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The Thirty-Nine Steps Audiobook
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(3.00) - 14,864 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
Perhaps more than any other book The Thirty-Nine Steps has set the pattern for the story of the chase for a wanted man. And, of the many writers who have attempted this kind of thing since Buchan, only a very few, like Graham Greene, have managed to sustain the tension in the same way. The story's extended chase scene inspired Alfred Hitchcock's movie of the same name.
The Thirty-Nine Steps, Buchan's best-known thriller, introduces his most enduring hero, Richard Hannay—who, despite claiming to be an "ordinary fellow," is caught up in a dangerous race against a plot to devastate the British war effort.
It begins calmly enough with a rather boring trip to London. Returning to his flat, Richard is shocked to find his neighbor dead on the floor with a knife in his back. Near the deceased is a small black notebook containing cryptic notes about the "thirty-nine steps" and a black stone. As the situation escalates, Hannay is mistaken for a secret agent by the police. Now he must run for his life across the Scottish highlands, thinking his way through narrow escapes while trying to decode the thirty-nine steps.
With wit and flair, this old-fashioned roller coaster ride offers soaring suspense with a comic touch.
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"The thirty nine steps has a remarkably unbelievable plot with a lot of deus ex machina. And yet the book is a classic because despite all the unbelievable elements it succeeds. Some critical readers may miss the brilliance of this novel due to their pedantic and uppish views. Such brilliance is that it successfully with few words creates a narrative that serves the purpose of any good novel. And that is to engage the reader with a story, no matter how unbelievable. Who cares how believable the story is so long as one is engaged in another world? That is what this tale does engages the reader and allows them entry into another world."
— Jonathan (4 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
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“It is the dimension of the mysterious that makes Buchan’s writing so unfailingly compelling.”
— John Keegan, author of A History of Warfare -
“Frederick Davidson’s voice is properly sardonic, and his supercilious British articulation is just right. The story’s extended chase scene inspired Alfred Hitchcock’s movie of the same name.”
— AudioFile -
“It is just the kind of fiction for here. One wants something to engross the attention without tiring the mind. The story is greatly appreciated in the midst of mud and rain and shells, and all that could make trench life depressing.”
— An officer on the front in World War I -
“Buchan’s technique as a writer is simple enough and well displayed in The Thirty-Nine Steps. He understood that in a thriller…what matters above all is to keep the reader focused on what is going to happen next…It doesn’t matter that the reader has no clue where he is being taken or, when he gets there, how the thing happened as it did. All that matters is that once you’ve started, you can’t put the book down.”
— Telegraph (London) -
“Buchan essentially invented the espionage novel with his Richard Hannay yarns.”
— Library Journal
The Thirty-Nine Steps Listener Reviews
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" Fantstic and really holds up- considering it was written so long ago. One can see the influence it has had over the mystery genre. "
— Texaskcr, 2/20/2014 -
" A little hard to read at times, with 1915 British slang, but good story! "
— Tanya, 2/18/2014 -
" Sometime earlier this year I was watching BBC, which is a PBS production network that specializes in period dramas and they were airing a mini series called The 39 Steps.Right after watching the mini drama I did some research on the actual book since I completely relished the drama.Form then on I have been reading Richard Hannay's journey. "
— Kassandra, 2/15/2014 -
" Exciting for those who enjoy Hitchcock and espionage! "
— Melissa, 2/12/2014 -
" I was a bit disappointed with this to be honest. I grew up with the 1978 film with Robert Powell, and I don't mind that the plot is different, but it just wasn't as exciting either, and also rather confusing for my poor tiny brain. "
— Hil, 2/8/2014 -
" I wanted to read this book as I had heard it was different from every movie version I've seen - and it certainly is! There's no handcuffed girl being dragged to a hotel, there's no girls in this book at all! It's just John Hannay spending a month travelling around Scotland by train, car, bike and on foot trying to learn the truth about the allegations made by Spanner or Spinner, the man was is later found murdered in his apartment. This book was written prior to WWI. It's not as easy read as the terms used are a little dated from modern usage. "
— Lorraine, 2/4/2014 -
" I enjoyed the play more (seeing it vs reading the story) "
— Kristen, 1/25/2014 -
" This book got me thinking about the way technology has developed over the years - to such a degree that a story like this could not really happen in the modern age. The main character would have been caught on so many CCTV cameras, and mobile phones would have been buzzing..... Not having modern communications made it possible to have chase stories like this, and whilst it's probably a bit far fetched even still it's all good fun. "
— Jayne, 1/25/2014 -
" A jolly fine romp old chap...! "
— Alex, 1/24/2014 -
" A LOT of fun, this classic spy story is a fast-paced adventure that never lets up. The hero's ability to blend into the landscape and transform himself into other personas as he avoids the bad guys is fascinating. A first class adventure story. "
— J.M., 1/23/2014 -
" an old story. a movie. and still a good mystery story. b j harrison reading. excellent job. totally enjoyed this short fiction. "
— Maggie, 1/21/2014
About John Buchan
John Buchan (1875–1940) was educated at Glasgow University and Brasenose College, Oxford. He became a barrister, member of Parliament, soldier, publisher, and governor general of Canada. Of the over one hundred books he published during his lifetime, he is best remembered for his adventure and spy stories, especially The Thirty-Nine Steps, which was made into a movie by Alfred Hitchcock.
About Frederick Davidson
Frederick Davidson (1932–2005), also known as David Case, was one of the most prolific readers in the audiobook industry, recording more than eight hundred audiobooks in his lifetime, including over two hundred for Blackstone Audio. Born in London, he trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and performed for many years in radio plays for the British Broadcasting Company before coming to America in 1976. He received AudioFile’s Golden Voice Award and numerous Earphones Awards and was nominated for a Grammy for his readings.