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jon288's review against another edition
5.0
A bit dated, but for it's age it holds up remarkably well. This copy was my Grandad's and is still in good condition. A fun spy/adventure tale
theconstantreader's review against another edition
3.0
Ragging on this book for being unbelievable is akin to watching any movie with Jason Statham in it and getting upset that the stunts are wild. You've got to appreciate it for what is and tune out that critical part of your mind to jump on board for a good yarn if you want to get into this book.
It started off really strong for me and I was enjoying it more than The Thirty-Nine Steps which is the first book in the series. Unfortunately though it dragged on that little bit too long for me to continue to enjoy reading it quite as much as I had during the first third of the book.
Nevertheless, it is fun and entertaining. Full of twists and turns, close calls and getaways. This book is everything you'd expect from an adventure-spy novel.
It started off really strong for me and I was enjoying it more than The Thirty-Nine Steps which is the first book in the series. Unfortunately though it dragged on that little bit too long for me to continue to enjoy reading it quite as much as I had during the first third of the book.
Nevertheless, it is fun and entertaining. Full of twists and turns, close calls and getaways. This book is everything you'd expect from an adventure-spy novel.
rschmidt7's review against another edition
5.0
Sequel better than Original
Greenmantle is the sequel to Buchan's novel 39 Steps, and in this case, I would say the sequel is far and away the better of the two. It is also much longer, which is a good thing. Everything that the first book did right, this book expands a hundredfold and improves upon.
The book stars the same hero, Richard Hannay, a South African fighting for the UK in World War I. The plot revolves around a mysterious Eastern conspiracy that the English suspect is being cooked up between the Germans and the entire Muslim world, via the Turks. British spy hijinks ensue. If you enjoy early 1900s British adventure novels, well then this is absolutely the book for you! I loved it. I wish I had read this book when I was about 11 years old. The adventure, the mystery, the improbable plot presented with a stiff upper lip, the exotic settings and the atmosphere of the Great War, all of these definitely appealed to the boy in me. Read this book if you like adventure, spies, or WWI. The best thing is, it's in the public domain, so you should be able to get it free!
Greenmantle is the sequel to Buchan's novel 39 Steps, and in this case, I would say the sequel is far and away the better of the two. It is also much longer, which is a good thing. Everything that the first book did right, this book expands a hundredfold and improves upon.
The book stars the same hero, Richard Hannay, a South African fighting for the UK in World War I. The plot revolves around a mysterious Eastern conspiracy that the English suspect is being cooked up between the Germans and the entire Muslim world, via the Turks. British spy hijinks ensue. If you enjoy early 1900s British adventure novels, well then this is absolutely the book for you! I loved it. I wish I had read this book when I was about 11 years old. The adventure, the mystery, the improbable plot presented with a stiff upper lip, the exotic settings and the atmosphere of the Great War, all of these definitely appealed to the boy in me. Read this book if you like adventure, spies, or WWI. The best thing is, it's in the public domain, so you should be able to get it free!
smitchy's review against another edition
3.0
Read this with the knowledge that it is simple pulp-fiction. Action packed and full of unlikely co-incidences and old fashioned rascism (It was written in 1920's)
sunwinter's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: War
Moderate: Slavery
ella_w_h's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Hard to follow with the amount of twists and turn. Racial spurs made for an uncomfortable listen at times
Content Warnings
Graphic: Islamophobia and Xenophobia
tashferatu's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
2.5
mazza57's review against another edition
3.0
found this Hannay tale a little difficult to keep up with all the twists and turns
madcrazymoviereviews's review against another edition
3.0
What is perhaps most extraordinary about this book is when it was published - 1916
This is a spy novel - complete with aliases, fake passports and other forgeries, costume changes and disguises, violent/heartless villains, narrow escapes, rooftop chases, an international cast of heroes banded together (each with their own unique skillset, of course), last second victory in the face of defeat... Buchan writes with an efficient, unpretentious style (with a few deadpan jokes as well), and turns a bit - though JUST a bit - introspective and poetic there at the end.
TLDR - "Mission: Impossible - World War I" is a fun, albeit fairly superficial read
This is a spy novel - complete with aliases, fake passports and other forgeries, costume changes and disguises, violent/heartless villains, narrow escapes, rooftop chases, an international cast of heroes banded together (each with their own unique skillset, of course), last second victory in the face of defeat... Buchan writes with an efficient, unpretentious style (with a few deadpan jokes as well), and turns a bit - though JUST a bit - introspective and poetic there at the end.
TLDR - "Mission: Impossible - World War I" is a fun, albeit fairly superficial read