Quotes from "Kidnapped"

Quotes from Kidnapped by R. L. Stevenson

Kidnapped is a historical novel and adventure tale about David Balfour. The novel also relates to the Jacobite rebellion in Scotland. The story was first published in 1886. Henry James, Jorge Luis Borges and Seamus Heaney have all praised the novel. Here are a few quotes from the novel.

· "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." - Robert Louis Stevenson, Kidnapped, Ch. 1

· "In those days folk still believed in witches and trembled at a curse; and this one, falling so pat, like a wayside omen, to arrest me ere I carried out my purpose, took the pith out of my legs." - Robert Louis Stevenson, Kidnapped, Ch. 2

· "If I had been some years younger, what with shame, weariness, and disappointment, I believe I had burst into tears. As it was, I could find no words, neither black nor white, but handed him the letter, and sat down to the porridge with as little appetite for meat as ever a young man had."- Robert Louis Stevenson, Kidnapped, Ch. 3

· "Even I, who had the tide going out and in before me in the bay, and even watched for the ebbs, the better to get my shellfish -- even I (I say) if I had sat down to think, instead of raging at my fate, must have soon guessed the secret, and got free. It was no wonder the fishers had not understood me. The wonder was rather that they had ever guessed my pitiful illusion, and taken the trouble to come back. I had starved with cold and hunger on that island for close upon one hundred hours. But for the fishers, I might have left my bones there, in pure folly. And even as it was, I had paid for it pretty dear, not only in past sufferings, but in my present case; being clothed like a beggar-man, scarce able to walk, and in great pain of my sore throat. I have seen wicked men and fools, a great many of both; and I believe they both get paid in the end; but the fools first." " - Robert Louis Stevenson, Kidnapped, Ch. 14