《Kidnapped》

Book Description The highest standards in editing and production have been applied to the Wordsworth Children's Classics, while the low price makes them affordable for everyone. Wordsworth's list covers a range of the best-loved stories for children, from nursery tales, classic fables, and fairy tales to stories that will appeal to older children and adults alike. Many of these volumes have contemporary illustrations, and while they are ideal for shared family reading, their attractive format will also encourage children to read for themselves. Like all Wordsworth Editions, these children's books represent unbeatable value. Set in Scotland in 1751, "Kidnapped" tells of how young David Balfour, orphaned, and betrayed by his uncle Ebenezer who should have been his guardian, falls in with Alan Breck, the unscrupulous but heroic champion of the Jacobite cause. From School Library Journal Grade 6 Up-Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson remains one of the classic coming-of-age stories for children and young adults today. After the death of his father, David Balfour sets out to meet his uncle and claim his inheritance. This adventure takes him through the highlands of Scotland where he embarks upon a long journey back from treachery and deceit. The reading by David Rintoul, whose voice is easily recognizable from his roles in several PBS productions such as Pride and Prejudice, translates the written word into an auditory landscape of Scotland. He interprets each character using several voices. As the story progresses, listeners can hear David changing from an uncertain and hesitant youth, to the assured and forthright young man he becomes at the conclusion. Without any special effects, the fight among the crew of the Coventry in the RoundhouseAchairs pushed over, the sounds of the sea hitting against the great shipAbecomes easily visualized. the reader's skill setting the stage and showing the growth of the character is phenomenal. While this is an abridgement, the story flows easily and gives a full picture from beginning to end. This audiobook is a wonderful way to introduce this style of literature to young readers who may feel inhibited by reading the language of Stevenson. Whether read for enjoyment or to enrich the learning experience, this is a must for every serious library collection of the classics. 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Tina Hudak, Takoma Park Maryland Library, MD From Library Journal Editor Menikoff insists that Stevenson's novel has been unfairly relegated to young adult fiction. To remedy that, he restored the text to its original form, reinstating deleted passages and Stevenson's original punctuation. The text is buttressed with 19th-century drawings from the book's serializations and an introduction that explains the book's nexus and puts it into its Scottish cultural context. (Classic Returns, LJ 5/15/99) From AudioFile From beginning to end, reader David Rintoul, who portrays David Balfor, carries the listener along with his lyrical Scottish accent and suspenseful schemes involving Uncle Ebenezer. The listener submerges himself in the intense plot as Balfor attempts to reclaim his stolen inheritance from his uncle. Rintoul's accent accommodates both Highlanders and Lowlanders, bringing each to life as the author intended. Well-balanced dialogue and narration, along with intelligible accents, lend authenticity to this story. A refreshing listen for any who like to revisit the classics or who have difficulty with the original language. G.D.W. About Author Barry Menikoff is professor of English and American literature at the University of Hawaii and one of the world's leading authorities on Robert Louis Stevenson. He has previously published Robert Louis Stevenson and "The Beach of Falesa" and a collection of Stevenson's shorter fiction, Tales from the Prince of Storytellers. Book Dimension : length: (cm)19.8 　　　 　　　　　 　　　　　 width:(cm)12.6