Huntingtower [Paperback]

John Buchan (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 17, 2006

An old man takes what may be the last walking tour of his life. A young war hero tours the countryside on foot after convalescing from wounds he suffered during the first world war. A Russian princess is kidnapped. And the key to the the crime lies in a romantic, forboding castle on the coast of Scotland. In this novel of romance and adventure, John Buchan spins a tale of mystery, intrigue, and suspense.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

John Buchan, Baron Tweedsmuir, was a Scottish diplomat, barrister, journalist, historian, poet and novelist. He wrote adventure novels, short-story collections and biographies. His passion for the Scottish countryside is reflected in much of his writing. Buchan's adventure stories are high in romance and are peopled by a large cast of characters. 'Richard Hannay', 'Dickson McCunn' and 'Sir Edward Leithen' are three that reappear several times. Alfred Hitchcock adapted his most famous book 'The Thirty-Nine Steps', featuring Hannay, for the big screen. Born in 1875 in Perth, Buchan was the son of a minister. Childhood holidays were spent in the Borders, for which he had a great love. He was educated at Glasgow University and Brasenose College, Oxford, where he was President of the Union. Called to the Bar in 1901, he became Lord Milner's assistant private secretary in South Africa. By 1907, however, he was working as a publisher with Nelson's. During the First World War Buchan was a correspondent at the Front for 'The Times', as well as being an officer in the Intelligence Corps and advisor to the War Cabinet. Elected as a Conservative Member of Parliament for one of the Scottish Universities' seats in 1927, he was created Baron Tweedsmuir in 1935. From then until his death in 1940 he served as Governor General of Canada, during which time he neverthelss managed to continue writing. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 234 pages
• Publisher: Waking Lion Press (July 17, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1600963005
• ISBN-13: 978-1600963001
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,866,165 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Saving a Kidnapped Russian Princess from a Rambling Mansion -- Part Dated But Enjoyable Adventure Tale, September 8, 2005

By 

Tsuyoshi (Kyoto, Japan) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Huntingtower (Oxford World's Classics) (Paperback)

A lesser known John Buchan work, 'Huntingtower' (published in 1922) is still a very enjoyable adventure book in which a most unlikely person in the world of fiction plays the central role. He is Dickeson McCunn, newly retired gorcery shop owner, whose life has been very 'respectable.' Now, free from his business (and his wife being away from home), Dickson leaves the city to spend time walking in the countryside of Scotland.

But while visiting the village called Dalquharter, Dickson meets a young English poet Mr. Heritage, who tries to convince him that in the ruined mansion Huntingtower, a young woman is held against her will, and the poet claims that he knows her personally. Moreover, Heritage believes that the woman is a Russian princess. Unconvinced, Dickson refuses to take part in his 'rescue' plans ... at first.

The plot is vintage Buchan, with lots of actions (exciting and incredible ones), plus well-observed descritions of characters. Dickson is not as active or heroic as Richard Hannay, but the situation is similar to that of 'The Thirty-Nine Steps.' The difference is inclusion of historical references to the post-revolution Russia, and 'the Gorbals Die-Hards,' group of local kids who assist the jobs of Dickson. The colorful Scottish background is also attarctive.

The book is a thriller, but unlike 'Greenmantle,' it is not political. It's more like reading Scott or Stevenson, with sly and often comical commentary to the contemporary social situations here and there, such as deft description of one boy who recounts his experience joining in sociliast's meeting, thinking that it's a football club. And of course, Russian princess reminds us of the legend of Anastasia.

The book fails to be convincing when it tries to show the 'villains' who are only stock characters, and the idea of putting a respectable middle-class Glassgow grocery store owner does not work in the latter half of the book, in which Dickson McCunn is less interesting presence than the 'Die-Hards.' And you probably don't like the book's occasional derogatory commentary on certain group (especially Jewish people). Some of the values here are those of the 1920s, and they are clearly dated.

But the actions and the characters (if not all) are still good, and the narrator draws vivid sketches of people with clever and pithy wording. The catalogue of people Dickson meets on the road (including Heritage) is all lively, and the entire mood of the book is surprisingly optimistic. The book is readable and entertaining in a different way than Buchan's spy novels.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Romanticism vs Realism, July 6, 2006

By 

Losse - See all my reviews

This review is from: Huntingtower (Paperback)

Huntingtower is a rare book and a pleasure to read. On one level it's a gripping adventure story. On another level it's a vindication of the overlooked characters of the thriller-world. The heroes here aren't soldiers, aren't highly-trained spies, aren't adventurers. They are a married, middle-aged grocer; an old lady; a gang of indomitable street-kids; a cynical poet; and a gang of disabled soldiers. And there's a dispossessed Russian princess-turned-spy in there, too, with a dispossessed Russian prince.

On another level the tale's pure allegory--about the Realist (the cynical poet) and the Romanticist (the grocer) stumbling upon a slice of real adventure and finding out that it's nothing like either of them expected. It's a vindication of fairy-tales (there's a princess in a tower!) and a judgement of thoughtless sentimentalism.

But all those levels work together to make up an often funny, often moving, surprisingly candid adventure through a Scotland lovingly evoked--yet another of Buchan's unusual tales.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Delightful, December 13, 2010

By 

debrahart (Silver Spring, MD) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Huntingtower (Kindle Edition)

A very enjoyable escape, adventuring with a recently-retired grocer and his assorted acquaintances. Humorous, self-deprecating, and satisfying. Reading can be a muckle challenging, due to the Scottish dialect, but if you can get unto the swing of it, it just adds to the charm of the experience. Not to be missed!