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The Free Fishers
Set in a bleak Yorkshire hamlet, this is a tale of treason and romance. Anthony Lammas, Professor of Logic at St Andrews University, becomes entangled in a web of intrigue that threatens the country. His boyhood allegiance to a brotherhood of deep-sea fishermen involves him and his handsome ex-pupil with a beautiful, but dangerous, woman.
294 pages, Paperback
First published December 31, 1934
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132 people want to read
About the author
John Buchan
1,735 books466 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 - 22 of 22 reviews
November 9, 2020
The Free Fishers of the title is a secret brotherhood of the sea-folk of Fife akin to a masonic order, of which the book’s hero, Anthony Lammas, is an honorary member. As he explains, its full name was the Free Fishers of Forth ‘but its name was not often spoken. To be a member was to have behind one, so long as one obeyed its rules, a posse of stalwart allies’. Like the secret groups in other Buchan novels, The Free Fishers have means of covert and rapid communication.
The plot of The Free Fishers follows a familiar Buchan theme, that of the ordinary man taken out of his normal sphere and catapulted into a world of adventure. Nanty (as he is known to his friends) finds himself pitted against a villain described as ‘the most dangerous man now alive on earth’ whose evil intention is eventually revealed as murder and the ruining of the reputation of an innocent lady.
As Nanty notes, “In two days he had stepped out of order and routine into a world of preposterous chances. He had been hunted by those who sought to do him a mischief; he was endeavoring to wrest a malign secret from a moorland fortress; he was trying to save a friend from death; and now in the dark of the moon he was tramping the high hills with an unknown lady.”
Along with some companions he encounters along the way, Nanty sets out to try to foil the dastardly plot involving breakneck journeys by His Majesty’s Mail and by carriage across England. These are thrillingly described and really conjure up the experience – and perils – of travel by highspeed coach in the Regency period.
The villain himself is more spoken about than seen until he and Nanty finally confront each other during the book’s dramatic climax. Anthony Lammas, the man of letters proves himself a man of deeds as well and gets a glimpse of the romance his life has so far missed.
As those familiar with Buchan’s writing might expect, there are some great descriptions of landscape.
“The rooks were wheeling over the plough-lands and snipe were calling in every meadow. The hawthorn bushes were a young green, every hedge-root had its celandines and primaries, and there were thickets of sloe, white as if with linen laid out to bleach.” (Fife, Scotland).
“The reedy watercourses were ablaze with marsh marigolds, the wayside banks were white with marguerites, the fat pastures between the dykes were gay with daisies and butterflies… At the turn of the road the sails of a huge old windmill were slowly turning, and he heard the chack-chack of the pump.” (Norfolk Fens)
I can’t say if Ursula Buchan’s likening of The Free Fishers to ‘a Georgette Heyer novel, but written by a man’ is a fair one as I have never read a book by Georgette Heyer. However, I can completely agree with her description of The Free Fishers as ‘a rollicking, exuberant story’ that I really enjoyed.
The plot of The Free Fishers follows a familiar Buchan theme, that of the ordinary man taken out of his normal sphere and catapulted into a world of adventure. Nanty (as he is known to his friends) finds himself pitted against a villain described as ‘the most dangerous man now alive on earth’ whose evil intention is eventually revealed as murder and the ruining of the reputation of an innocent lady.
As Nanty notes, “In two days he had stepped out of order and routine into a world of preposterous chances. He had been hunted by those who sought to do him a mischief; he was endeavoring to wrest a malign secret from a moorland fortress; he was trying to save a friend from death; and now in the dark of the moon he was tramping the high hills with an unknown lady.”
Along with some companions he encounters along the way, Nanty sets out to try to foil the dastardly plot involving breakneck journeys by His Majesty’s Mail and by carriage across England. These are thrillingly described and really conjure up the experience – and perils – of travel by highspeed coach in the Regency period.
The villain himself is more spoken about than seen until he and Nanty finally confront each other during the book’s dramatic climax. Anthony Lammas, the man of letters proves himself a man of deeds as well and gets a glimpse of the romance his life has so far missed.
As those familiar with Buchan’s writing might expect, there are some great descriptions of landscape.
“The rooks were wheeling over the plough-lands and snipe were calling in every meadow. The hawthorn bushes were a young green, every hedge-root had its celandines and primaries, and there were thickets of sloe, white as if with linen laid out to bleach.” (Fife, Scotland).
“The reedy watercourses were ablaze with marsh marigolds, the wayside banks were white with marguerites, the fat pastures between the dykes were gay with daisies and butterflies… At the turn of the road the sails of a huge old windmill were slowly turning, and he heard the chack-chack of the pump.” (Norfolk Fens)
I can’t say if Ursula Buchan’s likening of The Free Fishers to ‘a Georgette Heyer novel, but written by a man’ is a fair one as I have never read a book by Georgette Heyer. However, I can completely agree with her description of The Free Fishers as ‘a rollicking, exuberant story’ that I really enjoyed.
April 7, 2009
Another fabulous Buchan. He created wonderfully alive and human characters. I wanted the story to keep on going.
Love the hero. Like many of these humble "Blood and Morality Tale" heroes, he's not sure he's got the courage to tackle his destiny, but he'll trust in being given it when he needs it.
Husband and I love that Buchan's women (while not usually the main characters by any means) are strong, willing, courageous, active and resourceful--great help-meets and equals to their men.
I loved this line:
"Fortune is a hussy that's likely to be in a better temper if you meet her half-way." How true.
Love the hero. Like many of these humble "Blood and Morality Tale" heroes, he's not sure he's got the courage to tackle his destiny, but he'll trust in being given it when he needs it.
Husband and I love that Buchan's women (while not usually the main characters by any means) are strong, willing, courageous, active and resourceful--great help-meets and equals to their men.
I loved this line:
"Fortune is a hussy that's likely to be in a better temper if you meet her half-way." How true.
October 16, 2015
This was a fun, light Buchan - a sort of Regency remix of "Huntingtower". I'm ok with that, given that "Huntingtower" is a book I'm very fond of. Wonderful character sketches. Once again I'm amazed by his ability to conjure up so many lifelike characters, sustain interest in them, and give them each significant things to do. Filmmakers flop at this all the time. They should take a leaf out of Buchan's books.
May 2, 2008
Beautiful book, pulled it from a used book store shelf because the spine looked so awesomely worn . . . then discovered the text was even more comfortable to sink into.
August 2, 2013
The characters from a Georgette Heyer regency romance find themselves in a RL Stevenson style adventure written by Sir Walter Scott.
May 19, 2022
This is Terrible
Sentimental. Unconvincing and contrived storyline. Overly long. Cardboard cut out characters sentimentalised .
My first read of Buchans outside 39 steps and possibly my last
Sentimental. Unconvincing and contrived storyline. Overly long. Cardboard cut out characters sentimentalised .
My first read of Buchans outside 39 steps and possibly my last
June 20, 2024
Buchan's final historical novel, and one of his most high-spirited, enjoyable, and finely crafted. Second only to Witch Wood among his historical fiction, IMO. Full review for John Buchan June here.
November 16, 2023
This was more of a romance than a thriller and not my favorite of Buchan's work. I had just read Blanket of the Dark, his previous historical novel, which resonated much more with me. Like Blanket of the Dark, there is a nationwide unofficial society, this one of fishermen and boatmen, who come to each others' aid, and sometimes even help the government in an unofficial capacity. Set sometime between 1810 and 1812, the novel focuses on Andrew Lammas, a professor of logic at St. Andrews University and a Minister of the Kirk. Although he loves his work and is good at it, he is often drawn to the fishermen of his youth and is made an honorary Free Fisher. Lammas is asked to find a young man whom he once tutored and save him from engaging in a duel and the clutches of a married woman who is suspected of being a spy for Napoleonic forces. It turns out she is actually a pawn of her evil husband, who takes her away and uses her to lure her cousin, the prime minister, to an ancient, abandoned inn, where he can be assassinated. There are fights, chases in various wheeled vehicles, and of course, the rescue of the woman. Too much on how to drive carriages right and Lammas telling the reader what great shape he is in (so that he can run a lot). Just okay.
November 11, 2024
Classic Buchan - since this is the...9th? of his books I've read, some of the themes were familiar. The same textured characters, the same destiny of dramatic espionage suddenly breaking into a respectable existence, the same atmospheric sense of fresh wind blowing through the brain. I felt the main character was possibly more like Buchan himself than any other I'd encountered in his books.
This story starts more slow and clunky than some others, but picks up marvelously, and the way the diverse characters come together as the story works to a conclusion was a bit reminiscent of a Dickens novel (without the Victorian verbosity and with a few more guns and fists).
This story starts more slow and clunky than some others, but picks up marvelously, and the way the diverse characters come together as the story works to a conclusion was a bit reminiscent of a Dickens novel (without the Victorian verbosity and with a few more guns and fists).
January 17, 2020
Great fun, reminds me of Tale of Two Cities at the beginning with the coach journey.
As with all Buchan, his characters come from all walks of life and different parts of Britain, with their own casual prejudices and regional attitudes, but they all have a mutual respect for these differences, or learn to respect them as the adventure progresses and each character’s merits come to light (eg Lammas as a Scot and friend of Belses initially detests Sir Turnour Wyse but by the end recognises the worth in his English character).
As with all Buchan, his characters come from all walks of life and different parts of Britain, with their own casual prejudices and regional attitudes, but they all have a mutual respect for these differences, or learn to respect them as the adventure progresses and each character’s merits come to light (eg Lammas as a Scot and friend of Belses initially detests Sir Turnour Wyse but by the end recognises the worth in his English character).
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
pass
January 3, 2021I love Buchan but his historicals are a bit like Conan Doyle's, burdened by research and dialect to a point where the story can barely stagger under their weight, and it felt a lot too much like hard work in my current state of mind.
April 9, 2021
Enjoyed this curiously modern plot of intrigue and treason despite some of the outdated language and dialect, amazed how well it read for being written in 1934. Great central character and supporting cast, not sure I approved of the the weak females featured but typical of it’s time.
April 12, 2018
Brilliant historical novel by a brilliant author of his time.
May 27, 2019
Lots of action!
October 2, 2021
Buchan's last historical novel, and another great read. Compelling characters, great descriptions, lots of action, adventure and derring do. Fab.
January 16, 2023
An enjoyable read. The pace quick for the most part.
April 26, 2014
In public domain in some countries. This John Buchan book is pretty good, although not fully up to the standard of his more famous works. It describes the story of a lecturer at St Andrews University in Scotland. Unbeknownst to most people he is also the member of a secret organisation. The tension of the early part of the book is about whether a young professional can be both a serious academic and a member of a secret fraternity with wild parties.
This main character is not developed to Buchan's usual standards so in the second part of the book the impetus of the story is entirely propelled by its plot which is quite good. Unfortunately no good story can be carried entirely by its plot without any likeable characters or development, so the story falls on its face in the second half. His professor stays an idiot but still bullies the much more likeable working-class/female people around him.
Basically this book once again proves my theory that if you place Buchan's characters on a scale. The higher class and more snooty the main characters are, the less likeable the book is in general.
There are the usual moments of interest, like when Buchan suggests that all Scottish 'countrymen' (rural working class) have 'the compass in their heads' and the idea that English people eat eels but not Scottish people.
Three quotes:
{Buchan's style occasionally holding the book}
When he stretched his legs over the first miles of furzy common he could have sung; when before moonrise the darkness closed in thicker upon them and they all stumbled over ditches and tussocks, he wanted to roar with laughter. The others plodded stolidly on, but he strode with a shepherd's heather-step, and there were moments when he longed to run, so compelling did he feel the vitality in blood and sinew.
{England-worship - suddenly makes the effect of the Scottish accent sinister. "Even this silly provincial Scottish man agrees!"}
"Yon's England," he had told Nanty. "We don't breed them like that in the north. We're maybe cleverer and quicker, and we're just as brave when it comes to the pinch, but we're cockleshells compared to yon even keel. If I saw much of him I'd be always differing from him, but, man, I should also be dumb with admiration. I've no fear of Boney when I think of Wyse and his kind. He's like the stone in the Bible--whoever falls on it will be broken, and on whomsoever it shall fall it will grind him to powder."
{If only all your books were like this Buchan}
His sober black clothes did not rank him among the sedentary, for his long strides were like those of a hill shepherd, and there was an odd light in his eyes. His feelings were a compound of anger and excitement. The scene at the Red Lion had stirred in him what he had scarcely looked for, a most unphilosophic wrath. That assured baronet represented a world which he had hitherto admired and cultivated, for it was to it he looked for the fulfilling of his ambitions; but now he found that it roused in him the liveliest antagonism, for it had treated a friend like dirt. Was it some Jacobinical strain in him, he wondered, that made his soul revolt against such arrogant condescension?
This main character is not developed to Buchan's usual standards so in the second part of the book the impetus of the story is entirely propelled by its plot which is quite good. Unfortunately no good story can be carried entirely by its plot without any likeable characters or development, so the story falls on its face in the second half. His professor stays an idiot but still bullies the much more likeable working-class/female people around him.
Basically this book once again proves my theory that if you place Buchan's characters on a scale. The higher class and more snooty the main characters are, the less likeable the book is in general.
There are the usual moments of interest, like when Buchan suggests that all Scottish 'countrymen' (rural working class) have 'the compass in their heads' and the idea that English people eat eels but not Scottish people.
Three quotes:
{Buchan's style occasionally holding the book}
When he stretched his legs over the first miles of furzy common he could have sung; when before moonrise the darkness closed in thicker upon them and they all stumbled over ditches and tussocks, he wanted to roar with laughter. The others plodded stolidly on, but he strode with a shepherd's heather-step, and there were moments when he longed to run, so compelling did he feel the vitality in blood and sinew.
{England-worship - suddenly makes the effect of the Scottish accent sinister. "Even this silly provincial Scottish man agrees!"}
"Yon's England," he had told Nanty. "We don't breed them like that in the north. We're maybe cleverer and quicker, and we're just as brave when it comes to the pinch, but we're cockleshells compared to yon even keel. If I saw much of him I'd be always differing from him, but, man, I should also be dumb with admiration. I've no fear of Boney when I think of Wyse and his kind. He's like the stone in the Bible--whoever falls on it will be broken, and on whomsoever it shall fall it will grind him to powder."
{If only all your books were like this Buchan}
His sober black clothes did not rank him among the sedentary, for his long strides were like those of a hill shepherd, and there was an odd light in his eyes. His feelings were a compound of anger and excitement. The scene at the Red Lion had stirred in him what he had scarcely looked for, a most unphilosophic wrath. That assured baronet represented a world which he had hitherto admired and cultivated, for it was to it he looked for the fulfilling of his ambitions; but now he found that it roused in him the liveliest antagonism, for it had treated a friend like dirt. Was it some Jacobinical strain in him, he wondered, that made his soul revolt against such arrogant condescension?
June 14, 2013
Proper adventure book with British government in peril, beautiful rich women in peril and a lot of good eggs dashing around. Set before the railways (about the first decade of the 1800s)so most of the dashing around is done by coach. Wonderful technical descriptions of the transport - lots of different types of coaches/carriages and horses. Several crashes and near misses :-
"By God sir," Robin gasped. "That's the nicest bit of coachmanship I ever seen." "Simple enough," said Sir Turnour coolly, "if you keep your head and know the meaning of proper harnessing. I couldn't have done that if the pole chain hadn't been the right length - and the wheelers properly curbed up."
A bit 'Top Gear' with horses, but the real delight is the the Scottish vernacular and all the tearing around. I still like 'John Burnett of Barnes' best. But this rates 3 and a half stars.
"By God sir," Robin gasped. "That's the nicest bit of coachmanship I ever seen." "Simple enough," said Sir Turnour coolly, "if you keep your head and know the meaning of proper harnessing. I couldn't have done that if the pole chain hadn't been the right length - and the wheelers properly curbed up."
A bit 'Top Gear' with horses, but the real delight is the the Scottish vernacular and all the tearing around. I still like 'John Burnett of Barnes' best. But this rates 3 and a half stars.
September 22, 2014
Another damsel in distress story by a master of same. I would not hand this to someone for an introduction to this author but thoroughly enjoyed (on at least three readings over 50 years) the book's series of "escapes and hurried journeys" with rollicking accounts of coaching, driving, and sailing the Firth of Forth. The title names a secret cooperative of fishermen and sailors who come to each other's aid no matter what. Buchan loved to invoke such brotherhoods. We meet them in the gypsies and peasants who shelter Peter in The Blanket of the Dark or, in another setting, the Gorbals Diehards. Unlike some "historical novels," this cannot be tied to an exact known event. I put it on that shelf though it could go with thrillers as a genial old- fashioned suspense novel in the Stevenson tradition.
June 27, 2008
I really enjoyed another adventure by John Buchan. It was fun reading, besides wonderful story-telling, although sometimes I got a little bored by Mr. Buchan's lengthy descriptions of Scottish and English landscapes (which were beautiful, just a little long).
Still, it does not top the list of my favorite Buchan novels.:)
Still, it does not top the list of my favorite Buchan novels.:)
June 14, 2014
A historical adventure set in England during the Napoleonic War. Like many Buchan stories, the plot relies on more coincidences than you can shake a stick at – in spite of this, it has style and pace that makes it fun to read, with a reasonable attempt being made to flesh out the main characters. Most enyoyable.
February 20, 2016
Not his very best - but John Buchan knows how to tell a story!
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews