Classic John Buchan Stories
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John Buchan, who served in Intelligence during World War I, wrote over 100 books, including seven collections of short stories. Although he is best known for his five Richard Hannay thrillers (including The 39 Steps, the basis for an Alfred Hitchcock film), some of his most lucid and enjoyable writing can be found in his lesser known short stories. Here are tales about war-time code breaking, cannibalism, and swashbuckling adventure during the times of Bonnie Prince Charlie. They vie with subtler stories, with a more intimate perspective, about the vagaries of human nature, politics, fishing, and poaching, set against the landscape of the lowland Scottish countryside where Buchan spent his youth.
Stories Included:
The Loathly Opposite
Politics and the Mayfly
The Earlier Affection
At the Article of Death
'Divus' Johnston
The Black Fishers
On Cademuir Hill
Ship to Tarshish
John Buchan
Author of the iconic novel The Thirty-Nine Steps, John Buchan filled many roles including barrister, colonial administrator, publisher, Director of Intelligence, and Member of Parliament. The Thirty-Nine Steps, first in the Richard Hannay series, is widely regarded as the starting point for espionage fiction and was written to pass time while Buchan recovered from an illness. During the outbreak of the First World War, Buchan wrote propaganda for the British war effort, combining his skills as author and politician. In 1935 Buchan was appointed the 15th Governor General of Canada and established the Governor General’s Literacy Award. Buchan was enthusiastic about literacy and the evolution of Canadian culture. He died in 1940 and received a state funeral in Canada before his ashes were returned to the United Kingdom.
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