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Sir Edward Leithen #1
بيت القوة
The Power-House
John BUCHAN (1875 - 1940)
The Power-House is a novel by John Buchan, a thriller set in London, England. It was written in 1913, when it was serialised in Blackwood's Magazine, and it was published in book form in 1916. The narrator is the barrister and Tory MP Edward Leithen, who features in a number of Buchan's novels. The urban setting contrasts with that of its sequel, John Macnab, which is set in the Scottish Highlands. The Power-House of the title is an international anarchist organization led by a rich Englishman named Andrew Lumley. Its plan to destroy Western civilisation is thwarted by Leithen with the assistance of a burly Labour MP. … - Summary by Wikipedia
John BUCHAN (1875 - 1940)
The Power-House is a novel by John Buchan, a thriller set in London, England. It was written in 1913, when it was serialised in Blackwood's Magazine, and it was published in book form in 1916. The narrator is the barrister and Tory MP Edward Leithen, who features in a number of Buchan's novels. The urban setting contrasts with that of its sequel, John Macnab, which is set in the Scottish Highlands. The Power-House of the title is an international anarchist organization led by a rich Englishman named Andrew Lumley. Its plan to destroy Western civilisation is thwarted by Leithen with the assistance of a burly Labour MP. … - Summary by Wikipedia
143 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1916
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About the author
John Buchan
1,722 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 - 30 of 98 reviews
May 18, 2021
Find all my book reviews, plus fascinating author interviews, exclusive guest posts and book extracts, on my blog: https://whatcathyreadnext.wordpress.com/
Our narrator is Sir Edward Leithen, in his first appearance in a Buchan adventure. A barrister and Member of Parliament, he describes himself as ‘a placid, sedentary soul’. In fact, his friend Tommy Deloraine observes acutely, ‘Life goes roaring by and you only hear the echo in your stuffy rooms.’ This all changes when, by a series of seemingly unconnected events, Leithen is drawn into investigating the unexplained disappearance of Charles Pitt-Heron. Like Leithen, the reader’s interest has by now been aroused: ‘…for every man at the bottom of his heart believes that he is a born detective.’
In his dedication to The Thirty-Nine Steps, Buchan said that his aim was to write ‘romance where the incidents defy the probabilities, and march just inside the borders of the possible.’ Well, it has to be said that the author pushes to the limits the boundaries of the possible in The Power-House. As Leithen himself admits, ‘I had collected by accident a few odd, disjointed pieces of information, and here by the most amazing accident of all was the connecting link.’
That link resides in the person of a man, Mr Andrew Lumley. Lumley is an example of one of the characteristic features of a Buchan “shocker” (his term for his adventure stories); the concept of an immense intellect unconstrained by common notions of morality. Similar, if you like, to Professor Moriarty in Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes stories. Furthermore, the idea of an underground global organisation, subtly wielding the levers of power for malevolent ends but whose members possesses a cloak of respectability.
As events progress, Leithen comes to realise the perceived safety of the London he knows so well is a mere facade. Not only is he being watched but his watchers likely have more sinister objectives. In some of the most brilliant scenes in the book, Buchan describes how Leithen comes close to falling into the hands of the secret organisation known as the Power House even as he walks the crowded streets of the city. He observes, ‘Now I saw how thin is the protection of civilisation.’ The fragility of civilisation is another frequent theme of Buchan’s adventure stories. As Lumley warns Leithen: “You think that a wall as solid at the earth separates civilisation from barbarism. I tell you the division is a thread, a sheet of glass.”
The Power-House is an entertaining story that features many of the elements that would reappear a few years later in Buchan’s most well-known and successful book, The Thirty-Nine Steps. A relatively short book, The Power-House is an easy read thanks to Buchan’s effortless prose. It should probably be considered a rehearsal, a first attempt, to master the style of the type of adventure story that would later make his name.
Our narrator is Sir Edward Leithen, in his first appearance in a Buchan adventure. A barrister and Member of Parliament, he describes himself as ‘a placid, sedentary soul’. In fact, his friend Tommy Deloraine observes acutely, ‘Life goes roaring by and you only hear the echo in your stuffy rooms.’ This all changes when, by a series of seemingly unconnected events, Leithen is drawn into investigating the unexplained disappearance of Charles Pitt-Heron. Like Leithen, the reader’s interest has by now been aroused: ‘…for every man at the bottom of his heart believes that he is a born detective.’
In his dedication to The Thirty-Nine Steps, Buchan said that his aim was to write ‘romance where the incidents defy the probabilities, and march just inside the borders of the possible.’ Well, it has to be said that the author pushes to the limits the boundaries of the possible in The Power-House. As Leithen himself admits, ‘I had collected by accident a few odd, disjointed pieces of information, and here by the most amazing accident of all was the connecting link.’
That link resides in the person of a man, Mr Andrew Lumley. Lumley is an example of one of the characteristic features of a Buchan “shocker” (his term for his adventure stories); the concept of an immense intellect unconstrained by common notions of morality. Similar, if you like, to Professor Moriarty in Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes stories. Furthermore, the idea of an underground global organisation, subtly wielding the levers of power for malevolent ends but whose members possesses a cloak of respectability.
As events progress, Leithen comes to realise the perceived safety of the London he knows so well is a mere facade. Not only is he being watched but his watchers likely have more sinister objectives. In some of the most brilliant scenes in the book, Buchan describes how Leithen comes close to falling into the hands of the secret organisation known as the Power House even as he walks the crowded streets of the city. He observes, ‘Now I saw how thin is the protection of civilisation.’ The fragility of civilisation is another frequent theme of Buchan’s adventure stories. As Lumley warns Leithen: “You think that a wall as solid at the earth separates civilisation from barbarism. I tell you the division is a thread, a sheet of glass.”
The Power-House is an entertaining story that features many of the elements that would reappear a few years later in Buchan’s most well-known and successful book, The Thirty-Nine Steps. A relatively short book, The Power-House is an easy read thanks to Buchan’s effortless prose. It should probably be considered a rehearsal, a first attempt, to master the style of the type of adventure story that would later make his name.
July 28, 2018
Reading this book from John Buchan I thought to myself when a book evokes such a strong sense of deja-ious am I reading just a new version of an old story or in fact I am reading one of those rare books which sets the ground work for a more famous descendent.
Let me explain - I have been fan of 39 steps and particular the character of Richard Hannay (as well as his subsequent adventures) and reading this the first instalment in the Sir Edward Leithen series (honestly I didnt realise it at the time of reading it) I felt that so many similarities that it almost as if I was reading a prequel or some precursor.
However the truth (and of course this is my own opinion and could be totally off course) is far more intriguing. Reading the introduction to this edition it appears that Buchan liked to base his characters on friends and people he knew. Could it be this style of profiling his characters meant that even though his works may not be connected they were in fact by the world he created and the people he populated it with.
Either way the result was a book that even though portrays a world that no longer exists still was easy to envisage and believe.
The result was a cat and mouse game across London that for me was just as thrilling as many of its contemporary stories from today. The question is now I realise its the first in a series - where are the rest of them and what will I think once I have read them.
Let me explain - I have been fan of 39 steps and particular the character of Richard Hannay (as well as his subsequent adventures) and reading this the first instalment in the Sir Edward Leithen series (honestly I didnt realise it at the time of reading it) I felt that so many similarities that it almost as if I was reading a prequel or some precursor.
However the truth (and of course this is my own opinion and could be totally off course) is far more intriguing. Reading the introduction to this edition it appears that Buchan liked to base his characters on friends and people he knew. Could it be this style of profiling his characters meant that even though his works may not be connected they were in fact by the world he created and the people he populated it with.
Either way the result was a book that even though portrays a world that no longer exists still was easy to envisage and believe.
The result was a cat and mouse game across London that for me was just as thrilling as many of its contemporary stories from today. The question is now I realise its the first in a series - where are the rest of them and what will I think once I have read them.
March 21, 2023
2023 reread: 3½*
I am changing from 4 to 3 stars (rounding down instead of up). I enjoyed it but it really wasn't as good as some of Buchan's other books.
2018 review:
Perhaps only 3½* for this fairly short adventure novel about a man who discovers a secret anarchist society in pre-WW1 London.
I am changing from 4 to 3 stars (rounding down instead of up). I enjoyed it but it really wasn't as good as some of Buchan's other books.
2018 review:
Perhaps only 3½* for this fairly short adventure novel about a man who discovers a secret anarchist society in pre-WW1 London.
December 18, 2016
Reminiscent of Hitchcock: The Power House of the title is definitely a McGuffin as it really isn't at all clear what evil deeds its members are cooking up. But it's a good chase story.
April 11, 2018
قصة ظريفة .... هى مثيل ل قصص شيرلوك هولمز ل ارثر كونان دويل ...فقط ذكاء اقل ..لا محادثات بين البطل و زميله ليفسر له ما حدث و ما سيحدث ...
للحظات فكرتنى ب فيلم باتمان حينما كان الفساد يضرب جهاز الشرطة فى المدينة كلها لدرجة انه لم يكن يعرف بمن يثق
اضحكتنى جدا جملة .. الضابط المسئول ب سكوتلانديارد حينما قال للبطل..:" هناك المئات من العصابات ذات الاسماء الرنانة تلك..بيت القوة ..عصابة الاربعة ...و كلما قلت العصابة شأنا كلما كان الاسم اكثر رنينا ...الانظمة و العصابات الخطيرة حقا لا تظهر على الخريطة و ربما لا يكون لها اسما اصلا ولو كان لربما كان اسم ممل عادى"....
الرواية تثير الريبة و الشكوك ....شخص مفرد بمساعده 2-3 من اصحابه يجابه نظام سرى ..ربما كان اغلب من يمشون فى الشارع منضمين له بالفعل
الامر اشبه ب فيلم ماتريكس ...كل من يمشى بجوار كيانو ريفز ..the one
هو مخبر محتمل للنظام او قد يتحول ل مخبر له بالفعل
طبعا المقصود ب بيت القوة هو العقل
البطل و على الرغم من ارتكابه عدة غلطات عقلية كثيرة الا انه فى النهاية ينتصر على زعيم ذلك التنظيم شديد الثقافة و الذكاء و الثراء
التنظيم كان يهدف ل هدم الحضارة كما نعرفها بالزبط زى عصبة الظلال فى فيلم باتمان
بقيادة الفنان القدير راس الغول :P
حوارات البطل مع زعيم التنظيم كانت راقية و شيك
فكرتنى بحوارات شيرلوك هولمز مع د موريارتى
و اخيرا العنوان و محتوى الرواية ملهوش اى 30 علاقة ب الغلاف
و اللى من الواضح ان معد الغلاف مكنش فاضى ف حط اى كلام فاضى
الكتاب التالى : بصراحة غير مطلقة يوسف ادريس
للحظات فكرتنى ب فيلم باتمان حينما كان الفساد يضرب جهاز الشرطة فى المدينة كلها لدرجة انه لم يكن يعرف بمن يثق
اضحكتنى جدا جملة .. الضابط المسئول ب سكوتلانديارد حينما قال للبطل..:" هناك المئات من العصابات ذات الاسماء الرنانة تلك..بيت القوة ..عصابة الاربعة ...و كلما قلت العصابة شأنا كلما كان الاسم اكثر رنينا ...الانظمة و العصابات الخطيرة حقا لا تظهر على الخريطة و ربما لا يكون لها اسما اصلا ولو كان لربما كان اسم ممل عادى"....
الرواية تثير الريبة و الشكوك ....شخص مفرد بمساعده 2-3 من اصحابه يجابه نظام سرى ..ربما كان اغلب من يمشون فى الشارع منضمين له بالفعل
الامر اشبه ب فيلم ماتريكس ...كل من يمشى بجوار كيانو ريفز ..the one
هو مخبر محتمل للنظام او قد يتحول ل مخبر له بالفعل
طبعا المقصود ب بيت القوة هو العقل
البطل و على الرغم من ارتكابه عدة غلطات عقلية كثيرة الا انه فى النهاية ينتصر على زعيم ذلك التنظيم شديد الثقافة و الذكاء و الثراء
التنظيم كان يهدف ل هدم الحضارة كما نعرفها بالزبط زى عصبة الظلال فى فيلم باتمان
بقيادة الفنان القدير راس الغول :P
حوارات البطل مع زعيم التنظيم كانت راقية و شيك
فكرتنى بحوارات شيرلوك هولمز مع د موريارتى
و اخيرا العنوان و محتوى الرواية ملهوش اى 30 علاقة ب الغلاف
و اللى من الواضح ان معد الغلاف مكنش فاضى ف حط اى كلام فاضى
الكتاب التالى : بصراحة غير مطلقة يوسف ادريس
December 26, 2018
A short but effective novel. By all rights it shouldn't work but it does. That's Buchan's skill showing thru. There's nothing specific about the set-up. There's a bad guy, Lumley, with a plan to take over...what? I'm not sure. Either I didn't catch it or it wasn't spelled out. The same goes for 'how' he intends to do it. All we know is a friend of a friend of Leithen flees the country to get away from Lumley, so the friend, Tommy, goes after him while Leithen stays behind and ferrets out Lumley as the bad guy. There's very little action until the last two chapters. It's mostly narrative to that point. It does have an effective ending where it shows the public being kept in ignorance of what's going on--essentially that really bad people don't get outed but the people in charge instead make out like they weren't so bad after all. (If that sounds a lot like American politics, then you're right.) Again, a good book that can be read in a few hours.
January 29, 2022
John Buchan wrote one of my favorite adventure thriller series featuring John Hannay, the first being The Thirty-Nine Steps. I've read a few of his other books, both fiction and non-fiction. He was a prolific writer. The Power-House as the first book in his Leithen quadrology and it was very entertaining.
Sir Edward Leithin is a somewhat staid lawyer and MP, happy with his life and friends. His main circle of life revolves around London and her rarely travels beyond. Suddenly Edward's life changes when a friend of a friend suddenly disappears. Edward sends his mate Tommy Deloraine to find this other fellow, Charles Pitt-Heron, a trip that will take them Uzbekistan. However this part of the story is only discussed via telegram. The story is focused in London as Edward tries to find out where Pitt-Heron might have gone and also why. This will lead him in a war of wits with some vague enemy, Andrew Lumley, leader of nebulous group called The Power-House.
It's a slow paced story at first but once Edward begins to understand who this enemy is and his threat to England (maybe), the civilized world (maybe?) and especially Edward Leithin. There are interesting discussions (philosophical) between Lumley and Leithin, a bit slow, but for the last half of the story, the tension rises as Edward and his friend, fellow politician Chapman, try to both avoid the Power-House and stop them.
It's a neat story. The rationale for the threat isn't really elaborated or explained in detail but it's not really that important. The transformation in Leithin is what makes the story. While seemingly momentous events are taking place in the Far East, they are only peripheral. The crucial events take place in London and like the chase cross Britain in The 39 Steps, the action builds and builds and makes for a satisfying, entertaining story. Good old Mr. Buchan. Thanks. (4 stars)
Sir Edward Leithin is a somewhat staid lawyer and MP, happy with his life and friends. His main circle of life revolves around London and her rarely travels beyond. Suddenly Edward's life changes when a friend of a friend suddenly disappears. Edward sends his mate Tommy Deloraine to find this other fellow, Charles Pitt-Heron, a trip that will take them Uzbekistan. However this part of the story is only discussed via telegram. The story is focused in London as Edward tries to find out where Pitt-Heron might have gone and also why. This will lead him in a war of wits with some vague enemy, Andrew Lumley, leader of nebulous group called The Power-House.
It's a slow paced story at first but once Edward begins to understand who this enemy is and his threat to England (maybe), the civilized world (maybe?) and especially Edward Leithin. There are interesting discussions (philosophical) between Lumley and Leithin, a bit slow, but for the last half of the story, the tension rises as Edward and his friend, fellow politician Chapman, try to both avoid the Power-House and stop them.
It's a neat story. The rationale for the threat isn't really elaborated or explained in detail but it's not really that important. The transformation in Leithin is what makes the story. While seemingly momentous events are taking place in the Far East, they are only peripheral. The crucial events take place in London and like the chase cross Britain in The 39 Steps, the action builds and builds and makes for a satisfying, entertaining story. Good old Mr. Buchan. Thanks. (4 stars)
August 31, 2023
This is a short enjoyable easy to read adventure story. Very much a precursor to the 39 Steps with a similar style and many of the same tropes. You can definitely see a line from this to Ian Fleming, with the villain, with his shadowy organisation behind him, absolutely being a “Bond Villain”. Picked up this book at the John Buchan museum in Peebles, Scotland earlier this year. Given it was published in 1913 it’s quite prescient in places. You need to accept the Buchanesque coincidences and simply jump onto the ride.
September 5, 2025
That was fun. Short and entertaining. The only John Buchan I had read was the most likely, The 39 Steps. The chance of a cheap set of four and the introduction to the Edward Leithen series was too tempting. As Stella Rimmington says in her introduction, it is full of holes, and also dated in language and allusions. Indeed, I now know frowst and knout and even my spell-checker doesn't recognise the former. Even so, the early descriptions of life as an MP do sound very similar to today and the first third does have a contemporary resonance. Thereafter, we are quickly into a Buchan adventure. It reminded me of Chesterton's The Man Who Was Thursday (from five years earlier) or even earlier Conrad's The Secret Agent and covers similar ground. However, Buchan brings a lighter and even humorous touch to proceedings, not least with Chapman, the Yorkshire Labour MP, a man always ready for a fight. No stereotype is left ignored, but it certainly entertains.
Picked this up again recently. I'd forgotten I'd already read it until I reached a very familiar part of the story. My opinion remains the same, but 2 years on, it seems even more relevant to today and a very entertaining and quick read.
Picked this up again recently. I'd forgotten I'd already read it until I reached a very familiar part of the story. My opinion remains the same, but 2 years on, it seems even more relevant to today and a very entertaining and quick read.
February 9, 2022
Not so good as expected.
Free download available at FadedPage
When his friend Charles Pitt-Heron vanishes mysteriously, Sir Edward Leithen is at first only mildly concerned. But a series of strange events that follow Pitt-Heron’s disappearance convinces Leithen that he is dealing with a sinister secret society. Their codename is ‘The Power-House’. The authorities are unable to act without evidence. As he gets deeper involved with the underworld, Leithen finds himself facing the enemy alone and in terrible danger.
2* The Thirty-Nine Steps
2* The Courts of the Morning
3* Huntingtower (Dickson McCunn, #1)
3* Greenmantle (Richard Hannay #2)
3* Mr. Standfast (Richard Hannay, #3)
3* The Three Hostages (Richard Hannay #4)
4* The Island of Sheep (Richard Hannay #5)
2* The Power House (Sir Edward Leithen, #1)
TR The Half-Hearted
TR The Massacre of Glencoe
TR Salute To Adventurers
TR Sir Quixote of the Moors
TR Days to Remember: The British Empire in the Great War
Free download available at FadedPage
When his friend Charles Pitt-Heron vanishes mysteriously, Sir Edward Leithen is at first only mildly concerned. But a series of strange events that follow Pitt-Heron’s disappearance convinces Leithen that he is dealing with a sinister secret society. Their codename is ‘The Power-House’. The authorities are unable to act without evidence. As he gets deeper involved with the underworld, Leithen finds himself facing the enemy alone and in terrible danger.
2* The Thirty-Nine Steps
2* The Courts of the Morning
3* Huntingtower (Dickson McCunn, #1)
3* Greenmantle (Richard Hannay #2)
3* Mr. Standfast (Richard Hannay, #3)
3* The Three Hostages (Richard Hannay #4)
4* The Island of Sheep (Richard Hannay #5)
2* The Power House (Sir Edward Leithen, #1)
TR The Half-Hearted
TR The Massacre of Glencoe
TR Salute To Adventurers
TR Sir Quixote of the Moors
TR Days to Remember: The British Empire in the Great War
July 2, 2016
A good yet rather short suspense and adventure tale from Buchan...
December 23, 2020
A short story. One of the authors earliest novels much of the content feels like a dress rehearsal for his later work. A criminal mastermind behind a shadowy conspiracy to undermine the civilised world is thwarted by a decent member of society. The exact nature of the threat is never clarified but it is sufficient for those involved to consider killing anyone who finds out about it and tries to reveal the plot to higher authorities.
Sir Leithen, the hero of the piece, is an MP and barrister wishes. An upright member of the establishment he accidentally becomes aware that something is afoot. His suspicions are reinforced by a series of coincidences that gradually reveal the serious threat faced by the civilised world. Despite overwhelming odds he manages to stop the conspiracy and negate the actions of the ringleader.
I guess, like his later novels, this might be described as a good yarn. It was partly written for the entertainment of troops on the front line during the First World War. No doubt it was a success in this respect being a short read and not too challenging in its content. It would also explain the several references to Germans and foreigners as being typical of the type involved in a conspiracy to undermine the world order, something which might offend modern day sensibilities.
Sir Leithen, the hero of the piece, is an MP and barrister wishes. An upright member of the establishment he accidentally becomes aware that something is afoot. His suspicions are reinforced by a series of coincidences that gradually reveal the serious threat faced by the civilised world. Despite overwhelming odds he manages to stop the conspiracy and negate the actions of the ringleader.
I guess, like his later novels, this might be described as a good yarn. It was partly written for the entertainment of troops on the front line during the First World War. No doubt it was a success in this respect being a short read and not too challenging in its content. It would also explain the several references to Germans and foreigners as being typical of the type involved in a conspiracy to undermine the world order, something which might offend modern day sensibilities.
September 23, 2022
Free | A generous third star, just because it's a quick easy read | Here's everything that happens in this book: the protagonist hears that an acquaintance has left home without telling his wife, then decides that a man he's heard of once must be a false identity for another man he's heard of once, who must be involved in the disappearance (this is not better justified than how I've put it here). A stranger, randomly met, tells him--unsolicited--ideas about why a new form of anarchy would be interesting. The protagonist therefore decides that he has to stop a murder, and that he himself is in danger, so he has his political rival move in with him. They are followed and watched for awhile. Once he is almost taken, politely, as a hostage, but it works out. Once he is picked up by a false driver, but he quietly gets out of the car. He hands over his written record of everything I've just described to the authorities, and visits the antagonist in his home to let him know. This is not a thriller, or a spy novel, or a suspense novel. This is silly.
June 23, 2024
بيت القوة
جون بوكان ترجمة أحمد ضيوف
هي رواية بوليسية بريطانية تدور أحداثها في بداية القرن العشرين، عن محامي يدعى إدوارد ليثن يحاول إنقاذ صديقه الغامض تشارلز بيت هيرون من مصير قاتم بعدما اختفى كليا من إنجلترا، ليجد نفسه في صراع ضمن منظمة سرية تدعى "بيت القوة".
الرواية تتميز بنمطها السريع والمشوّق، مع ترجمة جد ممتازة من صديقي وأخي الكبير أحمد ضيوف وهي من الروايات الموجهة للناشئة
تم يوم السبت 16 ذو الحجة 1445 هـ
جون بوكان ترجمة أحمد ضيوف
هي رواية بوليسية بريطانية تدور أحداثها في بداية القرن العشرين، عن محامي يدعى إدوارد ليثن يحاول إنقاذ صديقه الغامض تشارلز بيت هيرون من مصير قاتم بعدما اختفى كليا من إنجلترا، ليجد نفسه في صراع ضمن منظمة سرية تدعى "بيت القوة".
الرواية تتميز بنمطها السريع والمشوّق، مع ترجمة جد ممتازة من صديقي وأخي الكبير أحمد ضيوف وهي من الروايات الموجهة للناشئة
تم يوم السبت 16 ذو الحجة 1445 هـ
March 14, 2025
Gripping!
August 26, 2025
3.75 stars
February 10, 2016
There's something to be said about vintage literature: it makes for fascinating study. Someone knowledgeable in history, social studies, or politics would find vintage literature an easy window to view our past from and compare the worlds of yesterday to the universe of now. As for readers like me, who have little or fragmented knowledge of the aforementioned topics, there is still the benefit of the effortless time machine that is the printed word. Lately I've developed a fascination with antique books, oohing and aahing over anything over 75 years old that comes into the library I work for (we just acquired a book printed in 1913, and I was afraid to breathe on it), and I've found that I learn more about history through reading vintage literature. The Power House is written by the same author as The Thirty-Nine Steps, and is also written in the same "this could have really happened" fashion. Granted, if I knew more about history, I wouldn't be as gullible, but the story is written in such a way that it made me question if I was reading a fiction or eye-witness account of a real adventure. The elements of a modern-day spy thriller adventure stories are present, and this book feels very much like the template/formula modern day writers reference. There is also a moment of social commentary that was rather jarring, as it foreshadowed not the story itself but the world we live in now. It made me stop and wonder if these written time machines, these books from the past we read today, are windows that can be viewed from both sides.
August 5, 2014
قصة بوليسية أخرى من بوكان.. بطلها عضو برلمان يكتشف وجود منظمة سرية يتزعمها شخص ما و من خلالها يسيطر هذا الشخص على انجلترا بأكملها.. و يحاول البطل كشف تلك المنظمة..
الأحداث سريعة لم أشعر بالملل منها.. و لو ان فكرة "عضو البرلمان" الذي يقوم بدور "جيمس بوند" تبدو فكرة غريبة قليلا بالنسبة لي.. لكن على أي حال تقبلتها و استمتعت بمحاولات البطل لكشف المنظمة الإجرامية..
لكن أهم ما لاحظته في الرواية هو تركيز جون بوكان على فكرة "الحضارة الهشة" .. ففي النقاش بين البطل و بين زعبم المنظمة الإجرامية يحاول الزعيم أن يوضح للبطل أنه لا شيء سيعوقه عنه.. و أن الحياة ليست بمثل الصلابة التي يتصورها.. بل هل هشة مثل لوح من الزجاج ينتظر دفعة بسيطة ليسقط متكسرا.. أشياء مثل قنبلة في مكان ما مهام كان صغيرا قد تشعل حربا.. انقطاع للتيار الكهربي قد يشل الحياة.. أشياء كثيرة بسيطة قد تحدث لنكتشف من خلالها أن الحضارة البشرية الحديثة ليست بمثل تلك القوة و الصلابة التي تبدو عليها..
البطل نفسه يكتشف هذا في المطاردة الأخيرة .. عندما يجد نفسه مطاردا من كل الجهات.. فكل تلك الحضارة الحديثة لم تكن وسيلة مساعدة له في النجاة من العصابة الإجرامية.. بل هو فقط من اعتمد على نفسه في هذا..
في المجمل رواية تصلح كقراءة ممتعة سريعة..
الأحداث سريعة لم أشعر بالملل منها.. و لو ان فكرة "عضو البرلمان" الذي يقوم بدور "جيمس بوند" تبدو فكرة غريبة قليلا بالنسبة لي.. لكن على أي حال تقبلتها و استمتعت بمحاولات البطل لكشف المنظمة الإجرامية..
لكن أهم ما لاحظته في الرواية هو تركيز جون بوكان على فكرة "الحضارة الهشة" .. ففي النقاش بين البطل و بين زعبم المنظمة الإجرامية يحاول الزعيم أن يوضح للبطل أنه لا شيء سيعوقه عنه.. و أن الحياة ليست بمثل الصلابة التي يتصورها.. بل هل هشة مثل لوح من الزجاج ينتظر دفعة بسيطة ليسقط متكسرا.. أشياء مثل قنبلة في مكان ما مهام كان صغيرا قد تشعل حربا.. انقطاع للتيار الكهربي قد يشل الحياة.. أشياء كثيرة بسيطة قد تحدث لنكتشف من خلالها أن الحضارة البشرية الحديثة ليست بمثل تلك القوة و الصلابة التي تبدو عليها..
البطل نفسه يكتشف هذا في المطاردة الأخيرة .. عندما يجد نفسه مطاردا من كل الجهات.. فكل تلك الحضارة الحديثة لم تكن وسيلة مساعدة له في النجاة من العصابة الإجرامية.. بل هو فقط من اعتمد على نفسه في هذا..
في المجمل رواية تصلح كقراءة ممتعة سريعة..
April 17, 2013
Edward Leithen is a very different character from Richard Hannay: he's well settled in his urban life as a lawyer and MP, doesn't crave travel and isn't an adventurer. However, like Hannay, he has a knack for finding himself in the midst of perilous conspiracies, and he rises to the occasion in his own way.
The villain of the piece is a type Buchan returned to every now and then: the highly intelligent, civilised man who seeks to bring down the world order. The gradual accretion of clues in the first part of the novel is gripping, but things really heat up once open aggression breaks out between Leithen and the 'power house'. Great pacing, a taut, compelling plot and the usual atmosphere of upper-crust drawing rooms and clubs that is never very far away in Buchan's adventure novels. Cunningly, an adventure novel where the stereotypical action takes place entirely offstage, while the real story unfolds in prosaic London.
The villain of the piece is a type Buchan returned to every now and then: the highly intelligent, civilised man who seeks to bring down the world order. The gradual accretion of clues in the first part of the novel is gripping, but things really heat up once open aggression breaks out between Leithen and the 'power house'. Great pacing, a taut, compelling plot and the usual atmosphere of upper-crust drawing rooms and clubs that is never very far away in Buchan's adventure novels. Cunningly, an adventure novel where the stereotypical action takes place entirely offstage, while the real story unfolds in prosaic London.
September 15, 2014
Simple mystery with action mixed in one novel makes you feel like a child wrote the novel plus numerous places can make you get confused
His experience in the First World War was so useful in this novel and the 39 steps
He should be named Sir Arthur Conan Doyle the second for this :D
His experience in the First World War was so useful in this novel and the 39 steps
He should be named Sir Arthur Conan Doyle the second for this :D
September 30, 2015
This short terrorist thriller was written in 1916 by John Buchan of The Thirty-Nine Steps fame and is, in my opinion, worth a read. The action is a little dated compared to today's standards but it is still a great novella, with fascinating, strong characters pitting good against evil.
Read
May 29, 2021This is of course just macho fluff and Buchan - Lord Tweedsmuir of the Establishment and 15th GG of Canada (I wonder if he bullied his staff...) - is fairly intolerable but I like these early-genre entertainments for what they reflect of popular concerns while we swan about Mayfair. It also scathingly but somehow not disapprovingly exposes the dilettantism of Tory politicians (and the earnest, downmarket scrappiness of Labour). Bojo would fit right in.
The villain here, I don't think this is a spoiler, is a powerful, shadowy anarchist who says things like:
This is 1916 and the gold standard was dropped in Britain in 1931 so it must have been a topic of interest. You can see a bunch of fossils in a club going on about it. And of the Labour guy itching for a rammie: "He hated anarchism worse than capitalism, and the notion of a highly-capitalised, highly-scientific, highly-undemocratic anarchism fairly revolted his soul." I can get behind that, in 2021.
Plus ça change, man.
The villain here, I don't think this is a spoiler, is a powerful, shadowy anarchist who says things like:
Consider how delicate the machine is growing. As life grows more complex, the machinery grows more intricate, and therefore more vulnerable.... Civilisation is a conspiracy. Modern life is the silent compact of comfortable folk to keep up pretences.
and
Take the business of Government. When all is said, we are ruled by the amateurs and the second rate.... We think our castles of sand are the ramparts of the universe.
and
Once gold and silver lost their intrinsic value, the whole edifice of our commerce would collapse. Credit would become meaningless, because it would be un-translatable. We should be back at a bound in the age of barter, for it is hard to see what other standard of value could take the place of the precious metals. All our civilisation, with its industries and commerce, would come toppling down.
This is 1916 and the gold standard was dropped in Britain in 1931 so it must have been a topic of interest. You can see a bunch of fossils in a club going on about it. And of the Labour guy itching for a rammie: "He hated anarchism worse than capitalism, and the notion of a highly-capitalised, highly-scientific, highly-undemocratic anarchism fairly revolted his soul." I can get behind that, in 2021.
Plus ça change, man.
June 17, 2019
John Buchan, prodigious author of dozens of fiction and nonfiction works, including the Thirty-Nine Steps, his most famous work, wrote The Power-House after World War I. It was first published in 1922 and released again in 2015. My 2-star rating is an indication of how much or little I enjoyed reading it and not an indication of the quality of the writing.
The Power-House is a group of anarchists who view all of civilization as a sinister conspiracy. Edward Leithen, a lawyer and member of Parliament, comes to find himself involved and embroiled in that conspiracy, using all his energy, influence, and contacts to stop it, believing if he fails to do so, the conspiracy will rule the world.
I was intrigued by the plot description, so why the 2-star rating? Buchan's writing style is very old-school British, with dozens and dozens of metaphors and references completely unknown to me. The language is of an earlier era that for me made it difficult, often impossible, to follow, draw conclusions, and maintain a narrative. It likely makes much more sense to a native Brit. It is a short, quick read for anyone who perseveres through it to the end.
The Power-House is a group of anarchists who view all of civilization as a sinister conspiracy. Edward Leithen, a lawyer and member of Parliament, comes to find himself involved and embroiled in that conspiracy, using all his energy, influence, and contacts to stop it, believing if he fails to do so, the conspiracy will rule the world.
I was intrigued by the plot description, so why the 2-star rating? Buchan's writing style is very old-school British, with dozens and dozens of metaphors and references completely unknown to me. The language is of an earlier era that for me made it difficult, often impossible, to follow, draw conclusions, and maintain a narrative. It likely makes much more sense to a native Brit. It is a short, quick read for anyone who perseveres through it to the end.
August 12, 2021
It was an interesting approach, but a little too cerebral to make a truly great story. I would have loved to see this expanded into a longer tale that included the events that involved the other major characters. To be fair, it warns you right up front that the protagonist is mostly involved from his office while others who see less of the big picture get more actively involved.
The protagonist, a lawyer and member of Parliament, becomes aware of a strange group of anarchists with a plot to overthrow the world's governments when a friend (also a Parliamentarian) alerts him to the disappearance of an acquaintance, with no warning or even a note to his wife. While the friend goes globe-trotting to locate the missing man, he asks questions and looks into various things from home, eventually putting all the pieces together (and putting his own life in danger in the process). In the end when the globe-trotting friend returns he offers to fill him on everything that was going on while he was doing his isolated part to save the life of their mutual acquaintance.
The protagonist, a lawyer and member of Parliament, becomes aware of a strange group of anarchists with a plot to overthrow the world's governments when a friend (also a Parliamentarian) alerts him to the disappearance of an acquaintance, with no warning or even a note to his wife. While the friend goes globe-trotting to locate the missing man, he asks questions and looks into various things from home, eventually putting all the pieces together (and putting his own life in danger in the process). In the end when the globe-trotting friend returns he offers to fill him on everything that was going on while he was doing his isolated part to save the life of their mutual acquaintance.
August 4, 2025
“The Power-House had declared war on me, and I knew it would be war without quarter.”
once again, John Buchan did not fail to amaze another time. I am very excited to be introduced to a new well-known main character of his. Sir Edward seems to be a good fellow. he is composed, calmer and definitely thinks twice before moving. I like this side of him and I cannot wait to see how shaken the rest of his adventures might turn him. I hope this series is going to be full of more depth and psychological side. to be honest, I do not know him that much but I would say that his stories are about less action and powerful thinking. at least, it is the impression that gives out to me. I like the echoes this work had with the Richard Hannay series. there are comparisons between these two men. but I liked that Edward Leithen was introduced as a character that is full of integrity. a gentleman at his fullest. it’s just that espionnage is not his thing! I truly cannot wait to read the rest of the series!
once again, John Buchan did not fail to amaze another time. I am very excited to be introduced to a new well-known main character of his. Sir Edward seems to be a good fellow. he is composed, calmer and definitely thinks twice before moving. I like this side of him and I cannot wait to see how shaken the rest of his adventures might turn him. I hope this series is going to be full of more depth and psychological side. to be honest, I do not know him that much but I would say that his stories are about less action and powerful thinking. at least, it is the impression that gives out to me. I like the echoes this work had with the Richard Hannay series. there are comparisons between these two men. but I liked that Edward Leithen was introduced as a character that is full of integrity. a gentleman at his fullest. it’s just that espionnage is not his thing! I truly cannot wait to read the rest of the series!
April 23, 2023
It seems incredible that this novel was written a whole year before World War I, when some of the ideas it deals out so casually became horrifying fact at the end of World War II. Buchan is the great predecessor of the twentieth century espionage novel, but of course his books only suggest the sinister, without the blood and gore of a Frederick Forsyth or Helen MacInnes or Ian Fleming or even the elegant John le Carré, who scorns overt violence.
One of the great scenes of 'The Power-house' was the escape from the literally thousands of tails the narrator has following him. Not all the combined budget of the CIA and FBI together could have afforded so many persons following one man, and of course, in terms of time, energy, manpower and dollars, it makes no sense. But what a thrill it gives you, that escape! And for what exactly, is not very clear. But it is so clearly the parent of SPECTRE, James Bond's amorphous foe.
One of the great scenes of 'The Power-house' was the escape from the literally thousands of tails the narrator has following him. Not all the combined budget of the CIA and FBI together could have afforded so many persons following one man, and of course, in terms of time, energy, manpower and dollars, it makes no sense. But what a thrill it gives you, that escape! And for what exactly, is not very clear. But it is so clearly the parent of SPECTRE, James Bond's amorphous foe.
April 2, 2022
This was written in 1920, so obviously comes across quite old-fashioned. However, that doesn't detract from the story one little bit, in fact it's nice to see the lovely flow and style authors had back then; it's also interesting to read some of the phrases of the day. This story shows there's nothing new in the world, everything has been thought of before! All the conspiracies we have these days about big business and conglomerates running government and countries ; well, that's what this novel is all about with the addition of making a thrilling tale of friendship, greed and proving that power corrupts. It's not the best novel I've read but would recommend it, particularly if you're interested in the style and language of the 1920s.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 22, 2023
Ik heb dit werk gelezen omdat het vermeld wordt in "Absent in the spring" van Agatha Christie aka Mary Westmacott.
John Buchan publiceerde dit meer dan 100 jaar geleden voor de eerste Wereldoorlog en zowel stijl als inhoud laten dat ten volle uitschijnen. Interessant is het wel, het tijdkader, de politieke inhoud (democratie >< anarchisme), de positie van het VK als toenmalige wereldmacht, de sfeer...
De schrijfstijl is uiteraard zeer gestileerd, met lange volzinnen en bestudeerde woordkeuze... weinig dialogen, veel beschrijvingen.
John Buchan publiceerde dit meer dan 100 jaar geleden voor de eerste Wereldoorlog en zowel stijl als inhoud laten dat ten volle uitschijnen. Interessant is het wel, het tijdkader, de politieke inhoud (democratie >< anarchisme), de positie van het VK als toenmalige wereldmacht, de sfeer...
De schrijfstijl is uiteraard zeer gestileerd, met lange volzinnen en bestudeerde woordkeuze... weinig dialogen, veel beschrijvingen.
May 12, 2023
I love this book. I first read it 30 years ago and it resonated. The prose the action the characters. Just great. I believe Leithen was a "miler" a harrier same as we had when I was at school in the 60's. He is staunch but not an action man except in a tight spot. And there are lots of tight spots. Great story. Coincidence is all. Buchan likes the idea that random stuff is connected. eg in the three hostages and 39 steps. I like it more than 39 steps but it's not quite as good as John Mcnab imo.
November 6, 2020
The first outing for Buchan's Sir Edward Leithen, solicitor, MP and adventurer. And despite there being more coincidences than you could shake a stick at in this book, I thoroughly enjoyed it. A man gets involved with some shady characters, and then disappears, possibly headed for Moscow. His best mate from university goes chasing after him. And Leithen is left at home on a watching brief ... that soon becomes a sinister battle of wits with a master criminal. I mean, what's not to like!?
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