John Macnab [Paperback]

John Buchan (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 2005

In 1925, John Buchan published his second most famous novel, "John MacNab"; three high-flying men - a barrister, a cabinet minister and a banker - are suffering from boredom. They concoct a plan to cure it. They inform three Scottish estates that they will poach from each two stags and a salmon in a given time. They sign collectively as 'John McNab' and await the responses. This novel is a light interlude within the "Leithen Stories" series - an evocative look at the hunting, shooting and fishing lifestyle in Highland Scotland.

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'Perhaps [Buchan's] peculiarly Scottish combination of Romanticism and Calvinism - daring living and high thinking - is due to return to fashion.' THE INDEPENDENT MAGAZINE --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

About the Author

One of Alfred Hitchcock's favourite writers, John Buchan was a Scottish diplomat, barrister, journalist, historian, poet and novelist. He published nearly 30 novels and seven collections of short stories. He was born in Perth, an eldest son, and studied at Glasgow and Oxford. In 1901 he became a barrister of the Middle Temple and a private secretary to the High Commissioner for South Africa. In 1907 he married Susan Charlotte Grosvenor and they subsequently had four children. After spells as a war correspondent, Lloyd George's Director of Information and Conservative MP, Buchan moved to Canada in 1935. He served as Governor General there until his death in 1940. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 228 pages
• Publisher: Dodo Press (October 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1406501298
• ISBN-13: 978-1406501292
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,487,895 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A ripping yarn. A fun read with intrigue and suspense., June 18, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: John MacNab (Wordsworth Collection) (Paperback)

People who like John Buchan's work will enjoy this adventure. John McNab has the suspense of the Hannay series but with the lightheatedness of an adventure. Three friends meet in the highlands of Scotland and set themselves each a challenge to poach trophy wildlife from the laird. They advise the laird what they will poach and when, in letters signed "John McNab". The laird takes up the challenge to catch the ficticious John McNab before he can carry out the warned of task.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent outdoor adventure novel., April 2, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: John MacNab (Wordsworth Collection) (Paperback)

John Buchan's book John MacNab is set in the highlands of Scotland. The three main characters, one a Cabinet minister, another a banker and the last an Attorney-General, are all suffering from boredom which they can only cure by doing something dangerous and difficult. Deciding to try to poach a salmon and two stags in a limited amount of time, risking reputation and a fine, as well as rough handling, they are cured of boredom. An excellent book for anyone who enjoys outdoor adventure novels.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A fine tale of gentlemen poachers, November 30, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: John Macnab (Hardcover)

"John MacNab" recounts the glorious story of three bored gentlemen, who one summer in the 1930's, decide to poach salmon and deer from three neighbouring sporting estates. Buchan, a native Scot, beautifully describes the landscapes and characters involved in this wild plan. Enjoyable from beginning to end.