Rosamunde Pilcher mentioned this book in her "Coming Home" novel. I've had it for years, and finally decided to read it. It was fantastic. Fast-paced. Out of the box. And set across England, Scotland, and Scandanavia. ( )

I used to love the Richard Hannay books - still do for old times sake, but despite the well told tale, the wonderful moors and crags and bogs, the imperialist slides into stereotypes of class and gender and race. These days I enjoy the historically based scottish adventures better. Time to brush off Rider Haggard (twenty years older than Buchan) and see how he stands up to me getting older.... ( )

John Buchan's [The Thirty Nine Steps] was published in 1915 and introduced his hero Richard Hannay. The Island of Sheep published in 1936 relates Richard Hannay's (now General Hannay) sixth and final adventure. He survives yet again, but John Buchan had only one more novel to write being busy with his job as Governor General to Canada; he died in service in 1940. Buchan seems not to have lost his skill in story telling even if his hero has a bit too much of the British 'stiff upper lip" and there are a few too many co-incidences, but this is fantasy adventure writing that is designed to entertain albeit based on solid ground.

Rapscallions, scoundrels, scallywags, skellums are words frequently used to describe the criminal classes, and although no doubt the world in the 1930's was no less innocent than now, the writing of novelists like Buchan certainly was. Richard Hannay and his chums belong to a social class that is bordering on being aristocratic, there are no money worries and servants and other employees take the strain out of daily living. One dabbles in politics perhaps, or writes or one holds down a job in one of the professions: the legal profession is always useful for those gentlemen that get involved in adventuring. Of course everyone knows how to shoot and most people own a gun and getting time off work is not a problem. The police force is only in existence to clear up the mess. Incidents from past exploits are liable to come back to haunt you, which is the case in this story.

Despite it all feeling like another world, one that is perhaps lost forever (even if it ever existed), there is still much to enjoy. Buchan stories usually have a surprise heroic action at the denouement and this one is no exception and the well put together plotting keeps the pages turning. Buchan's descriptions of the natural world are keen as is his love of the countryside. He also paints lively pictures of his characters once he gets past calling them rapscallions or scoundrels. There is no overt sexism or racism, but there are some allusions to the class system more prevalent in the 1930's even than today; where we might disparagingly refer to the 'white van man' Buchan refers to a tradesman's van "driven by one of those hatless youths". However for me born some twenty years after the events in the story and marvelling at a car chase up the Great North Road (before the motorway system) it holds much charm.

This was an unread book from my bookshelves and the old penguin edition (1956) just about kept together long enough for me to finish. An enjoyable read on a rainy Monday and so 3.5 stars. ( )

Another exciting adventure for Richard Hannay, this time with his 14-year-old son (as well as his old friend Sandy & others). ( )

Richard Hannay, famous hero of 39 Steps and Greenmnatle, has settled down as an English landowner with his wife and 14 year old son. But he is roused from his quiet life when his friend Lord Clayroyden shows him a piece of jade left by a Norwegian goldhunter named Hsroldsen, whom he had known in Africa. The jade is said to be the clue to a great treasure. ( )