EnglishReads
C1 · Advanced

Kidnapped

by Robert Louis Stevenson · complete original text

  • 30 chapters
  • 81,035 words
  • about 624 min
  • adventure

Scotland, 1751. Young David Balfour is tricked by his uncle and sold onto a ship. He escapes with Alan Breck, a brave and proud Highlander, and the two run for their lives across the wild hills.

Listen while you read Coming soonNarration with each sentence highlighted as it is read.
Read the openingThe whole book opens when EnglishReads launches.

Read the opening

I will begin the story of my adventures with a certain morning early in the month of June, the year of grace 1751, when I took the key for the last time out of the door of my father's house. The sun began to shine upon the summit of the hills as I went down the road, and by the time I had come as far as the manse, the blackbirds were whistling in the garden lilacs, and the mist that hung around the valley in the time of the dawn was beginning to arise and die away.

Mr. Campbell, the minister of Essendean, was waiting for me by the garden gate, good man! He asked me if I had breakfasted, and hearing that I lacked for nothing, he took my hand in both of his and clapped it kindly under his arm.

"Well, Davie, lad," said he, "I will go with you as far as the ford, to set you on the way." And we began to walk forward in silence.

Words you will learn

Common C1 words in this book. Tap one for its note and the sentence it comes from.

Chapters

  1. I Set Off Upon My Journey to the House of Shaws · 13 min
  2. I Come to My Journey's End · 15 min
  3. I Make Acquaintance of My Uncle · 21 min
  4. I Run a Great Danger in the House of Shaws · 23 min
  5. I Go to the Queen's Ferry · 19 min
  6. What Befell at the Queen's Ferry · 15 min
  7. I Go to Sea in the Brig Covenant of Dysart · 21 min
  8. The Round-House · 15 min
  9. The Man with the Belt of Gold · 26 min
  10. The Siege of the Round-House · 20 min
  11. The Captain Knuckles Under · 12 min
  12. Hear of the "Red Fox" · 26 min
  13. The Loss of the Brig · 17 min
  14. The Islet · 27 min
  15. The Lad with the Silver Button: Through the Isle of Mull · 24 min
  16. The Lad with the Silver Button: Across Morven · 22 min
  17. The Death of the Red Fox · 17 min
  18. I Talk with Alan in the Wood of Lettermore · 24 min
  19. The House of Fear · 19 min
  20. The Flight in the Heather: the Rocks · 26 min
  21. The Flight in the Heather: the Heugh of Corrynakiegh · 21 min
  22. The Flight in the Heather: the Moor · 23 min
  23. Cluny's Cage · 24 min
  24. The Flight in the Heather: the Quarrel · 30 min
  25. In Balquhidder · 20 min
  26. End of the Flight: We Pass the Forth · 31 min
  27. I Come to Mr. Rankeillor · 22 min
  28. I Go in Quest of My Inheritance · 21 min
  29. I Come Into My Kingdom · 19 min
  30. Good-Bye · 11 min

Translations

Word notes in Turkish, Spanish, Portuguese, and German. More languages are being added.

More C1 books

Pride and Prejudice
Jane Austen · C1
The Picture of Dorian Gray
Oscar Wilde · C1
Little Women
Louisa May Alcott · C1
Jane Eyre
Charlotte Brontë · C1
Great Expectations
Charles Dickens · C1
Wuthering Heights
Emily Brontë · C1
All C1 books →