The Master Of Balantrae (1907)

The Master of Balantrae is a novel written by Robert Louis Stevenson and published in 1907. The story is set in Scotland in the mid-18th century and follows the lives of two brothers, James and Henry Durie, who are both vying for control of their family estate, Balantrae. James is the elder brother and is known as the ""Master"" due to his cunning and manipulative nature. Henry, on the other hand, is more honest and straightforward.The novel is told from the perspective of Mackellar, the faithful steward of the Durie family. Mackellar is torn between his loyalty to the family and his own sense of morality, as he witnesses the brothers' rivalry escalate into violence and betrayal. James and Henry's feud comes to a head when they both fall in love with the same woman, Alison Graeme. Their rivalry leads to a duel, in which Henry is presumed dead.James inherits the estate, but his guilt over his brother's death drives him to drink and despair. Meanwhile, Mackellar discovers that Henry is still alive and has been living in exile. Mackellar reunites the brothers, but their reconciliation is short-lived as James' past sins catch up with him, leading to a tragic end.The Master of Balantrae is a complex and compelling tale of sibling rivalry, love, and betrayal. It is considered one of Stevenson's finest works and is a must-read for fans of historical fiction and classic literature.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.