Witch Wood [Paperback]

John Buchan (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 6, 2009

Witch Wood is a story of seventeenth-century witchcraft in the Wood of Caledon in the Scottish Borders. The parish minister tries in vain to prevent devil worship and protect his protestant congregation. Meanwhile, civil unrest of the Scottish Wars of the Covenant divides the minister's loyalties. Buchan also weaves in a romantic love story.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'Buchan knew that you can't buck the consequences of your actions, and that your life is what you make of it. Perhaps his 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

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.

Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: House of Stratus (January 6, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0755117212
• ISBN-13: 978-0755117215
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,387,099 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Witch Wood, January 27, 2000

By 

Michael E. Marshall - See all my reviews

This review is from: Witch Wood (Canongate Classic) (Paperback)

A good, engaging read. Well developed characters and an excellent insight into a peculiar time of history. Also, a healthy examination of the religious doctrines and culture that define the Scottish Presbyterian presence in what is now referred to as the Reformed Faith.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Surprisingly Good, May 8, 2005

By 

R. Albin (Ann Arbor, Michigan United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Witch Wood (Paperback)

Buchan is best known today as the author of the espionage thriller, The 39 Steps, though more people have probably seen the Hitchcock movie version than read the book. Readers expecting something similar to 39 Steps or Buchan's other thrillers will be disappointed by Witch Wood. This is, however, a better book than the thrillers. Buchan patterned Witch Wood after Robert Louis Stevenson historical novels like Kidnapped or The Master of Ballantrae, books which take a human issue and the historical setting seriously. Set in 17th century lowland Scotland, the hero of Witch Wood is a young and idealistic Presbyterian minister. This book, which has adventure elements, is essentially a story of conflicts of conscience faced by the hero. Buchan was the son of a Presbyterian minister, had a strong interest in church history, and at one point in his public career, was directly involved in the affairs of the Church of Scotland. I suspect as well that elements are based on his own boyhood. While aspects of the plot are a bit contrived and some parts anachronistic, Buchan really does well in making something human and interesting out of the doctrinal politics and theology of Presbyterianism at this time.

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars C. S. Lewis said: "That's the way to do it", February 27, 2005

By 

Extollager (Mayville, ND United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Witch Wood (The World's Classics) (Paperback)

C. S. Lewis liked this novel so much that he sent the author a fan letter, stating his appreciation for Buchan's novels but speaking especially of his gratitude for Witch Wood. Lewis commended the skilful buildup of atmosphere. You can find this Lewisian nugget in Janet Adam Smith's John Buchan and His World.

As for myself - - I suppose I have read this novel three times, with much enjoyment.