In 1728 12yearold James Annesley was snatched from the streets of Dublin and sold into slavery in America the victim of a wicked uncle hellbent on stealing his massive inheritance Dan Cruickshank traces Jamess astonishing journey from the top table of 18th century society to its murky depths The story which helped inspire Robert Louis Stevensons book Kidnapped reveals some disturbing home truths that cast a shadow over the century of the Enlightenment