Kidnapped; Illustrated Junior Library

Author - Robert Louis Stevenson ... [Goo?] [Posters]
Lynd Ward ... [Goo?] [Posters]

This Hardcover Book item from Grosset & Dunlap was reviewed on 4-Nov-2008.

Search ISBN:0448060159 offer from Abebooks or used books from Alibris. Kidnapped; Illustrated Junior Library Reference Book. Classifications : Stevenson, Robert Louis ( S ) Authors & Illustrators, A-Z Children's Books Subjects Books General AAS Children's Books Subjects Books Adventure & Thrillers Literature & Fiction Teens Subjects Books Ge .

Related topics: ( S ). Children´s Books. Subjects. Books. General AAS. Children´s Books. Subjects. Books. Teens. Subjects.

1) Hardcover Book Kidnapped; Illustrated Junior Library by Grosset & Dunlap. [Note: This review relates to ISBN: 0-87328-177-2 - Professor Barry Menikoff - University of Hawaii & Huntington Library - editor. While the coverart is correct for this edition, the "Look Inside" feature does not display the correct artwork or text for this edition.]

While there are 87 reviews of "Kidnapped" here on Amazon, only a few of these reviews address this edition of "Kidnapped" which includes: Notes, Glossary, Gazetteer & Introduction by Prof. Menikoff working from the original text at the Huntington Library. By his work, Prof. Menikoff sought to restore the original punctuation and "recover the distinctive and often singular language" that had been altered or deleted in later publishing with the thought that this would deepen and illuminate the Scottish texture of the novel. [from dustjacket]

Prof. Menikoff is one of the world´s leading authorities on RLS. In his extensive 45+ page Introduction and Notes on the Text he discusses the history of the writing, the historical background of the story, the original serialization of the novel and what it was like for him to work with the original manuscript in producing this edition:

"For me, working with the manuscript was a privilege as much as a labor. Stevenson´s handwriting, cramped and tiny though it is, has a kind of elegance to it, and in time the eye accommodates the quirks of his hand, and the ear becomes familiar with the voice that moves the script. No one can come away from studying the manuscript without deep admiration for Stevenson´s intensity of concentration and the shading and polish he exerted on even the smallest vision or revision. In following the autograph, this edition acknowledges the broadest range of Stevenson´s artistic intentions." [at "Notes", pp. lxi-lxii].

The extensive Glossary is extremely helpful in decoding the meaning of unfamiliar words and Scottish terms and the Gazetteer helps the reader identify and understand the locales mentioned in the text.

Sample pages from the original title pages are included - some bearing the handwritten notes of Henry James. The endsheets depict detail from the map reproduced in the 1st English edition showing a sketch of the cruise of the Brig Covenant and the probable course of David Balfour´s wanderings. Also included is a reproduction of some of the original manuscript pages in RLS´ hand. The dust jacket design, a color illustration of Duart Castle, is by Wilsted & Taylor. This edition also includes reproductions of the original drawings that accompanied the text during its serialization in "Young Folks Paper" (July 1886) and etchings by Paul Sandby.

Other work by Barry Menikoff in interpreting RLS (not children´s or young adult books):

Robert Louis Stevenson and ´the Beach of Falesa´: A Study in Victorian Publishing, with the original text" - 1984. In analyzing the original text, various questions are posed: What happens to a work of art when it is converted into a commodity to satisfy the taste, prejudices and dictates of the time period within which it is created? To what extent must one compromise oneself and one´s work in order to meet the demands of the market? How was it possible that RLS would allow his work to be so compromised?

Tales from the Prince of Storytellers - RLS Short Stories - 1993 - 9 little known short stories, including two which appear in this edition for the first time, corrected and based upon the original manuscript. Includes introduction by Barry Menikoff "Fable, Fiction and Modernism".

Narrating Scotland: The Imagination Of Robert Louis Stevenson- 2005 - inspiration, historical background and research which informed the writing of "Kidnapped" and "David Balfour". "The novelist was engaged in a dialogue with his ancestors, a panoply of Scottish authors", to restore to them the history of the loss of their indigenous culture under the guise of an adventure novel.¤

2) Hardcover Book Kidnapped; Illustrated Junior Library by Grosset & Dunlap. I was forced to read this book by school but I have to admit it was pretty good. It definitly isn´t the best book I have ever read but it acually was worth reading. It was surprising but sometimes I didn´t understand what was happening. I liked it plus the book was really cheap and was delievered really fast. I rate it a good book to read!¤

3) Hardcover Book Kidnapped; Illustrated Junior Library by Grosset & Dunlap. I know this book is considered a classic loved by most but i found it to be a big let down. its not that i consider it just a kids book or have a low opinion of stevenson, i think treasure island is one of the best adventure stories ever written. kidnapped falls somewhat flat in comparison. the story is simple and gets repetitive with david balfour essentially running through the highlands with Alan (whom i found it be a very annoying character) for half the book. at times it looked like i was reading a bad version of the count of monte cristo (a much better book)but instead of adversity creating a cunning mature man hell-bent on a meticulously planned revenge we get a snot nosed little kid who has a very low opion of ´highland savages´. the only part of the book i found exciting was when he was held captive on the ship and that was too much a of repeat of treasure island for comfort. also stevenson always seemed to be writing something that was geared for popular cosumption and while this works in his other works it didnt seem to work for me here. of course he was no charles dickens but i thought books like dr j and hyde to be far more in depth look at society, greed, and desire in general.¤

4) Hardcover Book Kidnapped; Illustrated Junior Library by Grosset & Dunlap. Oh, what a great book! Robert Louis Stevenson strikes a perfect balance between action and description.

As previous reviews have said much about the plot and the worth of reading this wonderful book, I will add just a bit. Buy a copy of this tale for any child aged ten or older, and they´ll have a story of adventure to read over and over again as they grow up! I guarantee it will be a work they´ll remember with great fondness. And do yourself a favor and read a tale of intrigue that only Stevenson could have written. This is definitely not just a book for children and teens!

For those who have difficulty with the Scottish terms, in the Scholastic Classics paperback edition there is a full glossary in back, and I found not one word missing from it.¤

5) Hardcover Book Kidnapped; Illustrated Junior Library by Grosset & Dunlap. Kidnapped (Scholastic Classics)




i am very satisfied with the quality and speedy shipping of this product.¤

6) Hardcover Book Kidnapped; Illustrated Junior Library by Grosset & Dunlap.

Page Updated: Robert N. Goolsby, 2-Dec-2008, 04480601599780448060156, 870-510-590-460-330-700-000-8

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