An old and tattered hardback, obviously bought in a secondhand shop somewhere, turns up when Susanne does a spring clean with my name written in it. Most likely left there when we lived with them in 1989 for a few months - I have no memory of it at all. Now I have read it twice. I love the scottish dialect which rings true on the ear (and heart) and the miles of empty spaces in southern scotland. ( )

A good yarn from another age. A relaxing antidote to modern writing! ( )

An old and tattered hardback, obviously bought in a secondhand shop somewhere, turns up when Susanne does a spring clean with my name written in it. Most likely left there when we lived with them in 1989 for a few months - I have no memory of it at all. Now I have read it twice. I love the scottish dialect which rings true on the ear (and heart) and the miles of empty spaces in southern scotland. ( )

Buchan's first full-length novel. First published in1898. Great novel for a nineteen year old. Celebrates moderation in the face of conflict. The hero is a young man of action impelled by the code of honour that bound Border clans and families. Just as influential is the relationship between Border characters and their homeland, in this case the valleys and hills associated with the River Tweed.