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Kidnapped (Puffin Classics) Review

Kidnapped is a great book. A good read even after 120 years and more.

There are a lot of Kindle versions of 'Kidnapped' available on Amazon. None of them are terrible. A very few are excellent. Most are quickly converted versions of the Project Gutenberg text.

Unfortunately, the reviews given often apply to all editions - including print editions -- and so finding out which one is best for you is difficult. And so I make this review. Well, I do also have an edition out there myself.

Every Kindle ebook has a unique ASIN assigned - it's in the Product Details section, labelled ASIN. This review comments on each version I've found, identified by ASIN and publisher.

There are six decently prepared editions of Kidnapped currently available for the Kindle. Some have extra notes, some have essays about RLS and/or the book, some have maps or other illustrations. All have decent formatting and good texts.

Penguin: B002XHNM58
An excellent version with a foreword and an introduction, various notes on the text and a glossary. The notes are hyperlinked, but the glossary is just a section at the end of the book. The formatting is good, including smart quotes, dash, italics and smallcaps. The table of contents link is in the menu and is hyperlinked text. There is a fair amount of extra info about the book and author, and maps are included. Oddly, on first opening the book, it it opens to the Introduction, not the foreword (which is earlier) or the first chapter.
The text is essentially that of the first edition, "sixteen and east" (see below), with a few sentence fragments that were removed fro later versions. I only found a handful of typos.
US: Not available
UK: £1.89

Signet Classics: B002U2DQ6Q
This probably a good version, with good formatting. It has an introduction and afterword. It has a link to the table of contents from the menu, and the table of contents is properly hyperlinked. I suspect that the text is well formatted, with italics and smart quotes and proper dashes. But unfortunately, I can't buy this from the UK, and the sample finishes before it gets to the actual text. I don't know how the footnotes or any glossary are handled. There's no entry for a glossary in the table of content.
US: .99
UK: Not available

Puffin: B002RI94SC
A good version. Slightly different (poorer) text than the Penguin edition, but also from the 1893 edition. The introduction is obviously intended for young readers. (Unsurprising, given that it's a Puffin book.). The glossary entries are hyperlinked, as are the original footnotes. The formatting is good, including smart quotes, dash, italics and smallcaps. The table of contents link is in the menu and is hyperlinked text, but only to the chapters. No link is provided for the introduction. There's a little bit of info about the author at the back of the book. No maps. On first opening, it opens to the first chapter.
The text is essentially that of the first edition (sixteen and east), but with some erroneous changes (e.g. superscribed instead of superscrived) and a few typos.
US: .28
UK: £5.47

Bantam Classics: B00150K3JW
A rather nice version. The text seems to be from the 1895 Edinburgh edition. There are only a few typos in the text. The formatting is very nice - good chapter heading, good first paragraphs. Indents and a very small gap between paragraphcs. Smart Quotes, Italics, proper dashes, smallcaps, nicely indented where appropriate. It opens to the first chapter, has a table of content link in the menus. The Table of contents in the text is well formatted and hyperlinked. There are hyperlinks to the original footnotes and to some new glossary entries. There's a map, the usual preface and dedication, a bibliography, and a few paragraphs about the author.
US: .99
UK: £1.89

Random House UK: B00351YF70
A rather expensive edition. It doesn't seem to have much in the way of new material, not even the introduction from the `Biographical' edition. There is a one small paragraph about RLS, and a brief list of title of other books by RLS. Otherwise it's just the dedication, the text, and a list of other works. There's no Table of Contents menu item, although there is a nice hyperlinked table of contents in the text at the front. The text itself is nicely formatted, with good chapter titles, first paragraphs, etc. Also smart quotes, italics, proper dashes, small caps. There don't seem to be any additional footnotes or glossary entries, and there isn't enough of the text to se how they handle the original footnotes. No map.
US: .09
UK: £5.59

Durrant Publishing: B003ZK54RG
A rather good text from the 1895 Edinburgh Edition with additional corrections from the 1895 Cassell edition. Well formatted, with proper table of contents link, hyperlinked table of contents, chapter headings, first lines, poetry formatting, smart quotes, proper dashes, small caps, italics.
Also a lot of hyperlinked glossary entries for Scots or otherwise unusual or archaic words. And then there are the illustrations - two maps and 17 black and white full-page illustrations by C. E. Brock, that appeared in the 1928 Macmillan pocket edition.
US: {BestCustomerReview}.99
UK: £0.72

(Yes, the Durrant Publishing edition is mine.)

An honourable mention goes to

Shmoop University: B002ZFXTOC
This looks like a version with some interesting extras. Unfortunately, I can't buy it in the UK to check how good they are, but there seems to be a summary of each chapter, and hyperlinked notes on various parts of the text. There doens't seem to be a full glossary, but it might be that I can't see it from the summary.
The formatting lets it down a little. Spaces between paragraphs rather than indents, straight quotes, ALL CAPS not small caps, and double hyphens for dashes. I'm guessing it's mostly the Project Gutenberg text, but I can't be certain. Oddly enough, the original footnotes are still just in-line with the text, not converted to hyperlinks. There are only a few typos in the text of the sample that I could check.
US: .39
UK: Unavailable.

And then there's all the rest. Quick conversions of the Project Gutenberg text, with few attempts to properly format the text or add anything of value.

Neeland Media: B000FC1DPO
A simple conversion of the Project Gutenberg text (seventeen, east). Paragraph formatting OK, but not good. Straight quotes, CAPS instead of smallcaps. Proper dashes. No extra notes. No Table of Contents link the in menu. Table of contents in the text, but not hyperlinked. No maps. No sign of the enrichment listed in the product description, I think it has got erroneously linked.
US: .99
UK: Unavailable.

Public Domain Books: B000JQUK8M
A simple conversion of the Project Gutenberg text (seventeen, east). Paragraph formatting OK, but not good. Straight quotes, CAPS instead of smallcaps. Proper dashes. No extra notes. Original footnotes in-line in the text. No Table of Contents link the in menu. Table of contents in the text, but not hyperlinked. No maps. Opens to half way through the preface (from the `Biographical' Edition).
US: {BestCustomerReview}.00 (Free)
UK: £0.00 (Free)

ReadHowYouWant: B000O78PTW
A quite good conversion of the Project Gutenberg text (seventeen, east). Paragraph formatting OK, but not good. Smart double quotes, straight single quotes, CAPS instead of smallcaps. Proper dashes. No extra notes. Original footnotes hyperlinked nicely. The Table of Contents link is in the menu, and is hyperlinked text. No maps. Opens to just after the first chapter heading. No preface or dedication.
US: .99
UK: £2.90

BompaCrazy: B001D05S7Q
A simple conversion of the Project Gutenberg text (seventeen, east). Paragraph formatting OK, but not good. Straight quotes, CAPS instead of smallcaps. double hyphen for dashes. No extra notes. Original footnotes in-line in the text. No Table of Contents link the in menu. Hyperlinked table of contents in the text. No maps. Opens to cover. Preface and dedication.
US: {BestCustomerReview}.99
UK: £0.72

Archipelago: B001DUGNG6
A simple conversion of the Project Gutenberg text (seventeen, east). Paragraph formatting Fair, except for blank lines between paragraphs. Straight quotes, CAPS instead of smallcaps. Proper dashes. No extra notes. Original footnotes marked but not hyperlinked (I think). No Table of Contents link the in menu. Hyperlinked table of contents in the text BUT hyperlinks point to a website, not to the book chapers! No maps. Opens to title page. Preface and dedication.
US: {BestCustomerReview}.95
UK: £0.75

EbooksLib: B001VLXHZ2
A good try at a conversion of the Project Gutenberg text (seventeen, east). Paragraph formatting Fair, with ornament at chapter starts. Straight quotes, CAPS instead of smallcaps. Hyphens for dashes. No extra notes. Original footnotes in-line in the text.The Table of Contents link is in the menu, and is hyperlinked text. No maps. Opens to first chapter heading nicely. Preface and dedication.
US: .59
UK: Unavailable.

Douglas Editions: B002C75K5E
A simple conversion of the Project Gutenberg text (seventeen, east). Paragraph formatting Fair, except for blank lines between paragraphs. Straight quotes, CAPS instead of smallcaps. Double hyphens for dashes. No extra notes. Original footnotes in-line in the text. No Table of Contents link the in menu. Hyperlinked table of contents in the text. No maps. Opens to title page. Preface and dedication.
US: .00
UK: £0.72

Dodo: B002EAYISY
A simple conversion of the Project Gutenberg text (seventeen, east). Paragraph formatting has blank lines between paragraphs instead of indents. Straight quotes, CAPS instead of smallcaps. Proper dashes. No extra notes. Original footnotes in-line in the text. No Table of Contents link the in menu. No table of contents in the text. No maps. Opens to title page. Preface and dedication.
US: .00
UK: £2.19

Bunny Books: B002GMT920
A simple conversion of the Project Gutenberg text (seventeen, east). Paragraph formatting has blank lines between paragraphs as well as indents. Straight quotes, CAPS instead of smallcaps. double hyphens for dashes. No extra notes. No Table of Contents link the in menu. Hyperlinked table of contents in the text. No maps. Opens to title page. Preface and dedication.
US: {BestCustomerReview}.80
UK: £0.76

Cybraria: B002MH4IGQ
A simple conversion of the Project Gutenberg text (seventeen, east). Paragraph formatting has a small gap between paragraphs as well as a very small indent. Straight quotes, CAPS instead of smallcaps. double hyphens for dashes. No extra notes. No Table of Contents link the in menu. No table of contents in the text. No maps. Opens to title page. Preface and dedication.
US: {BestCustomerReview}.99
UK: £1.89

indypublish: B002VW9IXK
A simple conversion of the Project Gutenberg text (seventeen, east). Paragraph formatting Fair, with lines between paragraphs instead of indents. Smart quotes, CAPS instead of smallcaps. Proper dashes. No extra notes. Original footnotes in-line in the text. Table of Contents link in the menu. Table of contents in the text, but not hyperlinked. No maps. Opens to first chapter heading.
US: .99 (sic)
UK: £27.15 (sic)

ebooksonteh: B003B5M0MC
A simple conversion of the Project Gutenberg text (seventeen, east). Paragraph formatting Poor, with small gaps between paragraphs as well as small indents. Chapter headings are not distinguished from ordinary paragraphs. Straight quotes, MixedCase instead of smallcaps. Double hyphens for dashes. No extra notes. Original footnotes in-line in the text. No Table of Contents link in the menu. No Table of contents in the text. No maps. Opens to first chapter heading.
US: .60
UK: £2.71

Quality Classics: B003B66HM0
A simple conversion of the Project Gutenberg text (seventeen, east). Paragraph formatting has blank lines between paragraphs instead of indents. Straight quotes, CAPS instead of smallcaps. Proper dashes. No extra notes. Original footnotes in-line in the text. No Table of Contents link the in menu. Hyperlinked table of contents in the text (but badly formatted). No maps. Opens to title page. Preface and dedication.
US: {BestCustomerReview}.99
UK: Unavailable

Unknown: B003B667SY
A simple conversion of the Project Gutenberg text (seventeen, east). Poor, with small gaps between paragraphs as well as small indents. Straight quotes, CAPS instead of smallcaps. Double hyphens for dashes. No extra notes. Original footnotes in-line in the text. No Table of Contents link the in menu. Table of contents in the text (but not hyperlinked and very badly formatted). No maps. Opens to title page. Preface and dedication.
US: .99
UK: Unavailable

Plain Label Books: B0011XAA3M
A simple conversion of the Project Gutenberg text (seventeen, east). Paragraph formatting has a small gap between paragraphs as well as a very small indent. Poor formatting of chapter titles, etc. Straight quotes, CAPS instead of smallcaps. double hyphens for dashes. No extra notes. No Table of Contents link the in menu. Table of contents in the text, badly formatted and not hyperlinked. No maps. Opens to title page. Preface and dedication.
US: {BestCustomerReview}.99
UK: £0.72

MacMay: B0012RLLLW
A simple conversion of the Project Gutenberg text (seventeen, east). Paragraph formatting has a large gap between paragraphs as well as an indent. Straight quotes, CAPS instead of smallcaps. double hyphens for dashes. No extra notes. No Table of Contents link the in menu. Table of contents in the text, but not hyperlinked. No maps. Opens to title page. Preface and dedication.
US: {BestCustomerReview}.99
UK: £0.72

Laundry Press: B0014FASHK
A simple conversion of the Project Gutenberg text (seventeen, east). Paragraph formatting has blank lines between paragraphs as well as indents. Straight quotes, CAPS instead of smallcaps. Proper dashes. No extra notes. Original footnotes in-line in the text. No Table of Contents link the in menu. Hyperlinked table of contents in the text. No maps. Opens to title page. Preface and dedication.
US: {BestCustomerReview}.99
UK: £0.75

Unknown: B0014HDXXO
A simple conversion of the Project Gutenberg text (seventeen, east). Paragraph formatting has a small gap between paragraphs as well as a small indent. Straight quotes, CAPS instead of smallcaps. Proper dashes. No extra notes. No Table of Contents link the in menu. Table of contents in the text, but not hyperlinked. No maps. Opens to title page. Preface and dedication.
US: .97
UK: £1.48

MobileReference: B0019FPCPI
A simple conversion of the Project Gutenberg text (seventeen, east). Paragraph formatting has a small gap between paragraphs as well as a small indent. Chapter titles are not distinguished from the text. Straight quotes, CAPS instead of smallcaps. Double hyphens instead of dashes. I can't tell from the sample how it handles footnotes. It doesn't seem to have extra notes. It does appear to have a short biography of RLS at the end. It DOES have a Table of Contents link the in menu, and the Table of contents is hyperlinked. No maps. Opens to Table of contents. Preface and dedication.
US: {BestCustomerReview}.95
UK: £0.74

Rhonda Nelson: B0026RHBY8
A simple conversion of the Project Gutenberg text (seventeen, east) (Perhaps through an intermediate PDF version.) Paragraph formatting has a small gap between paragraphs as well as a small indent. Smart quotes, CAPS instead of smallcaps. Proper dashes. No extra notes. Footnotes are in-line in the text. No Table of Contents link the in menu. No Table of contents in the text. No maps. Opens to title page. Preface and dedication. Extra lines of text throughout the book: "eBook brought to you by Kidnapped Create, view and edit PDF. Download the free trial version.", presumably left over from the PDF version which this seems to be converted from. Ugh.
US: .95
UK: £3.61

EGO Books: B0028AE8YY
A simple conversion of the Project Gutenberg text (seventeen, east). Paragraph formatting has blank lines between paragraphs as well as indents. Straight quotes, CAPS instead of smallcaps. Proper dashes. No extra notes. Original footnotes in-line in the text. No Table of Contents link the in menu. Table of contents in the text, but not hyperlinked. No maps. Opens to title page. Preface and dedication.
US: .89
UK: £2.10

Penny Books: B0028Y5MBS
A simple conversion of the Project Gutenberg text (seventeen, east). Paragraph formatting has blank lines between paragraphs with no indents. Chapter headings nicely formatted. Straight quotes, CAPS instead of smallcaps. Proper dashes. No extra notes. Original footnotes in-line in the text. No Table of Contents link the in menu. No Table of contents in the text. No maps. Opens to title page. Preface and dedication.
US: .00
UK: {BestCustomerReview}.72

Unknown: B0029ZA3SI
A simple conversion of the Project Gutenberg text (seventeen, east). Paragraph formatting has a small between paragraphs with an indent. Chapter headings nicely formatted. Straight quotes, CAPS instead of smallcaps. Proper dashes. No extra notes. Original footnotes in-line in the text. No Table of Contents link the in menu. No Table of contents in the text. No maps. Opens to first chapter, first page of book. No Preface or dedication, title page or anything.
US: .65
UK: £2.75

Unknown: B0037KMF94
A simple conversion of the Project Gutenberg text (seventeen, east). Paragraph formatting has blank lines between paragraphs but no indents. Straight quotes, CAPS instead of smallcaps. Double hyphen for dashes. No extra notes. Original footnotes in-line in the text. No Table of Contents link the in menu. Table of contents in the text, but not hyperlinked and poorly formatted. No maps. Opens to title page. Preface and dedication.
US: {BestCustomerReview}.99
UK: £0.72

B&R Samizdat Express: B00136KLW2
A simple conversion of the Project Gutenberg text (seventeen, east). Paragraph formatting has a small gap between paragraphs as well as a small indent. Straight quotes, CAPS instead of smallcaps. Double hyphens instead of dashes. No extra notes. Original footnotes in-line in the text. No Table of Contents link the in menu. Table of contents in the text, but not hyperlinked. No maps. Opens to Table of contents. Preface and dedication.
US: {BestCustomerReview}.99
UK: Unavailable

Some notes on the text of `Kidnapped':

First published in book form by Cassell in 1886, it was revised through various editions by RLS, the 1895 Cassell edition being the last to include revisions that he made. There was also an 1895 `Edinburgh' edition (part of a set of volumes of RLS's works) that made many changes to the punctuation and spelling in the text.

There are really only two significant changes among all the texts - David's age at the start of the book was changed from sixteen to seventeen in both 1895 editions, and the location of the ship at the start of chapter XII is correctly given as west of the Isle of Canna in the 1895 `Edinburgh' edition, instead of east as in other editions.

Choice of text is difficult. I've chosen to base my text on the 1895 `Edinburgh' edition, with the addition of any changes in the Cassell 1895 edition that didn't make it into the `Edinburgh' edition.

Kidnapped (Puffin Classics) Feature

ISBN13: 9780141326023
Condition: New
Notes: BUY WITH CONFIDENCE, Over one million books sold! 98% Positive feedback. Compare our books, prices and service to the competition. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed

Kidnapped (Puffin Classics) Overview

Young David Balfour, left in poverty when his father dies, goes to his uncle, Ebenezer, for assistance. He soon finds himself kidnapped and on board a ship, headed for a life of slavery. With the help of daring rebel Alan Breck, David escapes, only to get mixed up in a desperate adventure— suspected of murder and hunted across the Scottish moors.

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Customer Reviews

kidnapped captured me - bb -
i don't remember ever having read this book as a youngster. But I bought it to read on my new Kindle and loved the book!! The story held my attention to the very end and I hated when it ended.

I just loved this book - Gambrelli - Overseas, really
I loved it so much, I am recommending it to everyone. Please read it, you won't regret it.

A fun classic. - AmberLight - Tulsa, Ok
It was an easier read than I thought it would be, and filled with all the fixin's of a good story--terror, betrayal, friendship, humour and much more.

*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Sep 02, 2010 13:29:06

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Thursday, September 2, 2010