Roddy Lumsden Reviews Kidnapped

Robert Louis Stevenson still holds strong near the centre of Scottish literature; we remain intrigued by his short, packed life. We're never sure where to place him though. Children's author? Playwright? Poet? Although he was prolific, and started precociously young (dictating 'novels' to his mother as a child), his publishing career was short – just 16 years between his first book and his death on a faraway island – and he was known at first primarily as a travel writer.

Though some Stevensonians may argue they are not the best of his work, he is most remembered for a handful of novels he penned in the 1880s, especially two which were serialised in Young Folks and have been loved by children for over a century. In recent years, One City One Book promotions (originally a US idea) have become popular, aided by cheaper production costs and lapse of copyright on classic books. When I was living in Bristol a few years ago, Treasure Island was made available to local children in a new, free edition. Recently, as part of Edinburgh's UNESCO City of Literature Reading Campaign, a similar giveaway of 25,000 books made use of Stevenson's other great adventure Kidnapped.

This time, there are five new editions of the book! Three have been available free throughout March: a paperback of Stevenson's original text, a simplified edition for younger readers and a specially commissioned graphic novel which reworks the tale. In addition, Itchy Coo have published a Scots version of the graphic novel, while publisher Barrington Stoke have made it available to those outside of the capital. A series of public events was arranged to tie in with the promotion.

Kidnapped's tale of a wronged boy, and how he painstakingly extracts himself from the trap he is lured into by his greedy, wily uncle, works through its simplicity. Its episodic nature (also the reason it has been filmed several times) is set out in the chapter titles ('I Go To Sea', 'End of the Flight' etc). Aside from a few outbursts, much of the action takes place with just David Balfour and one other character, and the story unfolds via their dialogue. John Kennett's retelling for younger children works well – he has not, as I feared, updated to contemporary language, but has removed some of the text and simplified the language and structure here and there, without losing the essence of Stevenson's own pacey and descriptive diction.

The graphic novel is also impressive, put together by Alan Grant and artist Cam Kennedy, who are more used to depicting Judge Dredd and Star Wars characters. Inevitably, some of the story's subtleties are lost when reduced to captions and dialogue, but the illustrations compensate, bringing the main characters to life well: David is strapping and looks rather older than seventeen, but has his wide-eyed mix of naivety and indignation; Alan Breck is thick-set and pock-marked and you dare not tangle with him in his swishing blue tunic. The doughty faces of minor characters – rogues, ministers and crones - are delightful. The illustrations are mostly done in the muted greens and blues of the sea and the heather across which David races in and out of the hands of enemies.

The end of Kidnapped sees David redeemed and heading to claim the fortune which is rightfully his. It is scarcely a happy ending, as he is traumatised and regretful as he finds himself jostled and startled by the crowds of the capital. Stevenson would be proud to know that many thousands of Edinburgh's citizens have once again been reading the adventure of David Balfour and Alan Breck.