John Macnab: Authorised Edition

Sir Edward Leithen #2

by John Buchan, Andrew Greig (Introduction)

Who is John Macnab? Three Scottish landowners receive a note which tells them that he intends to poach from their estates without being caught, though if he does he will donate money to a good cause. The reactions of the landowners differs considerably.

Genres: Fiction, Adventure, Classics, Scotland, Mystery, British Literature, Novels

165 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1925

About the author

Librarian 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.

Reviews

[Robbie Leslie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've just re-read this (for about the sixth time, I think) and I am sure I will read it again. I fell for Buchan's adventure yarns as a young teenager and I've pretty much read them all - the Hannays, the Dickson McCunn's and the Ned Leithen's. I've enjoyed them all but this is my all-time favourite. It is just sheer fun - for once in Buchan's oeuvre the fates of nations and empires are not at stake. It is a simple story of three bored gentlemen having a great time in the hills and heather as they play at being poachers.
The characters, with one exception, all well-drawn from the major players to the more walk-on parts. Buchan even manages to get his female leads to sing - Janet Raden and Lady Claybody fairly jump off the page. On the MacNab side the lower classes are well represented by Watty Lithgow and the disreputable but redoubtable and invaluable Benjamin Bogle. The gamekeepers and ghillies who form the opposition to MacNab are very sympathetically treated.
The only character who is a 'little thin' is Palliser-Yeats, but considering that he is banker Buchan probably didn't have much to work with there!
It has been a joy to read this novel again. Perhaps it is time to revisit some more Buchan. 'Huntingtower' next ....

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

“The function of man is to live, not to exist.” Jack London, Tales of Adventure

This is a quote John Buchan would probably have agreed with, as the need for constant challenge in order to prevent decay of the body, mind and spirit is a common theme in his books. In fact, he would probably take it even further, seeing lack of challenge as the first step towards a weakening of civilisation. (He has one of his characters expound this view in John Macnab.) In just such a state of ennui do the three protagonists of John Macnab – all men in prominent public positions – find themselves at the beginning of the book. Rather than steal a horse (which is Leithen’s doctor’s light-hearted advice to him) they embark on an adventure that will test their stalking and fishing skills, their physical stamina and risk their public reputations if unsuccessful. ‘You’ve got to rediscover the comforts of your life by losing them for a little.’

Lawyer Edward Leithen (whom we met in The Power-House) along with banker, John Palliser-Yeates, and politician, Charles Lamancha, decamp to the Highlands basing themselves clandestinely at the estate of mutual friend, Archie Roylance. Then the fun begins as they attempt to outwit the forces arrayed against them. The setting gives Buchan the opportunity to display his love of the Scottish countryside with some wonderful descriptions of the scenery. ‘The strong sun was tempered by the flickering shade of the trees, and, as the road wound itself out of the crannies of the woods to the bare ridges, light wandering winds cooled the cheek, and, mingled with the fragrance of heather and the rooty smell of bogs, came a salty freshness from the sea.’

Although a Borderer by birth, Buchan has fun reproducing the Highland dialect of the local ghillies. John Macnab is a light-hearted book and I certainly choose not to take as snobbery the delight the three men take in ‘dressing down’ as tramps or to be offended by some of their more unreconstructed views about social status.

As a backdrop to the exploits of the collective named ‘John Macnab’, there is a charming love story. This features another familiar Buchan theme: the man who’s had little to do with women but falls head over heels when he meets someone who is his intellectual match. ‘He saw in that moment of revelation a comrade who would never fail him, with whom he could keep on all the roads of life.’ [Isn’t that lovely?] In an echo of Mr Standfast (which is next month’s Buchan book) the gentleman concerned is attracted, amongst other things, by the fact the lady resembles ‘an adorable boy’.

I really enjoyed revisiting John Macnab. It’s light-hearted and charming and all relayed in Buchan’s elegantly effortless prose.

[Eleanor · Rating 3 out of 5]

No spies or murderers in this one: it is a light-hearted romp in the Highlands as long as you can cope with the idea of killing animals as sport. Three men, each eminent in his field, feel stale and bored with life, so decide to pit their skills against three landowners and their gillies by forewarning them of intent to kill a deer or catch a salmon on their property and then return it to them, meanwhile evading capture.

[David Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have fond memories of this book from my reading in early adolescence, so I was pleased to find it available to download free to my Kindle. It was published in 1925 but still feels fresh and spirited. This upper class world of fine manors and expansive grounds is as far away from me now as it was when I first read it as a miner's son in a council house, but that is part of the charm. The class assumptions are amusing, and relieved by Buchan's essentially liberal sentiments despite his being very much part of the aristocratic world in his day job as diplomat and governor. Above all, he is a supreme writer of adventure; here the reader is caught up by the thrill of the chase as three friends try for a dare to hunt game from heavily defended estates, using the collective pseudonym John Macnab. I know nothing whatsoever about hunting and shooting (am temperamentally opposed to both), but I found myself rooting for 'Macnab' and as a reader inhabiting his skin - that's the power of the story and the skill of a great writer in the genre. When I settled down to read, I wondered if I would be as absorbed as I had been nearly fifty years before. The magic was still in the pages, or in this case the screen. By the way, much though I love books, I feel my pleasure was not lessened in any way by using the electronic reader. This was one of my first sustained experiences with the Kindle, and I'm sure I'll be doing a lot more of my reading in this form from now on, especially when I can get it for free.

Reviewer David Williams has a regular writer's blog http://writerinthenorth.blogsot.com

[Leslie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unlike many Buchan books, the adventure in this one has no political side to it (except for the fact that some politicians take part). Rather, it is adventure purely for the fun & sport of it.

[Greg · Rating 3 out of 5]

I confess I enjoy these generally ridiculous Buchan novels. He's super colonialist, with all the awful things that implies, but in an innocent, too-dumb-to-know-it kind of way. Rugged individualists travel to remote locations (remote to English people) to "make their pile" saying stuff like "I let fly and gave him what for!" and other goofy things.

It's basically if you took Orwell's novels on colonialism and removed all nuance, irony, and self-awareness of one's advantages and consideration for anyone but yourself (and the British empire). I'd like to think Buchan was in on the joke, or that it was a joke, but I've never seen evidence that's the case (haven't looked either, though).

His books are "fun" to read more as a relic of that time and the kind of books it produced. Though I confess I love the way he refers to obscure events of bygone eras, and personalities of that time, as if everyone knew about them and couldn't possibly NOT know all about them. I feel like I should get a trophy, or maybe an invitation to a men's club with leather recliners and servants and brandy and cigars, when I do understand a reference. But I'd politely decline the invitation, of course.

LOL, I wrote all that before I read John MacNab and it's pretty spot-on. A bunch of bored rich people conjure up a wild (for landed gentry) plan to escape their boredom, without a thought to all the working class stiffs who have to work all day to play at their silly game. Everyone goes home a winner, even the fish kid, though he gets kicked out of the car to watch a rich guy's dog at one point. Alas poor Fish Benji.

Anyway, these novels are a relic of a bygone age, though the current age is even worse for the workaday saps sucked into the orbit of knuckleheads bored with all their inherited wealth and power. Oh well. Not one of Buchan's best, certainly not as fun as the globe-trotting novels he's better known for.

It's also worth noting (probably higher up than this, sorry) that Buchan is super racist in that 1880s kind of way. He drops an N-bomb with casual aplomb like the worst of his sort, and one character literally gets out of trouble by pointing out that he's white. The other guy is like "Oh, OK, you're cool then." Ugh.

[Rhys · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like John Buchan. There is something supple about his work despite the fact that so much of his dialogue, characterisation and settings are ostensibly stiff. He is very British in his approach to everything, an admirer of pluck in any form. This novel is about a wheeze a lark, a jest, taken seriously as any good sport should be taken but without much malice. Three bored fellows of high social standing decide to revitalise themselves with a scheme that involves a large amount of psychological strain and physical risk. They are clever and strong enough to avoid or survive most of these risks but not all. An enjoyable romp.

[Book-Social · Rating 4 out of 5]

First published in 1924 this book is definitely of its time, with language, stereotypes and attitudes. Nevertheless I found myself enjoying the 3 men’s capers as they galivanted across crags and gulleys (there was a lot of gallivanting) hunting deer and salmon whilst deceiving hapless landowners. I’d describe the book as a bit of a ‘romp’ – good fun had by all (except for the deer) with a decent warm hearted ending. I could well imagine it being televised although modernisation would be needed. And of course it is set in Scotland, always a bonus.

It’s apparently an inbetweeny in a series featuring one of the books main characters Sir Edward Leithen. Enjoying both this and The Thirty Nine Steps I will keep an eye out for others by Buchan. Anyone have any recommendations?

[Naomi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous! A great adventure.

[Jordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perhaps Buchan's best novel. "With an intriguing premise, lively and surprising characters, an expert mixture of humor, action, and suspense, and just the right touch of thought, John Macnab is a richly imagined and beautifully written story and a joy to read." Full review at my blog.

[Mondrian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who can go past this puppy for sheer brilliance. A number of jaded upper class chaps looking to spice up their lives with a series of hunting exploits. All of the boxes ticked. Chaps whose word is listened to by the crown heads of Europe, rich as Croesus, money is so crass (when you have it), confident and secure in the moral and physical superiority of the English race and their helpers (scottish lackeys etc). And still it is a wracking good yarn, exciting comfortable, a past age. Leithen is my favourite Buchan character, so understated but so brilliant and successful. Didnt he win the mile at one of those prestigious universities in 04 or was it 95... the amount of whiskey and beer you tuck down at the club makes you forget. A series of challenges to the lairds of the north (and those genial upstarts the Americans). We will take a trout from your waters, we will kill a deer in your own 10000 acre demesne. You cant catch us. And when it all ends, its just the chaps, so rich and important that no one is going to complain. Oh to live that life.... And Buchan does such a wonderful job. I am sure he was a fantastic guy, he knew that his pot boilers were fiction to salve the minds of the people after the first world war. The end of an era.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

Probably the most entertaining story I've read in a while. I bought it less than 24 hours ago, and had to tear myself away from it to go to work.

If you're a fan of fieldsports, and can decipher the intermittent bits of Scots dialog, you may just love this book.

It's light reading, not too heady, and with a good amount of humor. There are a few philosophical and political points, scored discretely, that made me pause for thought.

Overall: a great read. And it seemed to stand alone, even though part of the Leithen series.

[Trucie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Buchan's best.

An true 'boy's own' adventure in the Scottish Highlands, very much of its period, but with characters that linger like friends in the memory. The perfect book for a cold, wet, winter's afternoon.

[C.R. Hedgcock · Rating 4 out of 5]

A letter challenges three Scottish lairds to stealthy hunts on their land - but the mystery writer, "John Macnab," is in fact three rich gentlemen in need of a cure for their ennui.

This is the most light-hearted and enjoyable yarn by John Buchan that I've read. Unlikely? Yes. Fun? Absolutely.

[Eric · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best of Buchan's novels.

[Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Most entertaining. Utterly snobby and ridiculous, of course, but a ripping yarn as they say, and some charming characters.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

The cost of freedom is eternal vigilance. That is the unexpected and powerful message concealed in this lighthearted tale.

[Serena Series · Rating 5 out of 5]

“I’ve often called you an idiot, Archie, but I’m bound to say to-day you were an inspired idiot. You may win this seat or not — it doesn’t matter — but sooner or later you’re going to make a howling success in that silly game.”

it was such a bold decision to build a story that included such con artists. these three men were so sassy, and it was mostly felt by the way they talked about the idea in the beginning. I wonder how John Buchan is an author capable of turning the most ridiculously childish plot to some serious matter. anyhow, I was so into it. Hollywood would never reach his level I guess.

I must admit it is best to rename this book as ‘Sir Archibald Roylance and Friends’ because it did not feel like it was a real Edward Leithen’s story. I used to like dear Archie a lot but his omnipresence is not helping. or John Buchan could have created of series for his own. I still appreciated learning about his youth, it felt weird to understand that the timeline explained that Janet and him were not married yet. their love story was a bit too evident for me, though. but, to be honest, the proposal was what I have somewhat already imagined:

“Janet,” he shouted against the wind, “will you marry me?”
She made a trumpet of one hand.
“What do you say?” she cried.
“Will you marry me?”
“Yes,” she turned a laughing face, “of course I will.”

I wanted at first to mention how I didn’t like that it was not a first-person viewpoint but I quickly saw how interesting it was so have multiple viewpoints from once. it was actually a very good idea. it made the adventure even more thrilling and enjoyable. it was as intense as watching a movie. I don’t know if it was a good thing for the landlords to be shaken that much, but the struggle what for a good cause. once again, the mention of men’s pride was central in this work:

“That young gentleman had taken the threat of John Macnab most seriously to heart: he felt his honour involved, his sense of property outraged, and he saw the pride of the Claybodys lowered if the scoundrel were victorious on Haripol as he had been at Strathlarrig.”

“Johnson’s temper was not improved by this news. Twice he had been put to public shame in front of his servants by this arrogant tramp who was John Macnab. He had been insulted and defied, but he knew in his heart that the true bitterness lay in the fact that he had also been frightened.”

five stars because I just had so much fun, John Buchan’s adventurous works just are the best!

[Bev · Rating 3 out of 5]

The great lawyer/politician Sir Edward Leithen is feeling a bit under the weather, so he goes to see his friend and doctor who gives him the worst news possible. There's nothing wrong with him--at least not physically. But if that's the case, then what's a man filled with ennui and who doesn't feel like doing anything to do? His friend jokingly suggests doing something a bit dangerous and slightly illegal...something that will get the old adrenaline pumping. Of course, that would be an absurd thing for such an eminent man to do...

Then Leithen goes to his club where he finds two of his friends, the banker John Palliser-Yeates and Charles Lamancha, a nobleman and fellow politician, in the same boat. They've all lost the zest of life. None of them feel like doing any of the things they're supposed to do. And then...a fourth friend, Sir Archie Roylance--war hero and rising aspiring politician--comes along and tells them about the legend of Jim Tarras, a man who was bored in the Scottish Highlands and sent anonymous notes to local landowners warning them that he planned to poach on their land on certain days. The thrill of doing what he wasn't supposed to do and trying to evade the gamekeepers provided him with enough excitement to knock him out of his ennui.

The men are thrilled with the idea and talk Rolance into inviting him to his Scottish estate where they will play the same game with some of his neighbors. They decide to send the challenges out under the nom de plume John Macnab. The rest of the book revolves around the antics of the men as they scope out the land and the response of the local landowners to their challenge.

John Macnab strikes me as a cross between Jerome K. Jerome (of Three Men in a Boat fame) and pretty much any P. G. Wodehouse book. We have three bored gentlemen doing a fair amount of fairly ridiculous things to achieve their ends. And on the other side we have equally determined landowners hiring navvies and going to other great lengths to prevent them It's fun to watch. And along the way Buchan gives us the most amazing character sketches and charming interplay between the various characters. The characterization is the best part of this one.

My previous experience with Buchan is The 39 Steps. And this definitely is not that. It's far more farce than adventure...and there's even less mystery. The biggest mystery is whether the men will be caught or not and, if so, how. But it is a lot of fun and a nice, comfortable read.

First posted on my blog My Reader's Block.

[Quentin · Rating 3 out of 5]

A light-hearted, upper-class British country adventure book which is probably best enjoyed if you switch your brain off and ignore the rampant classism.

It's an interesting premise: a well-to-do gent sees his doctor regarding general malaise, which the doctor rather unscientifically 'diagnoses' as boredom. Lo and behold, when the same gent sees his two well-to-do mates at the pub, they report the same thing. So they hatch an illegal plan to go poaching in the highlands.

This book was written in 1925 and very much reflects the times. It is the case in the writing style, language used, and the erstwhile fashion of accentuating dialect and accent by using scarcely intelligible scraps of words when called upon by the speaker. Sometimes the reader has to guess what the speaker is trying to communicate, and there's no telling what the success rate is.

The nature of the narrative also reflects a lost time of connection with the land. There are fairly casual descriptions of eight mile walks, of calculating where boggy ground might start and end, of not-particularly-outdoorsy men knowing about the lie of the land and the wind direction favourable to catching wild prey. These are mostly lost skills, and it's refreshing to read about them when they're just a bi-product of the plot, not even the plot itself.

The bit I don't like is the classism. The unwritten premise of the gang's illegal activity is that it's all fine because they're gentlemen. Conversely, the smartest guy in the novel - "Fish Benjie" - is eventually thanked for his efforts while they lament that he'll never amount to anything. The author feels clear sympathy for the Radens, an ancient noble family about to die out; but scorn for the nouveaux-riche Claybody family.

Anyway, if that's not the kind of thing that would put you off from an otherwise entertaining novel, then it's a good read.

[Kirsten · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was kommt dabei heraus wenn drei Männer aufeinandertreffen, die alle das gleiche Problem, nämlich schreckliche Langweile haben? Ein Minister, ein Banker und ein Generalstaatsanwalt treffen sich eines Abends in ihrem Club und stellen fest, dass sie alle an Lethargie, die durch unendliche Langeweile verursacht wird, leiden. Sie reden über ihre Jugend in Schottland und kommen dabei auf eine verrückte Idee: sie wollen in drei Nächten auf drei schottischen Ländereien jeweils einen Hirsch erlegen oder einen Lachs fangen. Das ist die Geburtsstunde von John MacNab, einem Charakter den die drei annehmen um ihr verrücktes Vorhaben durchzuführen.

Es ist nicht nur die Geschichte von drei gelangweilten Männern die ein Abenteuer erleben wollen. Die Geschichte spielt kurz nach den ersten Weltkrieg der auch bei den drei Helden Spuren hinterlassen hat. Mit ihrem Plan wollen sie aus dem grauen Alltag ausbrechen und wieder das Leben spüren. Sie wissen genau was auf dem Spiel steht wenn sie erwischt werden, doch das ist ihnen das Risiko wert.

Die betroffenen Gutsbesitzer werden durch einen Brief vom Vorhaben John MacNabs informiert. Jeder von ihnen reagiert auf die Herausforderung auf unterschiedliche Art. Während der eine es sportlich nimmt fühlt sich ein anderer persönlich angegriffen und tut alles, um zu verhindern dass John MacNab Erfolg hat. Auch die Presse bekommt Wind von der Aktion so dass die drei Freunde sich noch mehr in Acht nehmen müssen.

Mir hat das Buch besonders durch seine charmante Sprache gefallen. Dass Andrew Greig die Einleitung dazu geschrieben und darin erzählt hat, wie es dazu kam dass er eine Fortsetzung dazu geschrieben hat war ein weiterer Pluspunkt.

[David Evans · Rating 4 out of 5]

A funny and heartwarming tale from a master storyteller. The rather contrived setup involves the ennui of three nationally important middle aged men (characters who pop up a lot in Buchan’s novels) who agree that a physician’s advice to get into some semi-illegal escapade might jolt them out of their collective professional torpor. With varying degrees of enthusiasm they decide that they should adopt the titular pseudonym and challenge three neighbouring Highland estates that, within certain prescribed dates, “John McNab” would successfully shoot and remove a stag from their estates as well as fish a salmon from a closely patrolled river. This would be in the form of a wager, but capture and potential disgrace would always be near at hand adding the frisson necessary for a cure to their boredom.
The plan commands the full attention of the conspirators and their willing accomplices who include the amiable Sir Archie Roylance, his expert stalker Wattie and Benjamin Bogle - a young itinerate fish seller - with an abundance of native wit and guile. There’s wonderful descriptive writing about the landscape, weather, the warmth of the local gentry and faux pas of the nouveau riche. There’s even a love story and a nerve-shredding political meeting at which a terrified Archie is forced to extemporise in a manner reminiscent of Richard Hannay in The 39 Steps. Does McNab succeed? Well the story certainly does. Adding to my enjoyment was the fortuitous presence of a bookmark within my copy promoting The League Against Cruel Sports.

[Esther Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

I ended up liking this against my will

I found this book in a stack of old books I had laying around and decided to give it a try. Boy did this take me forever to read! It starts off slow, terribly so, which is apt, I suppose, since the four main characters (three more than the fourth) are all suffering from boredom, on account of being very rich and respected in society and having everything at their disposal, and the author seems to want us to feel as bored as they do. The characters then decide to turn to crime (a bit of light poaching) to liven things up.

Bit by bit, however, as we follow the hijinks and things become more and more high-stakes, I found myself inexorably charmed by this little tale. It presented a quaint view of the Scottish Highlands, there was a delightful little romance woven throughout, and a liberal use of accents that I rather enjoyed.

The last tale in particular had me utterly engrossed in the story, and I wouldn't mind reading that part over
again sometime.

[Jennifer Ritchie · Rating 4 out of 5]

“In the doings of John MacNab were blended the splendid uncertainty of a well-matched prize fight and the delicious obscurity of crime.”

Three highly successful men—a banker, a lawyer, and a Cabinet Minister—are hopelessly bored with life and convinced that a traditional holiday will only make their ennui worse. So they spice up their lives by sending letters to three Scottish estates, signing as “John MacNab.” The letters declare MacNab’s intention of poaching on each estate on certain dates and daring the landowners to stop him. Will they be able to pull it off undetected, or will they be caught and become the laughingstock of Britain?

John Buchan’s writing is excellent, the characters are interesting, and I must say I’ve never read a book quite like this one. It was great fun.

Another favorite quote:
“It is a melancholy fact which exponents of democracy must face that, while all men may be on a level in the eyes of the State, they will continue in fact to be preposterously unequal.”

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Who is John Macnab? Three prominent Scottish landowners receive a challenging note which tells them that he intends to poach from their estates without being caught, though if he is, he will donate money to a good cause. The reactions of the landowners differ considerably, and sightings of this insolent sportsman provide conflicting evidence as to his identity, promising speculation as to whether he is a gentleman or a tramp.

"Told with his usual aplomb, Buchan's tale has the deadly urgency of the most blood-curdling thriller, introducing Sir Edward Leithen and the delightful Jane Raden, the remarkagle urchin Fish Benjie and re-introducing Sir Archie Roylance from the Hanny novels."

A charming little novel, although there was too much detail about the actual poaching attempts for me. But the characterization was marvelous, and the each story full of detail about Scottish landowners in the early 1920s.

[phil Bentley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good story though let down by the poor quality map at the front of the book. Different to 39 steps but same sense of writing. My only complaint would be perhaps the structure of the last hunt. Could have been better ordered.

The Scots written dialect can be very hard to read at times. So sometimes you just have to guess.

[Kitkat · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favourite comfort reads (and re-reads) of all time. It's so evocative of the lifestyle of privilege in the inter-war years. I love the characters, all slightly different. There's adventure. There's humour. There's even a love interest. But best of all it's a love story to the Scottish Highlands.

[Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

Written in the 1920s it's an interesting snapshot of changing land ownership in the Highland estates, and the post-war ennui of the officer classes. Some of Buchan's recurring characters take some time off from their derring-do to set themselves a poaching challenge. The lower classes tug their forelocks and the plot slips away a bit, but an entertaining read.

[Mh Weyler · Rating 5 out of 5]

(my Grandma calls this one of her "pet" books) I enjoy John Buchan's other adventure books immensely (the old movie The 39 Steps is based on one of his books). This book is another adventure story that takes place in the countryside of Great Britain. Three respected business men dare three local estate owners that they can poach without being caught--all under the unknown name of John McNab. What happens afterward is cunningness mixed with romance.

[Keith Potts · Rating 3 out of 5]

Certainly a book of its time ... with the odd throwaway comments that today would be regarded as racist and antisemitic; a rose-tinted view of colonialism; the protagonists, we are supposed to be rooting for, being from the most privileged echelons of society; and the aim to kill animals in the name of "sport" and a bet.