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A review by adorkablesmile
The Thirty-Nine Steps by John Buchan
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
For a novel that's more than a century old now, it's clearly a product of its time. The story is rife with the xenophobia and paranoia typical to a world in the midst of war, and there's some early-20th-century antisemitism which mars a first reading of the book in the modern age.
However for all of that, when the adventure gets going it's easy to lose yourself in the chase. There are twists and turns, and protagonist Richard Hannay always feels one foul step away from death or disaster. John Buchan knows his craft and he puts together a superb mystery thriller - it's outdated, but it's a classic for a reason.
However for all of that, when the adventure gets going it's easy to lose yourself in the chase. There are twists and turns, and protagonist Richard Hannay always feels one foul step away from death or disaster. John Buchan knows his craft and he puts together a superb mystery thriller - it's outdated, but it's a classic for a reason.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Antisemitism
Moderate: Xenophobia