The fourth of the five Richard Hannay novels by John Buchan. Here we find our hero Richard Hannay living a quiet life in the countryside with a wife and young child but his past comes back to haunt him and he once more must face up to an arch-enemy.

John Buchan is the father of the modern spy thriller. This is so even though the Hannay books are not, strictly speaking, about spies at all in the professional sense of the word. They are about penetration of the enemy, about lonely escape and wild journeys, about the thin veneer that stands between civilsation and barbarism.

Contains: Island of Sheep, Three Hostages, Mr Hostages, Mr Standfast, The 39 Steps.

Major-General Sir Richard Hannay is the fictional secret agent created by Scottish novelist John Buchan and further made popular by the 1935 Alfred Hitchcock film The 39 Steps. Hannay is pre-eminent among early spy-thriller heroes. Caught up in the first of these five gripping adventures just before the outbreak of war in 1914, he manages to thwart the enemy's evil plan and solve the mystery of the “thirty-nine steps”. In his autobiography, Memory Hold-the-Door, Buchan suggests that the character is based, in part, on Edmund Ironside, from Edinburgh, a spy during the Second Boer War. Contains: The Thirty-Nine Steps, Greenmantle, Mr Standfast, The Three Hostages, The Courts of the Morning and The Island of Sheep.

John Buchan, 1st Baron Tweedsmuir was a Scottish novelist, historian, and Unionist politician who served as Governor General of Canada, the 15th since Canadian Confederation. John Buchan combined a successful career as an author of thrillers, historical novels, histories and biographies with a parallel career in public life. Buchan wrote superb action novels, including the spy-catching adventures of Richard Hannay. Buchan wrote superb action novels, including the spy-catching adventures of Richard Hannay, whose exploits are described in The Thirty-Nine Steps, Greenmantle, Mr. Standfast, The Three Hostages, and The Island of Sheep. Apart from Hannay, Buchan created two other leading characters in Dickson McCunn, the shrewd retired grocer who appears in Huntingtower, Castle Gay, and The House of the Four Winds; and the lawyer Sir Edward Leithen, who features in the The Power-House, John Macnab, The Dancing Floor, The Gap in the Curtain and Sick Heart River. During Buchan’s last years he was still productive as a writer, and published notable historical biographies, such as Montrose, Sir Walter Scott, and Cromwell. RICHARD HANNAY STORIES THE THIRTY-NINE STEPS GREENMANTLE MR. STANDFAST THE THREE HOSTAGES THE COURTS OF THE MORNING THE ISLAND OF SHEEP LEITHEN STORIES THE POWER-HOUSE JOHN MACNAB THE DANCING FLOOR THE GAP IN THE CURTAIN SICK HEART RIVER DICKSON MCCUNN AND THE 'GORBALS DIE-HARDS' HUNTINGTOWER CASTLE GAY THE HOUSE OF THE FOUR WINDS NOVELS SIR QUIXOTE OF THE MOORS JOHN BURNET OF BARNS WITCH WOOD THE BLANKET OF THE DARK THE FREE FISHERS THE HALF-HEARTED A LODGE IN THE WILDERNESS A LOST LADY OF OLD YEARS THE PATH OF THE KING PRESTER JOHN SALUTE TO ADVENTURERS

John Buchan's 'MYSTERY & ESPIONAGE Ultimate Collection' is a comprehensive compilation of his iconic works, including the complete Richard Hannay, Dickson McCunn, and Sir Edward Leithen series. This collection showcases Buchan's unique blend of mystery, espionage, and adventure, set against the backdrop of early 20th-century Europe. Readers will be captivated by the thrilling plots, intricate narratives, and dynamic characters that populate these classic tales, making it a must-read for fans of spy fiction and literary thrillers alike. Buchan's mastery of suspense and his ability to craft compelling narratives ensure that this collection remains a timeless contribution to the genre. With each page turn, readers will be drawn deeper into the intricate webs of intrigue that Buchan expertly weaves, keeping them on the edge of their seats until the very end. This collection serves as a testament to Buchan's enduring legacy as a master storyteller and a pioneer of the espionage genre.

This early (1924) spy adventure is one of five Buchan novels featuring the heroic Richard Hannay. Hannay is called out of retirement to rescue the kidnapped offspring of three highly placed British citizens. Hannay soon uncovers a global syndicate supporting a single man who has notions of world domination. The story suffers from exaggerated descriptions of its characters. For instance, the kidnapper, Medina, is not just a good shot, he's the best shot in England next to the King. The British are portrayed as wonderful people, but other races fare less well. Yet the story is undoubtedly good fun and is enhanced by the modulated voice and subtle characterizations of British actor Edmund Dehn. For large suspense collections.