Subject
Scotland -- History -- 18th century -- Fiction Books
Best books
Robert Louis Stevenson
Catriona
"Catriona" by Robert Louis Stevenson is a novel published in 1893 as a sequel to "Kidnapped". The story follows David Balfour as he attempts to secure justice for a man wrongly accused of murder in 18th-century Scotland. When his efforts fail, David meets and falls in love with Catriona Drummond, daughter of an imprisoned Scottish outlaw. Their relationship unfolds across Scotland, Holland, and France amid political intrigue, betrayal, and adventure, as David navigates both dangerous conspiracies and the mysteries of romance.
Robert Louis Stevenson
Kidnapped
"Kidnapped" by Robert Louis Stevenson is a historical fiction adventure novel first published in 1886. Seventeen-year-old David Balfour's life takes a dark turn when his uncle betrays him, leading to his kidnapping and forced voyage to colonial servitude. After a shipwreck reunites him with Alan Breck Stewart, a fugitive Jacobite, the two become unlikely companions fleeing through the dangerous Scottish Highlands. Set against the turbulent backdrop of 18th-century Scotland, their journey intertwines with real historical events, including a notorious murder that threatens both their lives.
Walter Scott
Waverley; or, 'Tis sixty years since
"Waverley; or, 'Tis sixty years since" by Walter Scott is a historical novel published in 1814. A young English gentleman receives a commission in a Scottish regiment on the eve of the Jacobite rising of 1745. During leave, he discovers his host supports the exiled Jacobite prince, forcing him to choose between loyalty to the Crown and admiration for the rebels' romantic cause. His honorable conduct earns him allies on both sides as the uprising unfolds toward its inevitable conclusion.
Walter Scott
The Heart of Mid-Lothian, Complete
"The Heart of Mid-Lothian, Complete" by Walter Scott is a novel published in 1818. Set against the backdrop of Edinburgh's violent Porteous Riots of 1736, this tale follows Jeanie Deans, a devout young woman who undertakes an extraordinary journey on foot from Scotland to London. Her mission: to secure a royal pardon for her sister Effie, condemned to death for alleged infanticide. Navigating dangerous encounters and moral dilemmas, Jeanie must rely on her faith, courage, and eloquence to save her sister's life.
Walter Scott
Redgauntlet: A Tale of the Eighteenth Century
"Redgauntlet: A Tale of the Eighteenth Century" by Walter Scott is a historical novel published in 1824. Set in 1765 Scotland, it follows young Darsie Latimer, who is mysteriously kidnapped by Hugh Redgauntlet and taken to Dumfriesshire. As Darsie's friend Alan Fairford searches desperately to rescue him, dark secrets about Darsie's family emerge. The kidnapping leads to a dangerous conspiracy involving Jacobite rebels plotting to restore the Stuart monarchy, with Bonnie Prince Charlie himself at the center.
Walter Scott
The Heart of Mid-Lothian, Volume 2
"The Heart of Mid-Lothian, Volume 2" by Walter Scott is a novel published in 1818. This gripping tale follows Jeanie Deans, a devout young woman who faces an agonizing moral choice when her sister Effie is condemned to death for alleged infanticide. Unable to lie in court to save her, Jeanie embarks on an epic journey by foot from Edinburgh to London, seeking a royal pardon. Along the way, she encounters danger, discovers shocking truths about her sister's missing baby, and must appeal directly to Queen Caroline for mercy.
Walter Scott
Waverley; or, 'Tis sixty years since
"Waverley; or, 'Tis sixty years since" by Walter Scott is a historical novel published anonymously in 1814. Young English officer Edward Waverley is commissioned into a Scottish regiment on the eve of the 1745 Jacobite uprising. Visiting Scotland, he discovers his host supports the exiled Prince Charles Edward Stuart. Torn between Crown loyalty and the romance of rebellion, Waverley must navigate treacherous allegiances as he's drawn deeper into the conflict that will reshape his life and Scotland's future.
Robert Louis Stevenson
Kidnapped (Illustrated) Being Memoirs of the Adventures of David Balfour in the Year 1751
"Kidnapped (Illustrated)" by Robert Louis Stevenson is a historical fiction adventure novel written in 1886. Seventeen-year-old David Balfour journeys to claim his inheritance, only to be betrayed by his uncle and sold into slavery aboard a ship bound for the American colonies. After a shipwreck throws him together with the fugitive Jacobite Alan Breck Stewart, David finds himself caught up in political intrigue and accused of murder in the dangerous Scottish Highlands of 1751.
Neil Munro
Doom Castle
"Doom Castle" by Neil Munro is a historical novel written in the early 20th century. The story begins with Count Victor Jean, Comte de Montaiglon, arriving in a remote and desolate Scottish landscape, vastly different from the lively streets of Paris he left behind. As he navigates this eerie land, he soon finds himself threatened by a group of rough locals, which hints at the adventure and conflict that lies ahead. At the start of the novel, the protagonist, Count Victor, experiences a sense of solitude and foreboding in the striking yet desolate Scottish countryside. After being accosted by a group of men, resulting in the death of his horse, he nervously makes his way to Doom Castle, which he soon discovers is a grim and austere place that stands in stark contrast to the elegance he expected. As he arrives at the castle, he is introduced to the baron and his peculiar servant, Mungo, who both offer glimpses into the unique character and atmosphere of Doom. The opening chapters establish a sense of suspense and mystery, laying the groundwork for Count Victor’s impending confrontations and explorations in this strange land.
Walter Scott
The Heart of Mid-Lothian, Volume 1
"The Heart of Mid-Lothian, Volume 1" by Walter Scott is a novel published in 1818. Set against the backdrop of the 1736 Porteous Riots in Edinburgh, this tale follows two sisters whose lives take dramatically different paths. When Effie Deans faces execution for alleged infanticide, her steadfast sister Jeanie embarks on an epic journey to London to plead for royal mercy. The story weaves together historical upheaval, family loyalty, and moral conviction as Jeanie confronts dangerous obstacles in her desperate mission to save her sister from the gallows.
Robert Louis Stevenson
The Master of Ballantrae: A Winter's Tale
"The Master of Ballantrae: A Winter's Tale" by Robert Louis Stevenson is a novel published in 1889. Two Scottish brothers find their family torn apart when the Jacobite rising of 1745 forces them to choose opposite sides in the conflict. When the rebellious elder brother is reported dead, the younger inherits everything—until a messenger arrives years later with shocking news. What follows is a dark tale of rivalry, betrayal, and obsession that spans from the Scottish highlands to pirate ships and the American wilderness.
D. K. (Dorothy Kathleen) Broster
The flight of the heron
"The Flight of the Heron" by D. K. Broster is a historical novel first published in 1925. Set during the Jacobite rising of 1745, it follows an unlikely friendship between Ewen Cameron, a Highland chieftain fighting for the Jacobite cause, and Keith Windham, an English officer in the Government army. Brought together by fate and a heron's flight, these men on opposite sides find their destinies entangled through capture, escape, and impossible choices between duty and loyalty in war-torn Scotland.
Recently surfaced classics