Adventurer Richard Hannay has just returned from South Africa and is thoroughly bored with his London life - until a murder is committed in his flat, just days after the victim had warned him of an assassination plot that could bring Britain to the brink of war. An obvious suspect for the police and an easy target for the killers, Hannay goes on the run in his native Scotland, where he must use all his wits to stay one step ahead of the game - and warn the government before it is too late. One of the most popular adventure stories ever written, "The Thirty-Nine Steps" established John Buchan as the original thriller writer and inspired many other novelists and filmmakers including Alfred Hitchcock.
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'Between Kipling and Fleming stands John Buchan, the father of the modern spy thriller' (Christopher Hitchens )
--This text refers to an alternate
Paperback
edition.
About the Author
John Buchan (1875-1940) was born in Perth, Scotland and educated at Oxford where he published five books and won several awards, including one for poetry. He went on to be a barrister, a member of parliament, a soldier, a publisher, a historical biographer, and - in 1935 - he became the Govenor-General of Canada. Today he is best remembered as the author of his perennially popular adventure novels. Sir John Keegan is a world-renowned historian of the First World War. His books include The First World War (Pimlico), A History of Warfare (Pimlico), and a biography of Winston Churchill (Weidenfeld & Nicholson, November 2003).
--This text refers to an alternate
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I returned from the City about three o'clock on that May afternoon pretty well disgusted with life. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
I returned from the City about three o'clock on that May afternoon pretty well disgusted with life. Read the first page
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By Paul Weiss
TOP 1000 REVIEWER
Format:Paperback
Richard Hannay, a former Scotsman, has been in South Africa for some time working as a mining engineer. Now returned to the UK and living in a small flat in London, he meets journalist Franklin Scudder, a stranger who, claiming to be afraid for his very life, spins him a tale of his discovery of a complex anarachist plot to de-stabilize Europe and plunge it into a multi-national war by assassinating the Greek premier during an upcoming visit to London. With some reservations, Hannay allows Scudder to hide in his flat.
A few days later, when Hannay finds Scudder murdered with a knife in his heart, he realizes the truth behind Scudder's story and takes to his heels. Scotland Yard will be after him as the only plausible suspect in Hannay's murder and Hannay also realizes that the anarchists will be after him next because they won't know what Scudder might have told him. With Scudder's pocket book in hand, the only thing that contains the clues to his research into the plot, Hannay takes a train north planning to take refuge in the wilds of the Scottish Highlands. His only plan is to come out of hiding at the last minute before Karolides' visit in order to reveal the plot to the British government.
There is no doubt that "The Thirty-Nine Steps" is a staunchly British, well written, exciting and immensely entertaining adventure story that tells the tale of a man on the run in fear of his life. Richard Hannay is also depicted as a courageous patriot who selflessly puts his country's and his government's national interests and security ahead of his own. First published in 1915 with WW I already hotly under way, author John Buchan also took a tiny step into the political arena by obviously criticizing those government officials who had pursued a policy of pacification and negotiation with Germany before the war.
With a significant question in my mind as to what its long term literary values may be, I'll leave the question of whether or not a simple adventure story deserves to be elevated to the status of classic to others to decide. But I will say that its timeless entertainment value and feel-good ending will ensure that "The Thirty-Nine Steps" will be read by adventure, mystery and thriller lovers for years and years to come.
Highly recommended.
Paul Weiss
A few days later, when Hannay finds Scudder murdered with a knife in his heart, he realizes the truth behind Scudder's story and takes to his heels. Scotland Yard will be after him as the only plausible suspect in Hannay's murder and Hannay also realizes that the anarchists will be after him next because they won't know what Scudder might have told him. With Scudder's pocket book in hand, the only thing that contains the clues to his research into the plot, Hannay takes a train north planning to take refuge in the wilds of the Scottish Highlands. His only plan is to come out of hiding at the last minute before Karolides' visit in order to reveal the plot to the British government.
There is no doubt that "The Thirty-Nine Steps" is a staunchly British, well written, exciting and immensely entertaining adventure story that tells the tale of a man on the run in fear of his life. Richard Hannay is also depicted as a courageous patriot who selflessly puts his country's and his government's national interests and security ahead of his own. First published in 1915 with WW I already hotly under way, author John Buchan also took a tiny step into the political arena by obviously criticizing those government officials who had pursued a policy of pacification and negotiation with Germany before the war.
With a significant question in my mind as to what its long term literary values may be, I'll leave the question of whether or not a simple adventure story deserves to be elevated to the status of classic to others to decide. But I will say that its timeless entertainment value and feel-good ending will ensure that "The Thirty-Nine Steps" will be read by adventure, mystery and thriller lovers for years and years to come.
Highly recommended.
Paul Weiss
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Call it a dime novel, call it a thriller, or, as they do in the foreward, a "shocker". Whatever you call it, this Bond-esque short novel is great fun on the face of it, with a by chance, against all odds man of the world getting caught up in and drubbed about by larger forces.
Interestingly written about the genesis of WWI in 1915, the author later went on to become Governor General of Canada (1930). Just adds a little more intrigue to a great little book.
Interestingly written about the genesis of WWI in 1915, the author later went on to become Governor General of Canada (1930). Just adds a little more intrigue to a great little book.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
An excellent introduction to the Buchan style of descriptive narrative that takes you though the Scottish wilds. While my introduction to this author was through Hitchcock I actually prefer the story of the book more.
The lead character, Richard Hannay goes on to 4 more adventures but this is the best of the series (though all were an enjoyable read).
The lead character, Richard Hannay goes on to 4 more adventures but this is the best of the series (though all were an enjoyable read).
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3.9 out of 5 stars
Most recent customer reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
A thrill-a-minute...
OK, so this little adventure novel is light on character development and short on complexity. Current tastes seem to favor spider web-like plots and multi-layered subplots along... Read more
Published on Nov 26 2009 by D Glover
4.0 out of 5 stars
Just Plain Fun!
This is one of those short novels that is just a fun read. The main character is taken on a journey that leads him away from the boredom he was experiencing in London. Read more
Published on Mar 13 2004 by Dan Blankenship
4.0 out of 5 stars
Seminal British thriller.
A breezy little read, John Buchan's "The 39 Steps" was quite the success in its' day, and has apparently never been out of print. Read more
Published on Sep 4 2003 by M J Heilbron Jr.
4.0 out of 5 stars
High-quality potboiler of the Edwardian era
John Buchan claims to have written this fast-paced "dime novel" while recovering from an illness. The story of how Richard Hannay stumbles upon and then escapes from a pre-WWI... Read more
Published on Sep 3 2003 by bensmomma
3.0 out of 5 stars
The Adventures of a Super-Sherlock
This 1915 espionage thriller will delight fans of Conon Doyle with a chain of "adventures" involving a chase, disguises, roll playing, an impossible escape, secret code, warplans,... Read more
Published on Dec 9 2002 by Scroop Moth
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great book that became an even greater film!
A great espionage thriller, involving danger, murder, and the future of England, set just before World War I. The pace is fast, and it makes for a quick but enthralling read. Read more
Published on Nov 24 2002 by meiringen
2.0 out of 5 stars
Doesn't live up to its potential
I picked up the Dover Thrift Edition of this novel on the basis of the back cover blurb; I've never seen the film, so I didn't know what to expect except some atmospheric chases... Read more
Published on Jun 2 2002 by Henry Ehrman
4.0 out of 5 stars
Get the Dover Thrift Edition of the 39 steps
Not bad. Voice certainly recalls Robert Donat's portrayal of the protagonist in the Hitchcock movie. Read more
Published on May 15 2002 by "cloudia"
3.0 out of 5 stars
SPYING IN THE AGE OF INNOCENECE
`Behind me was the road climbing through a long cleft in the hills...In front was a flat space of maybe a mile, all pitted with bog holes and rough with tussocks... Read more
Published on Dec 20 2001 by Chinmay Hota
4.0 out of 5 stars
The Mother of All Airport Novels
This compact little story by John Buchan, the father of the Esponage Novel for Grown Lads, is the best known adventure of Richard Hannay, the more-English-than-the-English son of... Read more
Published on Nov 2 2001 by Matherson
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