The book is one of the best historical novels about the memoirs of the adventures of a young boy in search for his birth right.

The story is set in the mid-eighteenth century in Scotland.

David Balfour is a boy who sets out in the world to seek his fortune and undergoes hardship and danger in his travels but returns as a young man to claim his rightful inheritance.

Planning to cheat him of his inheritance, David's uncle had him kidnapped.

David strikes a friendship with Alan Breck, a fleeing Jacobite leader, who happens to be on the same ship as David.

At sea, David and Alan become comrades and go through quite a few adventures.

There are many suspenseful events like sea battles and perilous chases across the Scottish halls.