Robert Louis Stevenson

The Master of Ballantrae Robert Louis Stevenson

In Scotland, in the eighteenth century, in the Durrisdeer manor, the two Durie brothers live: James, the master of Ballantrae, the eldest of the family, is a libertine calculator, ambitious, amoral, but charismatic and respected; Henry, the younger, is moderate, more virtuous, but unjustly unloved. In 1745, the country was plunged in a civil war between the Jacobites, partisans of the pretender Jacques François Stuart, to the army of the king in place, George II. By opportunism, James wants to support the cause of the rebels, despite the contrary opinion of his father and his brother. The latter think that as an elder he should stay at the manor to show his loyalty to King George; And that it is rather for Henry to engage with the Jacobites. James sealed his destiny and that of the Durrisdeer by going despite all to fight alongside Prince Charles. On April 16, 1746, the famous battle of Culloden saw the crushing of the Jacobite rebellion and James was presumed dead. Having in fact survived, Master then conceived a fierce hatred against Henry, to whom he reproached his disgrace and the spoliation of his property. From then on, and throughout his life, James will never cease persecuting his brother. At first, Henry will endure all humiliations. Then he will end up devoured by the same hatred that animates his brother. The final confrontation will end tragically, in the heart of the Adirondack wilderness.