Sir Quixote of the Moors

by John Buchan

The first novel by John Buchan is a fascinating insight into the themes that would continue to appear throughout all of his later work. Set in 17th century Scotland, the story revolves around the middle aged Jean Sieur de Rohaine and his battle to deal with his sense of duty and emotional weakness, as his old friend, Quentin Kennedy, wages war with unarmed religious dissidents, Covenanters, whom he massacres - A powerful examination of religious fanaticism.

Genres: Historical Fiction, British Literature, Adventure, Fiction

Paperback

First published January 1, 1894

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.

John Buchan was a Scottish novelist, historian, and Unionist politician who served as Governor General of Canada, the 15th since Canadian Confederation.
As a youth, Buchan began writing poetry and prose, fiction and non-fiction, publishing his first novel in 1895 and ultimately writing over a hundred books of which the best known is The Thirty-Nine Steps. After attending Glasgow and Oxford universities, he practised as a barrister. In 1901, he served as a private secretary to Lord Milner in southern Africa towards the end of the Boer War. He returned to England in 1903, continued as a barrister and journalist. He left the Bar when he joined Thomas Nelson and Sons publishers in 1907. During the First World War, he was, among other activities, Director of Information in 1917 and later Head of Intelligence at the newly-formed Ministry of Information. He was elected Member of Parliament for the Combined Scottish Universities in 1927.
In 1935, King George V, on the advice of Canadian Prime Minister R. B. Bennett, appointed Buchan to succeed the Earl of Bessborough as Governor General of Canada and two months later raised him to the peerage as 1st Baron Tweedsmuir. He occupied the post until his death in 1940. Buchan promoted Canadian unity and helped strengthen the sovereignty of Canada constitutionally and culturally. He received a state funeral in Canada before his ashes were returned to the United Kingdom.

Reviews

[Cathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Buchan’s first published novel, Sir Quixote of the Moors is described in one edition as ‘A Charming Narrative of the Scottish Moors depicting the Tragic Love Story of a Gallant Gentleman’. In the book’s prologue, Buchan presents what follows as an account written by a French knight, Jean de Rohaine, even going so far as to invent an explanation for why it is in English and pointing out changes he has made in an editorial capacity. The structural device of discovered papers would recur in later Buchan novels.

The book’s title clearly references Cervantes’ Don Quixote and both heroes share an aspiration to embody in their actions the highest levels of chivalry. The majority of Buchan’s novel is taken up with de Rohaine’s moral dilemma about his growing attraction to Anne, the young woman he pledges to protect when her father and her betrothed are forced into hiding because of their religious views. The fact he arrived at their door lost and near to exhaustion and was shown great hospitality weighs on his conscience.

Buchan’s first biographer Janet Adam Smith reports he was annoyed his US publisher changed the ending. Having now read the book and compared the two endings, I can see why he was upset. Without giving anything away, the alternative endings to Charles Dickens’ Great Expectations spring to mind.

Although rather a slight story and probably largely of interest due to being his first novel, Sir Quixote of the Moors shows early signs of the literary craftsmanship for which Buchan would become known. In particular, the Scottish landscape is vividly described even if poor Jean experiences it predominantly in the cold, the wind and the rain.

#ReadJB2020

[Christopher Newton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Odd but interesting. Adventure man John Buchan's first novelette, published when he was nineteen. Set on the Scottish moors in the time of the troubles, although I'm not sure exactly which troubles they were. Follows the adventures of a French nobleman dropped down into a world 180 degrees away from everything he knows. Writing style amazingly good (for a young guy) and imagination on target. Gets a bit stereotyped when the innocent blonde is introduced and Sieur de Something must between his love and his honor. I'll bet you already know which he chooses. It's short anyway and I'm not complaining.

[Miles Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

This short novel is the essence of good clean fun instilled with Scottish atmosphere and Presbyterian piety. I was going to just give it three stars, but the ending I think warrants a fourth

[Gordon Watson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting first attempt by JB. You can see the future JB historicals within sections of this short novel. A lovely wee story, well worth a read, but rest assured it is not typical JB. Well it is and it isn't, read and see if you agree.

And like all of JBs historical adventures made me annoyed at my lack of knowledge with regard to certain aspects of Scottish history. This and Witch Wood had me reaching for my history books to read up on the covenanters and Montrose.

[Neil · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not nearly as exciting as Buchan's later work, but there is a lot of interesting material here nonetheless. Those fascinated with the spy novels will probably note similarities between Richard Hannay's perilous wanderings in Scotland and those of the lonely Frenchman, Jean de Rohaine, in _Sir Quixote_. The love story here is also central in a way that it is not to later works by Buchan, so that aspect of the narrative will prove interesting to readers who might be curious about how Buchan examines gender and sexuality in his fiction. Front and center, however, is Rohaine's consciousness, which, driven by the bleak landscape he inhabits and the unstable political environment of sixteenth-century Scotland, descends into a kind of gloom that pervades the entire book. His dream towards the end of the narrative (which informs his subsequent actions) as well as his thoughts on some of Francois Villon's poetry earlier on are well-crafted renderings of despair that reminded me of Stevenson. Readers with an interest in Buchan could skip this novella if they prefer, but an examination of _Sir Quixote_ will deepen readers' understanding of and interest in the subsequent novels.

[Leaf Album · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good book. Main character is an outcast and the whole story is bittersweet. Loved how the scenarios he was in. From being trapped in an inn and right up to his last moments to the conclusion. I think we can all learn something from sir Quixote.

[Laura]

Free download available at Project Gutenberg.

BEING SOME ACCOUNT OF AN EPISODE IN THE LIFE OF THE SIEUR DE ROHAINE