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The Thirty-Nine Steps
A level 4 Oxford Bookworms Library graded reader. Retold for Learners of English by Nick Bullard.
'I turned on the light, but there was nobody there. Then I saw something in the corner that made my blood turn cold. Scudder was lying on his back. There was a long knife through his heart, pinning him to the floor.'
Soon Richard Hannay is running for his life across the hills of Scotland. The police are chasing him for a murder he did not do, and another, more dangerous enemy is chasing him as well - the mysterious 'Black Stone'.
Who are these people? And why do they want Hannay dead?
'I turned on the light, but there was nobody there. Then I saw something in the corner that made my blood turn cold. Scudder was lying on his back. There was a long knife through his heart, pinning him to the floor.'
Soon Richard Hannay is running for his life across the hills of Scotland. The police are chasing him for a murder he did not do, and another, more dangerous enemy is chasing him as well - the mysterious 'Black Stone'.
Who are these people? And why do they want Hannay dead?
96 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2008
66 people are currently reading
751 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews
September 15, 2022
3.5/5 stars
I had never heard about this book or the author before. Though a book fair, this book managed to get itself a new home - my bookshelf, on which it has been sitting for the past year and a half. This year I've really developed this newfound love for classics. That made me scan through all the classics on my shelf and I came across this one. Then, I did a little googling about the book and the author and came to know that it made its way to the list of 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die. Of course, I immediately started reading.
Once I started reading I got engrossed in Richard Hannay's story. Richard Hannay, a mining Engineer is bored and fed up with his life. One day he makes himself a vow to give the Old Country a day to make him fit into it else he'll leave the country for good. The next day he meets with an adventure for himself. However, this adventure looks like bringing danger to his life.
Yes, you got it right. Thriller. Mystery. If you're on the hunt for a great thriller mystery to read, The Thirty-Nine Steps by John Buchan should not escape your sight. Also, it's a pretty short book to read in a sitting.
What I didn't know was that The Thirty-Nine Steps is a part of a series. It has 5 more installments to complete the series and these are not short reads like The Thirty-Nine Steps. In the future, if I get my hands on the other copies, I might read and finish the series. Just to see what the other installments have in the package for me because The Thirty-Nine Steps, in my belief, can be read as a standalone.
The story reminded me of other thriller stories I'd read so far or the suspense movies I've watched so far. What makes Thirty-Nine Steps different from the rest is that it introduced the world to the Spy genre. This has resulted in many attempted imitations over the years that followed.
The reason why it is getting 3.5 stars is that I read the book this late whereas read and watched its imitations earlier. It didn't feel like I'm reading something new. It's not the author's fault. Had I read the book earlier, I'd have given the book 5 stars. The impact that The Thirty-Nine Steps is creating now in my mind is -not new. That's all.
Review Posted: 15 September 2022.
Visit My Blog to read this and all my other reviews.
"I started my new life in an atmosphere of protest against authority. I reminded myself that a week ago I had been finding the world dull."
I had never heard about this book or the author before. Though a book fair, this book managed to get itself a new home - my bookshelf, on which it has been sitting for the past year and a half. This year I've really developed this newfound love for classics. That made me scan through all the classics on my shelf and I came across this one. Then, I did a little googling about the book and the author and came to know that it made its way to the list of 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die. Of course, I immediately started reading.
Once I started reading I got engrossed in Richard Hannay's story. Richard Hannay, a mining Engineer is bored and fed up with his life. One day he makes himself a vow to give the Old Country a day to make him fit into it else he'll leave the country for good. The next day he meets with an adventure for himself. However, this adventure looks like bringing danger to his life.
"The secret of playing a part was to think yourself into it. You could never keep it up, he said, unless you could manage to convince yourself that you were it."
Yes, you got it right. Thriller. Mystery. If you're on the hunt for a great thriller mystery to read, The Thirty-Nine Steps by John Buchan should not escape your sight. Also, it's a pretty short book to read in a sitting.
What I didn't know was that The Thirty-Nine Steps is a part of a series. It has 5 more installments to complete the series and these are not short reads like The Thirty-Nine Steps. In the future, if I get my hands on the other copies, I might read and finish the series. Just to see what the other installments have in the package for me because The Thirty-Nine Steps, in my belief, can be read as a standalone.
The story reminded me of other thriller stories I'd read so far or the suspense movies I've watched so far. What makes Thirty-Nine Steps different from the rest is that it introduced the world to the Spy genre. This has resulted in many attempted imitations over the years that followed.
The reason why it is getting 3.5 stars is that I read the book this late whereas read and watched its imitations earlier. It didn't feel like I'm reading something new. It's not the author's fault. Had I read the book earlier, I'd have given the book 5 stars. The impact that The Thirty-Nine Steps is creating now in my mind is -not new. That's all.
Review Posted: 15 September 2022.
Visit My Blog to read this and all my other reviews.
May 19, 2018
The Thirty-Nine Steps by Nick Bullard.
A very fast paced race against time for a wanted man to be proven innocent. An old classic also made into a movie and a remake. a fun read and very well narrated.
A very fast paced race against time for a wanted man to be proven innocent. An old classic also made into a movie and a remake. a fun read and very well narrated.
August 14, 2016
The Thirty-Nine steps is a fast paced adventure/spy novel featuring Richard Hannay, a knowledgable everyman thrust into extraordinary circumstances. Hannay, who has recently retired to England after making his fortune in South Africa, is bored by city life. He has few friends and find that nothing exciting every happens. Then, one night, he is accosted by his neighbor on his way home, and is told an extraordinary tale of a conspiracy that could lead to World War. He agrees to hide his neighbor, and nothing more, but when his neighbor is murdered Hannay realizes that he is the next target. Hannay is forced to flee his apartment and begin an incredible journey through Scotland and England, pursued by murderers and police alike.
Hitchcock made The Thirty-Nine Steps into a popular film in the 30's and I can see why he chose it. This book certainly follows Hitchcock's brand of storytelling, in which a regular men accidentally becomes entangled in a deadly mysteries. It was very reminiscent of North by Northwest, although Hannay is a much more confident and wise everyman than Cary Grant's bumbling Roger Thornhill. At less than 100 pages this book was a breeze to read, and it held up well over time.
Hitchcock made The Thirty-Nine Steps into a popular film in the 30's and I can see why he chose it. This book certainly follows Hitchcock's brand of storytelling, in which a regular men accidentally becomes entangled in a deadly mysteries. It was very reminiscent of North by Northwest, although Hannay is a much more confident and wise everyman than Cary Grant's bumbling Roger Thornhill. At less than 100 pages this book was a breeze to read, and it held up well over time.
March 10, 2014
I saw the play to this a few years ago and was amazed however for some reason I never fancied the book. what a mistake the only regret that I have is that I didn't read it sooner it really is fantastic. What's not to love its got everything that a classic should have.
January 8, 2019
This book feels like it was written last year...so it's a real surprise to discover that it was published in 1915...103 years ago! The plot is interesting and holds your attention all the way.... well worth reading.
February 19, 2023
pel cole. només me n'he llegit la meitat, però aquesta meitat me l'he llegit dos cops per poder-la resumir, així que és com si me l'hagués llegit sencer. res de l'altre món i llegir-lo per obligació encara ho fa més feixuc tot plegat.
January 16, 2017
I've read the book and my impression is that all the story happens too faster. It might be because this is a short book, it has only seventy two pages and maybe in the original book the amount of pages is higher so the course of the whole story has more sense.
March 22, 2013
So bad I can't believe I spent that much time reading it! Boring
May 16, 2013
Meh.
It was all right, but definitely stretched plausibility, and the seemingly inevitable racism, classism and xenophobia of a 'classic' (i.e. older book) brought it down a star.
It was all right, but definitely stretched plausibility, and the seemingly inevitable racism, classism and xenophobia of a 'classic' (i.e. older book) brought it down a star.
July 4, 2015
A great travel movie but not a great read.
April 2, 2025
Lo único bueno es q está serializado y cada capítulo te deja un poco con la intriga. Pero menuda bazofiaa
November 2, 2018
The book 'The Thirty-Nine Steps' by john Buchan is about a man ,Richard Hannay, he is from Scotland but he left Scotland when he was six years old. He lives now in Britain but he doesn't like it there. He finds Britain really boring and he only wants to take the first boat to Africa. He wants to give Britain one more chance and then something interesting happens, his neighbor stands in front of his door and wants to go inside Hannays home. His name is Franklin P. Scudder ans he has an interesing story to tell. That some enemies of Constantine Karolides, the Greek Prime Minister, wants to kill the Prime Minister ans Scudder wants to stop it. But Scudder is killed in Hannays flat and now Scudder is on the run in the hills of Scotland. But Hannay finds out that Scudders story was almost a lie. Scudder was right that 15th of June was going to be an important day because of the murder of the Prime Minister. There were three men, the thin dark man was the murderer who killed Scudder. The old man says to Hannay that the Black Stone has won after the cliff and the steps had been blown up but Hannay says to the old man that his friend has not won because they put their men on the Ariadne an hour ago. Seven weeks later the world went to war and Hannay joined the army in the first week.
I honestly didn't like the book that much because the stories are going to fast and could not keep up with the story. The details were enough but I find them useless because there were not important to keeping up with the story.
I think that the book is not worth reading because in my opinion it's a little boring. Even if that the book has not a lot of pages I think it's not worth reading.
I find the story not believable because nobody would do what Hannay did. E.g to let a strange man in his house and then find him dead and then runing for your life because the bad man also wants to kill you also.
I honestly didn't like the book that much because the stories are going to fast and could not keep up with the story. The details were enough but I find them useless because there were not important to keeping up with the story.
I think that the book is not worth reading because in my opinion it's a little boring. Even if that the book has not a lot of pages I think it's not worth reading.
I find the story not believable because nobody would do what Hannay did. E.g to let a strange man in his house and then find him dead and then runing for your life because the bad man also wants to kill you also.
September 16, 2016
The Thirty-Nine Steps has that same Brit-pulp feel that The Lodger has. And it makes sense. They were both made into feature-length films in the 1920s-1930s.
Interesting fact: J.D. Salinger was obsessed with Thirty-Nine Steps the film—directed by Alfred Hitchcock I believe.
Unfortunately, the book Thirty-Nine steps does not feature a scrappy female co-star, which was one blessing that prevented me from falling asleep during the movie or switching to something else.
This book features plenty of manly action business: running, hiding, stabbing, cursing, espionage, fighting, etc. Also, there are SO many disguises. I don't think disguises are popular anymore, but apparently clothes and make-up and fake beards were all the rage in the years between World Wars.
Disappointing conclusion:
Interesting fact: J.D. Salinger was obsessed with Thirty-Nine Steps the film—directed by Alfred Hitchcock I believe.
Unfortunately, the book Thirty-Nine steps does not feature a scrappy female co-star, which was one blessing that prevented me from falling asleep during the movie or switching to something else.
This book features plenty of manly action business: running, hiding, stabbing, cursing, espionage, fighting, etc. Also, there are SO many disguises. I don't think disguises are popular anymore, but apparently clothes and make-up and fake beards were all the rage in the years between World Wars.
Disappointing conclusion:
May 29, 2017
The Thirty-Nine Steps is a story about Richard Hannay, getting involved in an event that may decide the world's fate. A thriller-adventure story that truely captivates the reader's heart and twists and turns it until they can't take it anymore. It starts off with Richard returning from South Africa and living a boring life in England again, untill a man from the same building he lives in, tells him something very odd. He claims that terrorists will plan an attack on a politician who will be visiting England in a few days. Hannay believes him and tells the man that he can stay at his appartement for a while. However, soon Hannay finds the man stabbed to death in his home and thus the adventure begins.
The writing style was fine and made easier because the book is made for students who are learning English, I really liked that and it made me less anxious to read. What I also liked was how the writer could place a joke inside the most stressfull moments of the book
The writing style was fine and made easier because the book is made for students who are learning English, I really liked that and it made me less anxious to read. What I also liked was how the writer could place a joke inside the most stressfull moments of the book
January 15, 2014
A nice short WWI spy thriller, the first of a series starring Richard Hannay. In the days leading up to WWI, Richard Hannay has returned to England after a lifetime in Southern Africa. He is bored out of his mind and gives England 24 hours to come up with something or he is going back. He got his wish in spades as a "dead" man turns up in his rooms on the run from German spies and a few days later ends up truly dead. Hannay finds his coded journal and knowing he will be the chief suspect, makes a run for the Highlands to hide out, pursued by both police and spies.
The usual narrow escapes, interesting characters and of course a last minute glitch. No lovely villainess (or women of any kind) figure in this story though. And if 19th century stereotypes and language bother you, best not read this...or Huckleberry Finn either for that matter.
The usual narrow escapes, interesting characters and of course a last minute glitch. No lovely villainess (or women of any kind) figure in this story though. And if 19th century stereotypes and language bother you, best not read this...or Huckleberry Finn either for that matter.
April 27, 2015
No, you don't know what happens in this book, it bears only the faintest resemblance to either of the two film versions I've seen. As is, it's a briskly paced little thriller about a falsely accused man on the run (one of Hitchcock's favorite themes) which turns into a spy thriller about 70% of the way through the book. No lovely blonde Madeleine Carroll to aid our hero; in fact, the only women who appear in the book are stout-hearted Scottish housewives who don't ask questions but still provide the fugitive with a sustaining bowl of whiskey and milk. It was published in 1915, when the most idiotic war in history was just getting started, and was probably intended to reassure the Brits that plucky, resourceful Englishmen would ultimately be able to outwit those blastedly clever Germans. And eventually, of course, they did.
July 10, 2016
ঈদের দিন ফেসবুক এ ঘাটাঘাটি করতে করতে কি মনে করে হঠাৎ বইটার লিংক পেয়ে ডাউনলোড করে পড়া শুরু করলাম। তারপর শুধুই শক্ত করে দাঁত কামড়ে শব্দের পর শব্দ পড়ে যাওয়া। খুবই ছোট একটা বই। কিন্তু কেন যেন বই টা হাতে নেওয়ার পর থেকে টাইম ডাইলেশন শুরু হইল। শেয আর হয় না।
রিভিউ লিখতে একটু ও ইচ্ছা করতেছে না। মোদ্দা কথা রিভিউ আর কি লিখবো, কাহিনী এমনই বোরিং লাগছে যে ৫ মিনিট চেষ্টা করে ও লেখার মতো কিছু মনে করতে ব্যর্থ হইলাম। মস্তিষ্ক কে ধন্যবাদ, গল্প টা নিজে থেকেই আমূল ভুলে গিয়ে আমাকে রেহাই দেওয়ার জন্য।
হয়তোবা অনুবাদ টা অনেক সংক্ষিপ্ত আকারে করা হয়েছে এই কারনে ভাল লাগে নাই।
রিভিউ লিখতে একটু ও ইচ্ছা করতেছে না। মোদ্দা কথা রিভিউ আর কি লিখবো, কাহিনী এমনই বোরিং লাগছে যে ৫ মিনিট চেষ্টা করে ও লেখার মতো কিছু মনে করতে ব্যর্থ হইলাম। মস্তিষ্ক কে ধন্যবাদ, গল্প টা নিজে থেকেই আমূল ভুলে গিয়ে আমাকে রেহাই দেওয়ার জন্য।
হয়তোবা অনুবাদ টা অনেক সংক্ষিপ্ত আকারে করা হয়েছে এই কারনে ভাল লাগে নাই।
February 12, 2014
I received this book as a gift; my wife Carol, researched the 10 most popular spy novels of all time and bought me several for Christmas 2013. This was my first exposure to John Buchan's writing, and it certainly is a period piece. Set near the outbreak of WW I it is full of conspiracies and German provocateurs infiltrating the UK. Told in the first person, Buchan does a great job of capturing the tone and cadence of the Scots that the protagonist, Richard Hannay encounters while on the lam for three weeks as he struggles to unravel a plot against England. I enjoyed it immensely.
March 3, 2016
More like 3.5-4
I liked the idea of Buchan writing a "dime novel" because he and his friend loved them and he was bored. It's an interesting story of espionage and murder right before WWI. I like the writing, the terminology reminded me of Fitzgerald in parts. I did find myself getting a bit bored in a couple spots, but for the most part it was engaging.
I liked the idea of Buchan writing a "dime novel" because he and his friend loved them and he was bored. It's an interesting story of espionage and murder right before WWI. I like the writing, the terminology reminded me of Fitzgerald in parts. I did find myself getting a bit bored in a couple spots, but for the most part it was engaging.
July 3, 2017
3.5 stars. I have loved the various films and series based on this short novel for many a year (Hitchcock's is my fave!). This is the first time I have actually read the book and though different from the films was still a quick, fun, fast paced read. The only downside was the almost inevitable racism, classism and sexism. It is a reflection of the then times.
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November 4, 2013I've read the book in November 2011. I had some questions then and I know the answers.
2011 November
This is one of the stories I don't really understand. What is the black stone exactly? The German enemies just were spies to try to get information? That make me so frustrated.
2011 November
This is one of the stories I don't really understand. What is the black stone exactly? The German enemies just were spies to try to get information? That make me so frustrated.
February 14, 2014
This novel reminded me in quite a few ways of the Sherlock Holmes tales I've read, and as I've said several times, I was a big fan of Sherlock Holmes. The process of the events were really compelling and Hannay as a character was fascinating to consider.
March 18, 2014
I like this book because it has the atmosphere of a real good old fashioned adventure. Richard Hannay is clearly a gent with his own means, has nothing to do and then without looking for it finds himself caught up in intrigue and murder. Just like any adventure should start.
Currently reading
April 3, 2016The Thirty-Nine Steps is a nice adventure novel written by Buchan. Even though it first appeared in 1915, the book's really enjoyable and doesn't sound old as it is. The plot immediately captures the reader who's not allowed to quit the reading and dies to know how the story's going to end.
August 10, 2016
He had waayy too much luck, and met way too many kind people who of course believed his story and didn't rat him out to the police. Then there's the old man who was stupid enough to lock his prisoner away in a room with different explosives....
And it was boring.
And it was boring.
October 29, 2016
I think that this book is one of the best books I have ever read. I felt empathy whilst reading this. It was very mysterious and just couldn't stop myself from reading more and more of it. Can't wait to watch the film. Keep up the good work John Buchan.
March 21, 2017
This is a story that really didn't inspire me. The beginning is interesting, the ending is interesting. The middle, however, involves the main character running around fields and finding lots of uncommonly helpful strangers.
Not a classic and I will not be recommending it.
Not a classic and I will not be recommending it.
December 10, 2018
One of the best suspense novel(la)s I've read- a truly wonderful read. Nicely paced and well tied up at the end. I think I'll come back to this book many a time. (I can't quite understand the low rating- I think if you come across this book you should definitely give it a read)
January 10, 2018
Very disjointed and did not have a clear plot line. Many of his escapes from perilous situations are due to sheer luck...to the point that it was a little ridiculous. Definitely not my favorite in the "man on the run" field of books.
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December 7, 2012Not Bad
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