The Thirty-Nine Steps
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4.1 • 462 Ratings
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Publisher Description
An Apple Books Classic edition.
John Buchan’s novel is credited with kicking off the “man on the run” genre of thriller. Since its publication in 1915, it’s inspired a multitude of adaptations, including a movie directed by Alfred Hitchcock. The story follows Scottish expat Richard Hannay, who has just returned to London from South Africa and is quickly thrust into a shadowy, dangerous world of political intrigue.
The suspense kicks off when Hannay agrees to shelter an American stranger who tells him about a powerful underground society called the Black Stone that aims to start an armed conflict. When Hannay finds the stranger murdered in his apartment, he borrows a milkman’s uniform and successfully flees the building, embarking on a heart-pounding journey throughout England and Scotland. With the Black Stone and the London police both hunting him, Hannay races against time to decode the dead man’s notebook, which may hold the key to proving his innocence—and preventing Europe from descending into all-out war. The Thirty-Nine Steps is a page-turning masterpiece.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
A full cast delivers a gripping performance of John Buchan's classic tale of espionage and intrigue. When Richard Hannay discovers a dead body in his apartment, he's dragged into a dark and dangerous world of global politics, secret societies, and undercover agents. Accused of murder and with the fate of the British fleet resting in his hands, Hannay must elude the police and foreign spies, decode a cryptic notebook, and convince the enigmatic Sir Walter Bullivant to believe his incredible tale. David Robb dazzles as Hannay, delivering a gritty, nuanced performance of a man living a nightmare, and with the addition of dramatic music and a host of pitch-perfect sound effects, this audiobook is highly enjoyable and highly recommended.
Customer Reviews
Enjoyable, but slightly difficult to read.
I know that this is an old book and the first of its genre, so I’m definitely not going to hate on it too hard. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a good book, but at times it gets boring and it is slightly repetitive. Also, it uses many phrases that are difficult to understand, but like I said, it’s from the 20s, so what do you expect. Hard to get into, but worth a try if you like this genre.
Movie different from the book
I saw the movie years ago, and seem to remember the 39 steps was revealed by a circus intellect who knew everything anyone could ask him. That tells me about hollywood.
39 Steps
Mr. Hannay fears boredom will bring him down. Then adventure comes knocking on the door in the form of a man named Scudder. Scudder spins an intriguing tale but Hannay doubts it. Then his new friend turns up dead and he finds himself hiding from police and spies and relying on his wits and luck to keep Scudder’s secrets safe until they can be used properly.
A fun little adventure story. Definitely not dull.