The Fugitives (novella)

The Fugitives is a novella by English novelist and screenwriter Robert Louis Stevenson. While often published as a standalone work, it also appears within larger collections of Stevenson's shorter fiction. The story follows two titular fugitives – an elderly, impoverished Jacobite soldier who refuses to acknowledge the Hanoverian succession, and a young boy who has run away from his apprenticeship. Their paths cross in the Scottish countryside, and they form an unlikely bond as they navigate the challenges of their precarious existences.

The novella explores themes of loyalty, rebellion, generational differences, and the complex socio-political landscape of 18th-century Scotland following the Jacobite risings. Stevenson's vivid prose and attention to historical detail contribute to the story's atmosphere and character development. The Fugitives is considered one of Stevenson's more minor works, yet it demonstrates his skill in crafting compelling narratives within a shorter format and his continued interest in Scottish history and identity. Its concise length makes it an accessible entry point into Stevenson's wider body of work.