly directed by Prestongrange—sought to terrify David into changing his story about the accused man’s innocence. But David sought to speak truthfully even though it would have been easier, safer, and much to his economic and social advantage to drop his claims. (Read Kidnapped for a complete account of the murder.)
To block David’s testimony, Prestongrange kidnaps David, yet protects his life. (David’s relationship with the morally complicated and political Prestongrange vexes David, and is one of the most thought-provoking parts of the book.)
On a lighter note, although just interesting, a moving courtship between David and Catriona develops. Here’s a beautiful moment in their budding relationship:
“I have seen you but a small time, but I put you very high. You are true, you are brave; in time I think you will be more of a man yet. I will be proud to hear of that. If you should speed worse, if it will come to fall as we are afraid–O well! think you have the one friend. Long after you are dead and me an old wife, I will be telling the bairns about David Balfour, and my tears running. I will be telling how we parted, and what I said to you, and did to you. God go with you and guide you, prays your little friend: so I said–I will be telling them–and here is what I did.”
She took up my hand and kissed it. This so surprised my spirits that I cried out like one hurt. The color came strong in her face, and she looked at me and nodded.
“O yes, Mr. David,” said she, “that is what I think of you. The heart goes with the lips.”
Throughout the story, David experiences many challenges and decision points, including:
- Whether or not he is ready for marriage and fatherhood
- Whether to duel or flee due to a lack of training
- Pressure from Prestongrange and the political establishment to ignore the truth about a condemned man
- Do the right thing or help Prestongrange avoid calamity
Like other great classic works of fiction, David Balfour is an entertaining and thought-provoking experience. The reader is made to see that life is full of moral decisions and that drastic action is often required to avoid moral catastrophes. Teenagers need stories like this in their heads when moral challenges come their way.
Finally, the book is full of interesting tidbits of Scottish history, Highland dialogue, duels, political intrigue, romance, and lessons for all ages. Teens will learn the importance of convictions, ethics, education, and quality friends.
I recommend reading the N. C. Wyeth illustrated version from Charles Scribner’s Sons.
