Customer Reviews

David Balfour: Being Memoirs of the Further Adventures of David Balfour at Home and Abroad (Scribner's Illustrated Classics)

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

It's true that this sequel to "Kidnapped" takes a very different direction from the original story. In fact, Alan Breck Stewart (everyone's favorite character) makes only a few (albeit quite entertaining) appearances, and most of the story focuses on David Balfour's lone adventures and, in the second half of the book, his rather botched wooing of Catriona, a lovely Scottish lass (to say more would give away the story).

I must admit that "Kidnapped" is my favorite book of all time, so I am somewhat prejudiced toward liking "David Balfour" no matter what its faults. However, the truth of the matter is that this is really quite a good book in its own right. It would not have been disappointing to anyone except for the fact that it happens to be a sequel to "Kidnapped," and people (fairly enough, I suppose) expect another rousing adventure story, which "David Balfour" is not.

Some aspects of the two books are very similar. Stevenson used quite a bit of dialect in the "Kidnapped," so it should come as a surprise to no one that he does the same in "David Balfour" (although there may be a little more broad Scotch). Also, David's and Alan's characters are quite true to the original characterizations, I think.

The part of the story that people seem to object to most is the love story between David and Catriona. I admit it, the main problem is that Catriona is a rather flat character, and as such does not keep the reader's interest (or sympathy) very well. That being said, most of the book (and especially the last 20 pages, which I liked very much) is quite entertaining. I have read better love stories and better adventure stories, but "David Balfour" isn't bad for a love story sequel to an adventure story.

Finally, a word about the illustrations in this edition. They are by N.C. Wyeth, who was one of the best illustrators of the early to mid 20th century. This edition is a copy of the original 1913 Wyeth edition, and has all the wonderful illustrations and the neat old-fashioned size and typeface.

An excellent book, less because of the plot (limited compared with Kidnapped) but more because of the bits of wisdom so typical of RLS. He had a dry sense of humor and a very sharp eye (much like Dickens) and his writings are filled with his take on the local color. And with the much bigger picture of life itself.

Anyway, I very much did like David Balfour, and I am glad I read it.

"David Balfour" by Robert Louis Stevenson continues the coming of age story begun in "Kidanapped". In "Kidnapped" we saw a young man stuggle to live up to the high standards instilled in him by his parents despite hardships. This theme is continued in the sequel in regards to his testifying in court and in his personal life. His conduct towards his bride-to-be should especially be noted and followed by young men of today.

I recommend "Kidnapped" for boys aged 10 and up, and "David Balfour" for boys aged 12 and up. This story will teach them much on becoming a man.

Those who have read only Kidnapped might agree with me in saying the ending is rather abrupt. This is because Stevenson intended to write a sequel, and did 6 years after writing Kidnapped.
David Balfour has two parts-
The plot of the first part of this book centers on David's efforts to free the innocent James Stewart from being hanged, the second on David's romance with a highland girl named Catriona.
The first part is pretty good, although stale in some parts. The second is different from anything in Kidnapped or in the first part. Stevenson targeted the kidnapped books to boys, but in this part it's so romantically inclined that as a girl I cannot imagine a boy enjoying most of it.
I'd say the romanic part of this book is pretty bad and cliche, but the book is worth reading for the parts with Black Andy and Alan Breck(my favorite character). I only wish Stevenson had included more of these characters and less of such 2D ones such a Prestongrange(the king's advocate), Catriona and yes, David whom in some parts I tired of. I'd recommend reading this book if you liked Kidnapped and are a good enough reader to understand some of the somewhat difficult Scotch dialect.

Kidnapped, by Robert Louis Stevenson, was (and still is) one of my favorite reads. The tale of the young David Balfour who, at the hands of his scheming uncle Ebenezer, is kidnapped and shipwrecked in the wild Scottish Highlands of the mid-seventeenth century. Along with that, he is caught at the wrong place at the wrong time-speaking with Colin Campbell when he is shot at the notorious murder of Glencoe. His only hope of survival is to escape south across the highlands with Alan Breck Stewart, the lovably roguish cousin of James of the Glens. From ducking through the heather to hiking across wooded mountains to hiding from soldiers and far beyond, the pair's adventures make for one of the best books I've had the fortune to read (and between you and me, that's saying something).
Sadly, the tale's sequel, David Balfour, does not quite live up to the standards set by its predecessor. Although a very enjoyable read, David Balfour's focuses are mainly the legal struggle to exonerate James of the Glens and David's romance with Catriona Drummond. The almost complete absence of everybody's favorite Scotsman, Alan Breck, is the book's greatest blow. Without him, the better part of the book is much less fun to read than the original. He does make some appearances though, mainly at the very beginning and very end of the story, and those are (in my opinion) the very best sections of the book.
That is not to say the tale is bad. Quite the contrary, in fact. It is very enjoyable to read, particularly David's narration of his stay on the Bass with Black Andie and the highlanders. Even though it is not as engrossing as Kidnapped, David Balfour should please anybody who enjoyed the original, even though the book's lack of adventure and heavy use of the Scots tongue may turn some wanting another Kidnapped away from reading it all the way through.

Stevenson's David Balfour takes on politics - corrupt to the core - the law - see politics - and romance - even more insidious than the previous mentioned! The remarkable level of overlapping and competing 'powers-that-be' mark this a study in true Machiavellian behavior. With King George of England, the Pretender, Bonnie Prince Charlie, recently escaped after an epic chase across all Scotland, the King of France, the Parliaments, the clans that are banned, and those that have gone over to the English side, not to mention various levels of legal bodies, sheriffs amd lawyers and last and not least the Lord Advocate, who plays a major and most enigmatic role, ala Long John Silver - well it's enough to confuddle the devil himself. No one kens - knows - the whole of anything, and this confusion remains central to the narration and determines the plot's frequently murky naturalness.And when Stevenson adds complex likeable villians into the fray...for all it's boyish lightness, David Balfour clearly goes far deeper into the casaulity of governing society than today's think-they-know-it-all novelists. Despite this dark backdrop young Balfour shines in a typical Stevenson storyline, full of escapes, twists of fate, maroonings and assorted melodramtic shenanigans. The writing, with bouts of heavy dialect, ain't tae muckled, as it were, but all in all this is not top brae stuff. The author's memorable gifts for creating brash characters and spinning engaging stories from what seems thin air saves the book.
Apart from it's charms this work could be useful for anyone interested in comparing 'the law' with politics - artful elaboration of the real motives behind those who insist on forever pontificating "The Rule of Law" uber alles. This book does one good thing exceedingly well: it sets that fallacy to rest.
For a more exciting book by the author try Kidnapped.

The continuation of the adventures of David Balfour is very unsatisfying to one who was entralled by Kidnapped. The heavy use of Scots dialect made the going tough and one of the main threads of the story concerning the trial of Stewart of Appin is ignored later in the book.