Prester John (Oxford World's Classics) [Paperback]

John Buchan (Author), David Daniell (Editor)

Book Description

Series: Oxford World's Classics | Publication Date: August 18, 1994

This, the only critical edition of John Buchan's Prester John (1910), was Buchan's sixth novel and the first to reach a wide readership across the world, establishing him as the writer of fast-paced adventures for which he is famous. It is a tale of nineteen year old David Crawfurd, who travels from Scotland to South Africa to work as a storekeeper. When Crawfurd encounters John Laputa, a celebrated Zulu minister who has taken the title of the mythical priest-king Prester John, he finds himself at the heart of a massive uprising of the people, holding the key to its secret.

Editorial Reviews

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 out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA (August 18, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 019282936X
• ISBN-13: 978-0192829368
• Product Dimensions: 7.3 x 4.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,827,458 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

31 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Adventure on a Large Canvas: South Africa, August 23, 2005

By 

Chris Ward (Costa Rica) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Prester John (Paperback)

This novel, set more than a century ago in backwater South Africa, is the great grandfather of today's thrillers. Buchan, who perfected the form in "The 39 Steps" some years later, gives his young hero plenty to do in sussing out and confronting a massive uprising by tribesmen who wish to slaughter all the white settlers for a hundred miles around. The writing is smooth and the situations are generally believable, though modern readers will have to forgive Buchan for some racist sentiments completely common at the time. Both black and white characters are compellingly and sympathetically drawn, though, so there's no reason to apologize for the book. Read it and be taken back to another time and another place, and imagine how Hollywood would produce this today-- it feels totally contemporary in terms of its "Indiana Jones" adventure plot. Enjoy! (Note: This book is available in its entirety online.)

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A boy's adventure book set in early Africa, February 24, 2011

By 

Cari Haus (Michigan) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Prester John (Paperback)

This is a gripping adventure story set during the British Empire mostly in South Africa. As a consequence of this, and when it was written (1910), the language is both racist and patriarchal. Written totally in the first person, from the perspective of the hero, the narrative is taut and each paragraph brings new revelations. There is a strong feeling of movement and energy throughout, which is probably why it is so easy to read and why it was so hard to put down. All in all a good adventure story in his typical style. The edition I got was a nice one. Prester John

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great edition of a classic book, February 24, 2011

By 

David Craig (United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Prester John (Paperback)

I'm not sure what edition the other reviewer got, but the one I purchased (see link here) was professionally laid out and a beautiful edition of this truly classic book. Prester John