What can you say? A writer that all writers aspire to. Kidnapped is not my all time favourite, although that said RLS’s Alan Breck Stewart character is certainly memorable. In my view "Pirates of the Caribbean-Curse of the Black Pearl" leans heavily on the RLS pirate genre. Captain Barbossa has to be a shoe-in for Long John Silver. Also, references to previous events, not fully disclosed are something of a turn on. And talking of turn on, that Kiera Knightely; the Jane Austin dialogue and cut glass accent ... quick nurse, my pacemaker.

Excellent idea, and do it on a regular basis.

RLS inspired so much more than Johnny (tongue hangs out) Depp's movies though!

It's about time Edinburgh (and Scotland) really lionised our most famous literate sons ..... Scott and Stevenson pushed the concept of the novel forward so much while Burns and Fergusson lit the world with brilliant poetry and earthy songs. Let's see Edinburgh bookshops PUSHING their writings into the windows. You can't publicise Scottish Achievement enough ... or we'll have dumbed down housing scheme hoodies with half a brain between them all left to cope with!

Maybe, raising the profile of the book ....will inspire someone to remake the film.

The 1971 film .... is very scenic but I can't take Michael Caine seriously in the role of Alan Breck Stewart..... his accent is awful and I keep expecting him to drop back into his Alife (London wideboy role). Also, his costumes are a bit twee in that film as well...

Maybe Ewen McGregor could take on the role of Alan Breck Stewart ....

Kiera Knightley as Catriona ... I bet she can do a good Scots accent and I believe she's half Scottish, anyway.

David Balfour ..... well, there are bound to be up and coming young Scottish actors who could get their big break in that role.

Or maybe Johnny Depp as Alan Breck Stewart...... ah, now that would be nice :))

Oddly, I have been thinking about this very book for about 2 weeks. I started reading this book when I was a teen and never finished it. My 15 year old also said he started it but hasn't finished it, but darned if we can find the book! Maybe I'll have to score another copy.

#6] Go to gutenberg.org and it is available in several electronic formats.

Along with masses of other public domain literature.

I'm pleased to see Kidnapped coming out in a graphic edition. Some time in the late 50s, DC Thomson of Dundee put out such a version, drawn by the late, great Dudley D Watkins of Oor Wullie and The Broons fame. There were other graphic novels in this style, Oliver Twist and Catriona, I think, were two of them. Great stuff and if there is any way to bring young people to reading the classics and other works then it is to be applauded