The Master of Ballantrae, by Robert Louis Stevenson, follows the story of two brothers, James and Henry Durie, whose lives are torn apart by the Jacobite rising of 1745. Told through the memoir of Ephraim Mackellar, the steward of the Durrisdeer estate, the novel details their ensuing rivalry and adventures, spanning from Scotland to North America and involving themes of betrayal, family loyalty, and the quest for power and fortune.

The Master of Ballantrae by Robert Louis Stevenson is a dramatic tale of sibling rivalry, adventure, and betrayal. Critics praise its vivid prose and complex characters, but some find the plot meandering and overly dark. The dynamic between the brothers is both compelling and tragic, making it a notable, if occasionally uneven, work in Stevenson’s oeuvre.

A reader who enjoys The Master of Ballantrae by Robert Louis Stevenson likely appreciates historical adventure novels with complex characters and themes of family conflict and betrayal. Fans of Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë or The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas would find this book appealing.

Mysterious / Dark / Suspenseful / Melancholic / Challenging

- The Master of Ballantrae was first published in serialized form in 1888 in the magazine Scribner's Magazine before being released as a novel in 1889.
- The novel is notable for its exploration of themes of duality and sibling rivalry, reflecting Stevenson's interest in the concept of the double or doppelgänger, which he also famously explored in Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.
- Set during the Jacobite Risings, Stevenson's narrative intentionally weaves historical events with fiction, providing a richly textured backdrop that captures the complex political tensions of the 18th century.

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