From the Bookshelf of Espionage Aficionados…

The 39 Steps (Richard Hannay, #1)

John Buchan

Find A Copy At

Libraries

Group Discussions About This Book

No group discussions for this book yet.

What Members Thought

Jan 09, 2018 Bradley West rated it really liked it

Shelves: favorites, thrillers

On merit, the book earns 3-stars, but for clarity of writing, pace and a publication date over one hundred years ago you have to award another star to Mr. Buchan. The plot has holes, but you don't really care.The 39 Steps is a quick read and highly entertaining. ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Oct 21, 2022 Wendy Charlton rated it really liked it

Listed as the original espionage novel it is not short on intrigue, plot twists and betrayal. I loved the Victorian prose that harks back to a bygone era. I found myself comparing it with the 1930s Robert Donat film and the TV adaptations and although I really enjoyed them I liked the book better

Like · see review

Aug 10, 2024 Andy Lancelot rated it really liked it

Listened to the audiobook read by actor Kenny Blyth… I did read the novel years ago. Excellently read… great story of its time. Loved it

Like · see review

Jul 02, 2017 Scott Head rated it liked it · review of another edition

Enjoyable, probably better a second time through to pick up the nuances and clues that would be esily missed by a non-spy. Rich visuals, romping adventure, and some rather unusual coincidences to carry the tale. A classic of the genre, 4.5 of 5 stars.

Like · see review