Customer Reviews
Great escapism - By: W. Rolls, 21 Nov 2008 
a really good book to dipin & out of, I use it whenever I need some escapism. It's got enough excitement to keep you interested, as well as some beautiful description of the Scottish highlands. Perhaps not one for those of you who disagree with blood sports though.
Escapism from a different age - By: Mr. A. E. R. Bell, 03 Feb 2008 
This is a fantastic book - my ultimate all time comfort read. The story of three great men seeking to recapture the excitement of lifein Scotland's incomparable highlands through the pre-confessed poaching of a stag or a salmon on neighbouring estates. It is beautifully written and, while an essentially gentle story, gripping. I must have read it 100 times & still, when my mind is troubled, I go back to it. "Pride & Prejudice" for men.
A book that makes you yearn for the great outdoors - By: Jack Victor, 18 Jan 2008 Other commentators have concentrated on the huntin', shootin', fishin' aspects of this book & they are certainly right to do so, but by doing so they perhaps miss what a great paean to the great Scottish countryside this is. In common with much of Buchan's work, the action takes place predominantly outdoors & he is so comfortablein his effortless description of place that it is a true joy to read. Sure the book has the class distinctions of its time but you can visit the Western Highlands even now & see how accurate & compelling his writing is. Also the "manhunt" aspects of the book surely appeal to the hunterin all of us "men of a certain age", who habitually watch Top Gear & would still like to nip out for a quick game of "Best Man Fall"
One last thing, whilst I adore the Richard Hannay books, may I guide those of you who have still to discover the genius of John Buchan (and please read his biographies for justification of my attaching that word to him) to read the "Dickson McCunn" books, Huntingtower, Castle Gay & The House of the Four Winds. These are light, easy to read, surprisingly suspenseful & throughly rollicking reads that today's authors just cannot hope to match.
I notice that a number of Buchan's books are being re-published so I hope that many more people will get beyond The Thirty Nine Steps to see what a marvelous legacy of works Buchan has left us.
The Great Game - By: J. J. O'neill, 03 Oct 2007 A comfortable read, John Buchanin top form on his home ground, writing about the blood sports he loves.
This book really should not work, as our heroes admit at the beginning of the story, their motivation for their adventures is merely to avoid boredom; As is clear at the end, the risks they have exposed themselves are all quite bogus. Why on Earth should the modern reader care about three patrician Tory squires playing at being rebels?
Simply, the reader cares because of the easy charm of our author, he engages our interest & sympathies so that it is impossible not to root for our eminent trio & their various assistants.
Also, although contrived, the tale is far from bloodless, Buchan always approaches his adventures as sporting contests anyway, no matter how high the odds, so the challenges thrown down by "John Macnab" suit his tone perfectly.
The night fishing exploits of Edward Leithen are perhaps the most memorable passagesin the book, but all the sporting pursuits are well drawn, & with obvious knowledge & affection to draw on.
The highly class bound society shown here may seem off-putting to modern tastes, but Buchan is so assured, so certain of the rightness of the world he describes, it is impossible not to accept his preconceptions & simply enjoy a rattling story.
Excellent ! - By: , 30 Nov 1999 Whether you are familiar with this story from school or finding it for the first time, it makes for an excellent read. It carries an excellent 'sense of place' and, forgiving the minor details that date it, it is as applicable today as ever it was.
If you are going on holiday to Scotland & want to understand something of its' sporting history & development you could do no better than read this book. If you are visiting Scotland to fish or stalk & have not read this book - why not ! If you have already stalked or fishedin Scotland & want to conjur up the memories then dive in.
