Darsie Latimer is a young man who gets kidnapped by Hugh Redgauntlet, and taken to a village in Dumfries. After much intrigue Darsie discovers that Redgauntlet is his uncle. He also discovers that a number of prominent Jacobites, and Bonnie Prince Charlie himself are staying in the village. Redgauntlet has summoned them all to start a new Jacobite rebellion, and he wants Darsie to join them to recover the British throne for the Stuart dynasty.

Sir Walter Scott (1771–1832) was a Scottish historical novelist, playwright and poet. He was the first modern English-language author to have a truly international career in his lifetime and many of his works remain classics of British literature. Famous titles include Ivanhoe, Rob Roy, The Lady of the Lake, Waverley, The Heart of Midlothian and The Bride of Lammermoor.