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3.28 AVERAGE
3.28 AVERAGE
This spy thriller was published in 1915 and sees the protagonist Richard Hannay become involved in a dangerous plot of German-vs-British espionage, and an epic chase across the country. Whilst the boyish charm of the action and adventure appealed to me, this story did seem ponderous and yet ironically rushed at times. There are instances were details are glossed over by the author, John Buchan, and I couldn’t help but feel it lacked the punch and intrigue of later spy novels. However, given its place and cultural influence for the genre, it is definitely worth a read.
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Started off exciting but I found this rather boring, especially because I found the main character, who is also the only significant character of the book, kind of annoying. Check out my full review at www.inkdropsreviews.wordpress.com
One of the most fascinating things about the ‘Thirty-Nine Steps’ is its many incarnations and I can well understand that it may not, in its original format as a ‘dime thriller’, appeal to a twenty-first century readership. Rather, it has now been re-invented as a comedy and achieved enormous success on the London and New York stage. We are no longer an age where melodrama and high jinks goes down well. We perceive those of the highest social status who seem inept as buffoons rather than with respect and this change in our perception has resulted in the novel metamorphosing from a sensational thriller to comedy. Whilst its original form suited Hitchcock’s lurid style (it was perfectly in keeping with ‘The Birds’ or ‘Marnie’) and thus was another hit for the famous film director, today it is no longer to our taste. It does not have the action or explosive moments that a modern audience demands of a thriller – the protagonist trails across the highlands of Scotland encountering the odd laird and several seemingly bungling criminals, but this is no Jack Reacher or Jason Bourne.
What ‘The Thirty-Nine Steps’ is, however, is a splendid time piece. It captures an era (the moments just before the WWI) and conveys some of the anxiety that hung over that period that wobbled between modernism with all its motorcars, telephones and planes and an older era where good British righteousness and a stiff upper lip saw you through. Moreover, it is worth noting that the novel was published in 1915 – the very beginning of the war where fears concerning German spies concealing themselves amongst the common British people and anxiety about the Great British Isles being invaded by an unknown presence lurking beyond her splendid coastline were very real.
I would not proclaim that this is a great piece of literature and nor, in truth, do I think Buchan intended it to be. Rather, by his own admission he wrote it as a ‘shocker’ to amuse himself while he convalesced with a duodenal ulcer that would trouble him for the rest of his life. Nonetheless, there is much to recommend this narrative. This is one of the original thrillers in an era when such a genre was utterly new to the reading public. Buchan infuses his novel with a real sense of pace and excitement so the entire plot line flies past. In fact, Buchan grips us brilliantly from the moment the novel opens and the mysterious Scudder enters Hannay’s modest abode just when he is feeling most bored to reveal that he is already dead. There are some wonderful characters here as well. Yes they are stereotypes – the bumbling English politician; the wily antagonist of a myriad disguises; the resourceful hero, Hannay, but yet they do not merely drive the narrative on, but become stock figures in a really exciting drama. Yes it does all end rather abruptly, but that only adds to the thrill. This was written in 1914 and the audience would have been all too aware that worse than a mere threat was to come from across the channel. What is more, there is a sequel – in fact, this is the first of a series of six novels (two are set just before/ during WWI and the others after) so I am interested to see where our ‘chap’ Hannay will go and what further criminal and political mendacity he will be able to scotch.
Do I think that this really belongs in the 1001 Books to Read Before you Die…probably not, but at only 100 pages or so, it is a very quick read and thoroughly enjoyable not merely in its pacey narrative, but in what it reveals about a world before war broke out and changed the country forever.
What ‘The Thirty-Nine Steps’ is, however, is a splendid time piece. It captures an era (the moments just before the WWI) and conveys some of the anxiety that hung over that period that wobbled between modernism with all its motorcars, telephones and planes and an older era where good British righteousness and a stiff upper lip saw you through. Moreover, it is worth noting that the novel was published in 1915 – the very beginning of the war where fears concerning German spies concealing themselves amongst the common British people and anxiety about the Great British Isles being invaded by an unknown presence lurking beyond her splendid coastline were very real.
I would not proclaim that this is a great piece of literature and nor, in truth, do I think Buchan intended it to be. Rather, by his own admission he wrote it as a ‘shocker’ to amuse himself while he convalesced with a duodenal ulcer that would trouble him for the rest of his life. Nonetheless, there is much to recommend this narrative. This is one of the original thrillers in an era when such a genre was utterly new to the reading public. Buchan infuses his novel with a real sense of pace and excitement so the entire plot line flies past. In fact, Buchan grips us brilliantly from the moment the novel opens and the mysterious Scudder enters Hannay’s modest abode just when he is feeling most bored to reveal that he is already dead. There are some wonderful characters here as well. Yes they are stereotypes – the bumbling English politician; the wily antagonist of a myriad disguises; the resourceful hero, Hannay, but yet they do not merely drive the narrative on, but become stock figures in a really exciting drama. Yes it does all end rather abruptly, but that only adds to the thrill. This was written in 1914 and the audience would have been all too aware that worse than a mere threat was to come from across the channel. What is more, there is a sequel – in fact, this is the first of a series of six novels (two are set just before/ during WWI and the others after) so I am interested to see where our ‘chap’ Hannay will go and what further criminal and political mendacity he will be able to scotch.
Do I think that this really belongs in the 1001 Books to Read Before you Die…probably not, but at only 100 pages or so, it is a very quick read and thoroughly enjoyable not merely in its pacey narrative, but in what it reveals about a world before war broke out and changed the country forever.
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced