Description
The Thirty-Nine Steps is an adventure and thriller novel of 1915 by the Scottish author John Buchan. Before being published as a book in September, it appeared first as a serial in Blackwood's Magazine in August 1915.
The novel is set during 1914 when war is impending in Europe. Richard Hannay--the protagonist and narrator of the story-is an all-action hero with a stiff upper lip and a miraculous knack for getting himself out of sticky situations. He is a native of Scotland, returns to England from South Africa, and makes a flat in London as his new home. He is thoroughly bored with the new life in London.
One night he buttonholed by a stranger, a well-traveled American, who claims to fear for his life. He reveals his identity to Hannay as Franklin P. Scudder, a freelance spy, remarks that he has faked his death and is trying to hide. The man appears to know of an anarchist plot to destabilize Europe, beginning with a German plot to assassinate the Greek Premier (Prime Minister) in London and to steal British plans for the outbreak of war that will lead the world to have dire international consequences. He claims to be following a ring of German spies called the Black Stone. Hannay lets him hide in his apartment.
A couple of days later Hannay returns home to find Scudder dead with a knife through his heart. He fears that murderers will come for him next, so he decides to hide in his homeland, Scotland. He feels to take up the duty to avert the assassination and continues Scudder's work. He is chased across Scotland by both police and German spies. There he needs all his courage and acuity to stay ahead of his predators.
During this run, he finds out that the notes of Scudder's notebook contradict the story he was told before.
After many ups and down, in and outs and some reasoning worthy of Sherlock Holmes, he finally solves the mystery of 'Thirty-Nine Steps' with the help of a few British authorities and military leaders.
Eventually, the plot is thwarted and the United Kingdom enters the First World War, having kept its military secrets from the enemy. On the outbreak of war, Hannay joins the New Army and is immediately commissioned, captain.
The solution to the mysterious phrase 'Thirty-Nine Steps' is a thread that runs through the whole story.
Review
'The Thirty-Nine Steps' is a pre-1923 historical reproduction that was curated for quality. This work is culturally important and has been selected to bring back into print to preserve the quality works worldwide.
Among the first espionage thrillers and an acknowledged classic, 'The Thirty-Nine Steps' well deserves its accolades as one of the best adventure stories of all time. Along with the improbable finale of the novel, the fast-paced and brilliantly conceived narratives still excites and carries the sheer suspense of the manhunt--a recurring theme in literature-- and Hannay's struggle against the evil 'the Black Stone'.
For more than seventy years, Penguin publisher has been leading in publishing classic literature in the English speaking world. With more than 1700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.
In 2003, the book was listed on BBC's 'The Big Read' poll of United Kingdom's 'Best Loved Novels'.
Adaptation
The novel has been adapted for many different media with some twist in the text from the original novel, mainly films and long-running stage play. In most cases, the title had been abbreviated to 'The 39 Steps' but the full title is commonly used for books and films in 1978.
Film
There was various American radio adaptation during the two decades following the release of Hitchcock's film, most of which were based on its heavily altered plat. Though, it remains a popular subject for modern live productions done in a similar, old-time radio style.
Theatre
In 2003, the book was listed on the BBC's The Big Read poll of the UK's Best-loved novels.
About the Author
John Buchan, 1st Baron Tweedsmuir GCMG GCVO CH PC DL (born on 26August 1875 in Perth, Perthshire) was a Scottish novelist, historian, and Unionist politician who served as 15th Governor-General of Canada, Since Canadian Confederation.
After a brief legal career, Buchan simultaneously began his writing career and political-diplomatic career, serving as a private secretary to the administrator of various colonies in southern Africa. He wrote newspeak for the British war effort during World War I. He was elected Member of Parliament for the Combined Scottish Universities in 1927. Since being passionate about writing, he did spend most of his time on his writing career. His notable writings are The Thirty-Nine Steps and other adventure fiction.
In 1935, King George V, on the advice of Prime Minister R.B. Bennett, appointed Buchan to replace the Earl Of Bessborough as Governor-General of Canada, later he was raised to the peerage. He occupied the post until his death in 1940.
Buchan was enthusiastic about literacy and the development of Canadian culture, and he received a state funeral in Canada before his ashes were returned to the United Kingdom.
Film
- In 1935, a black and white film titled The 39 Steps and directed by Alfred Hitchcock. It stars Robert Donat as Hannay and Madeleine Carroll as a woman he meets on the train. In 2004, Total Film named it the 21st greatest British film of all time.
- In 1959, The 39 Steps, a film directed by Ralph Thomas was the first color version, starring Kenneth More as Hannay and Taina Elg as Miss Fisher. It features a musical score by Clifton Parker.
- In 1978, a film with its original name The Thirty-Nine Steps was directed by Don Sharp and starred Robert Powell as Hannay and John Mills as Colonel Scudder. It is regarded as the closest to the original story of John Buchan. The film was followed by a spin-off television series Hannay, starring Powell and featuring adventure events that occurred in the original The Thirty Nine Steps.
- In 2008, the BBC commissioned a new TV adaptation of the novel, scripted by Lizzie Mickey and produced by BBC Scotland's drama unit. The 90-minute film 'The 39 Steps', was broadcast on 28 December 2008. A romantic subplot was added to the story, featuring Lydia Leonard. The storyline of the film tenuously follows the original novel, many characters being renamed or omitted. The end of this film is a little different from the original story.
There was various American radio adaptation during the two decades following the release of Hitchcock's film, most of which were based on its heavily altered plat. Though, it remains a popular subject for modern live productions done in a similar, old-time radio style.
- 1937, starring Rober Montgomery and Ida Lupino, part of the Lux Radio Theater series.
- 1938, starring Orson Welles, part of The Mercury Theatre on the Air series.
- 1943, starring Herbert Marshall and Madeleine Carroll, part of the Philip Morris Playhouse series.
- 1939, in six parts, adapted by Winifred Carey and produced by James McKechnie.
- 1950, The Adventures of Richard Hannay in12 half-hour parts, based on The Thirty-Nine Steps and Mr. Stantfast adapted by Winifred Carey and produced by Donald McCulloch.
- In 2001, starring David Robb, Tom Baker, and Willian Hope, adapted by Bert Coules.
- 1947, in 12 parts, abridged by Hilton Brown and read by Arthur Bush.
- 1978, in five parts, abridged by Barry Campbell and read by Frank Duncan.
- 1996, in ten parts, produced by Jane Marshall and read by John Nettles.
- 1994, abridged, read by James Fox and released by Orbis Publishing, as part of their "Talking Classics" series.
- 2007, unabridged, read by Robert Powell, and released by Audible audiobooks.
- 2007, unabridged, read by Peter Joyce, and released by Assembled Storie's audiobooks.
Theatre
- The 39 Steps (play), a comic theatrical adaptation by Simon Corble and Nobby Dimon for a cast of four actors premiered in 1995 at the Georgian Theatre Royal in Richmond, North Yorkshire, before embarking on a tour of village halls across the north of England.
- In 2005, Patrick Barlow rewrote the script, keeping the scenes, staging, and small-scale feel. In June, it was premiered at the West Yorkshire Playhouse.
- Finally, it was transferred to the Criterion Theatre in Piccadilly where it became the fifth longest-running play until it closed in September 2015.
- On 15 January 2008, the show made its US Broadway premiere at the American Airlines Theatre. It ended its run on 10 January 2010.
- It reopened on Stage One of New York's Off-Broadway venue New World Stages on 25 March 2010 and closed on 15 April 2010.
Video Game
A digital adaptation of Buchan's book, created with Unity, was made by Scottish developer The Story Mechanics and released on 25 April 2013, for Windows, OS X, Linus, and iPad. This version is entirely faithful to the plot of the book.
Interactive Fiction
In 2003, the book was listed on the BBC's The Big Read poll of the UK's Best-loved novels.
About the Author
John Buchan, 1st Baron Tweedsmuir GCMG GCVO CH PC DL (born on 26August 1875 in Perth, Perthshire) was a Scottish novelist, historian, and Unionist politician who served as 15th Governor-General of Canada, Since Canadian Confederation.
After a brief legal career, Buchan simultaneously began his writing career and political-diplomatic career, serving as a private secretary to the administrator of various colonies in southern Africa. He wrote newspeak for the British war effort during World War I. He was elected Member of Parliament for the Combined Scottish Universities in 1927. Since being passionate about writing, he did spend most of his time on his writing career. His notable writings are The Thirty-Nine Steps and other adventure fiction.
In 1935, King George V, on the advice of Prime Minister R.B. Bennett, appointed Buchan to replace the Earl Of Bessborough as Governor-General of Canada, later he was raised to the peerage. He occupied the post until his death in 1940.
Buchan was enthusiastic about literacy and the development of Canadian culture, and he received a state funeral in Canada before his ashes were returned to the United Kingdom.
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| John Buchan The Lord Tweedsmuir in Native headdress, 1937 |
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Rating: 3.7/5
Author: John Buchan
Publisher: Classic Comic Store Ltd, William Blackwood & sons (Original)
Publishing Date: 1 March 2016, 1915 (Original)
Language: English
Genre: Children's Action, Adventure, Comic, Graphic Novel and classic Fiction
ISBN-10: 1910619868
ISBN-13: 978-1910619865
Pages: 138
Cost: 125 INR (Paperback)
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