Showing results by author "John Buchan" in All Categories

The Three Hostages is a thrilling blend of espionage and mystery, featuring the resourceful Richard Hannay. When three children from prominent families are kidnapped, Hannay is called upon to unravel a complex web of deception, crime, and danger. Racing against time and facing formidable enemies, he must uncover the truth before it’s too late. Packed with intrigue and action, this novel is a gripping installment in John Buchan’s iconic spy series.

Diplomacy by other means may, at times, sound heroic. A fight for principles and ideals carried out by young men armed to the teeth and directed by older men in pursuit of their own version of glory for themselves and their Nations. Right will triumph over wrong. But war can be an illusion, stirred up by schemers and opportunists to take something from other nations that may or may not be right. As blood and limb are sacrificed the true cost is seen but often set to one side as the dispute becomes embedded in emotions and reason falls away.

Mr. Standfast by John Buchan is the third novel in his Richard Hannay series, set during World War I. Hannay, a British intelligence officer, is tasked with uncovering a German spy network operating in Britain. Disguised as a pacifist, he infiltrates radical groups and embarks on a perilous journey across England, France, and Switzerland. Along the way, he encounters the enigmatic Mary Lamington, who becomes both his ally and romantic interest. The story culminates in a high-stakes confrontation in the Alps. Combining espionage, adventure, and patriotism, Buchan explores themes of loyalty, ...

The Thirty-Nine Steps is a spy adventure novel by John Buchan, written in 1914. Narrated from a first-person perspective, it follows the journey of an "ordinary man," Richard Hannay, who becomes entangled in a conspiracy involving the theft of vital military intelligence by German anarchists. summary by Lina

Richard Hannay’s boredom is soon relieved when the resourceful engineer is caught up in a web of secret codes, spies, and murder on the eve of WWI. This exciting action-adventure story was the inspiration for Alfred Hitchcock’s 1939 classic film of the same name. John Buchan (1875-1940) was Governor General of Canada and a popular novelist. Although condemned by some for anti-Semitic dialog in The Thirty-Nine Steps, his character’s sentiments do not represent the view of the author who was identified in Hitler’s Sonderfahndungsliste (special search list) as a "Jewish sympathiser." (...

The Three Hostages is the fourth of five Richard Hannay novels. The Richard Hannay novels are action/mystery/spy novels with a James bond feel. This book starts out with Richard Hannay married to Mary Lamington living in Fosse Manor. He is asked to work undercover and figure out who kidnapped three children of prominent people, while Scotland Yard investigate the abductions officially. Different friends help him solve the mystery. It's suspenseful and a fun action packed mystery! - Summary by Kimberly Shoemaker

Embark on a thrilling adventure with John Buchan's "The Thirty-Nine Steps." Follow Richard Hannay as he uncovers a conspiracy and races against time to prevent a global disaster. Perfect for fans of espionage, mystery, and action-packed narratives.

Short stories have always been a sort of instant access into an author’s brain, their soul and heart. Whether they hail from the Lowlands or the Highlands, to be a Scottish author is to part of a quite an extraordinary band of authors and its literary traditions. These beguiling stories example the full range and majesty of their talents and the subjects they explore.

The world since earliest times has always had spies. Information is a valuable commodity and even more so in times of war or tension. Many authors and poets have had real life incarnations as spies from Christopher Marlowe and Aphra Behn to Daniel Defoe. But it’s a dangerous game. Working in a murky, secretive world where any trust given could be at the expense of your life.

For an atheist it’s a great deal, though it does suggest atheism may have a weak point. For those of faith it’s a matter of jam now and purgatory tomorrow. A bargain many artists feel is something they can live with. For agnostics it’s usually a question of can the afterlife really be that bad, would workplace regulations reach all parts of heaven and hell. However, in this volume the terms are agreed and the Devil pays his fees and the character his dues, each happy to wait a few decades for the eternal payback.