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The Magic Walking Stick
This charming one-of-a-kind classic is a beautiful compilation which includes the timeless story, The Magic Walking-Stick and several additional Arabian Nights classic stories including; The Seven Voyages of Sinbad, The Story of the Magic Horse, The Story of the Fisherman and the Genie and more.
Paperback
First published September 1, 1927
About the author
John Buchan
1,643 books484 followersLibrarian 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
July 3, 2012
A surprisingly fun little read that I've waited too long to try, because if ever a book required my '40-page-rule', this one did!
My dad recommended this to me years ago, but I put it back on the shelf when the first few pages just didn't click for me. However, the other night I had trouble getting to sleep and picked it up. 'What could it hurt?' I thought. Started at the beginning, read only the first couple of chapters and still the story didn't do anything. I wasn't sure I'd finish it, but when I had trouble nodding off last night, I reached for it again.
This time I read to page 39, when -- pow! the story took off. Adventures, escapes, finding lost treasures, saving a life, saving a kingdom -- I mean this kid did it all!
I'm glad I read this. Hmm, aren't there some other John Buchan books on my dad's shelves ...?
My dad recommended this to me years ago, but I put it back on the shelf when the first few pages just didn't click for me. However, the other night I had trouble getting to sleep and picked it up. 'What could it hurt?' I thought. Started at the beginning, read only the first couple of chapters and still the story didn't do anything. I wasn't sure I'd finish it, but when I had trouble nodding off last night, I reached for it again.
This time I read to page 39, when -- pow! the story took off. Adventures, escapes, finding lost treasures, saving a life, saving a kingdom -- I mean this kid did it all!
I'm glad I read this. Hmm, aren't there some other John Buchan books on my dad's shelves ...?
September 29, 2020
Review to follow
September 8, 2023
This is an early short version of the novel of the same name that Buchan wrote for children which was contained in a contribution that Buchan had made to Lady Cynthia Asquith's short story collection Sails of Gold (1927).
March 23, 2023
Magic
As a (rather naughty) youth I received this second hand book for Christmas, somewhat scuffed, but from that moment on I fell in love with this story. Today, at the age of 87, I still stop whenever I see walking sticks for sale! Magic it is!
As a (rather naughty) youth I received this second hand book for Christmas, somewhat scuffed, but from that moment on I fell in love with this story. Today, at the age of 87, I still stop whenever I see walking sticks for sale! Magic it is!
June 19, 2026
As children’s fantasy, it is not of the same rank as The Hobbit or The Chronicles of Narnia but, as both Tolkien and Lewis were fans of Buchan, it is difficult to imagine those books existing without books like this one.
Light, fun kids' supernatural adventure with a nice mix of silliness and seriousness. Full review for John Buchan June on the blog.
August 26, 2016
A short tale about a magical stick that transports the owner where ever they wish.
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March 17, 2020Lovely period tale of adventure and magic with a typically Buchan feel. Every child should read this!
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews