The Master of Ballantrae Author:Robert Louis Stenvenson The Demon Brother... — Two Duries in Durrisdeer, — One to stay and one to ride, — An ill day for the groom — And a worse day for the bride. — A rebellion rages in Scotland, and the Durie brothers toss coins. James will join the pretender Bonnie Prince Charles, while Henry remains home, loyal to King George. Thus, whatever cause wins, the Duries wil... more »l keep their family estate. Or so it is believed!
The ominous ballad and premise of THE MASTER OF BALLANTRAE (1889) barely suggest the scope of this truly demonic tale. We soon leave Scotland. A lifelong feud develops between the Duries, and we follow it from India to New York Adironidacks, where it ends with a ghoulich catastrophe. Throughout, James persecutes Henry. But is he the evil brother--or is Henry, who, jealous, follows the Master's wanderings and plots terrible revenge?
Robert Louis Stevenson's penetrating novel, often judged his finest, lets the reader ponder this question long after his adventure has yielded its chilling resolution.« less