Report an issue
Tell us what's wrong and we'll take a look.
Thanks – we got it. We'll review and follow up if needed.
Uncanny fiction by a master of the weird tale, brought together for the 150th anniversary of his birth. Scottish author John Buchan is known today for The Thirty-Nine Steps, but this collection turns attention to his contribution to early weird fiction. Edited by strange fiction expert James Machin, it gathers some of Buchan's classic uncanny tales, including stories from The Runagates Club.
The selection also brings back tales rescued from rare periodicals of the early twentieth century, offering readers a chance to encounter work that has been difficult to find. At 256 pages, this cloth edition suits readers of supernatural fiction, literary anthologies, and classic British writing. Published to mark Buchan's 150th birth anniversary, it asks a fresh question of a familiar author: what unsettling corners of his fiction have readers yet to discover?
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.
More by John Buchan
Why Readwise Books?
Readwise Books is an ebook & audiobook platform that automatically logs how much you and your friends read, making it fun and easy to read more. Learn more →