John Buchan: Difference between revisions
Created page with 'John Buchan was born in 1875 in Perth (Scotland) and died in 1940 in Montreal (Canada). He was a famous writer, editor, historian and politician. John Buchan was born in eastern …' |
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== Selected Works == | == Selected Works == | ||
His first important success was the publication of the thriller ''The Thirty-Nine Steps'' in 1915. In this thriller a peaceful person named Richard Hannay gets accidentally involved into an adventure and even has to face the police hunting him down. The story thus reveals a disorder and evilness in the society and in a way it questions the power of civilization. Although The ''Thirty-Nine Steps'' is a pure thriller, it also contains some elements of a detective story like the finding of a dead body or hidden clues. It can thus be called a spy thriller or a detective thriller. Due to the success of this thriller, John Buchan became “the seller” of thrillers for the following 20 years. Besides, the story of ''The Thirty-Nine Steps'' was adapted in 3 films (1935, 1958, and 1978) of which the first one was produced by Alfred Hitchcock. After the publication of ''The Thirty-Nine Steps'' a series of Richard Hannay novels followed, including the further very famous thriller ''The Greenmantle'' (1916). John Buchan also worked as the editor of ''The Spectator'' (1903-1906) and as a war correspondent for ''The Times'' (1915). He contributed to collections of discussions and commentaries. | His first important success was the publication of the thriller ''The Thirty-Nine Steps'' in 1915. | ||
In this thriller a peaceful person named Richard Hannay gets accidentally involved into an adventure | |||
and even has to face the police hunting him down. The story thus reveals a disorder and evilness | |||
in the society and in a way it questions the power of civilization. Although The ''Thirty-Nine Steps'' | |||
is a pure thriller, it also contains some elements of a detective story like the finding of a dead body | |||
or hidden clues. It can thus be called a spy thriller or a detective thriller. | |||
Due to the success of this thriller, John Buchan became “the seller” of thrillers for the following 20 years. | |||
Besides, the story of ''The Thirty-Nine Steps'' was adapted in 3 films (1935, 1958, and 1978) of which the first one | |||
was produced by Alfred Hitchcock. After the publication of ''The Thirty-Nine Steps'' a series of Richard Hannay novels | |||
followed, including the further very famous thriller ''The Greenmantle'' (1916). John Buchan also worked as | |||
the editor of ''The Spectator'' (1903-1906) and as a war correspondent for ''The Times'' (1915). | |||
He contributed to collections of discussions and commentaries. | |||
== Political Career == | == Political Career == | ||
Revision as of 19:58, 3 January 2012
John Buchan was born in 1875 in Perth (Scotland) and died in 1940 in Montreal (Canada). He was a famous writer, editor, historian and politician. John Buchan was born in eastern Scotland as the son of a young Free Kirk (church) minister, John Buchan and Helen Jane Buchan.
His Literary Work
As a writer John Buchan published more than 100 books, of which 40 are fiction. His work consists of thrillers, seven collections of short stories, historical novels, biographies and historical studies. Although the two latter ones are regarded as classics of scholarship, John Buchan has always been best known for his thrillers. It was especially his war thrillers that were well conceived due to the reality of the war at that time. Buchan’s writing can be described as expressing an atmosphere of expectancy and a conception of conspiracies or old magic. The characters in this environment are mostly romantic but they do not appear ridiculous.
Selected Works
His first important success was the publication of the thriller The Thirty-Nine Steps in 1915.
In this thriller a peaceful person named Richard Hannay gets accidentally involved into an adventure and even has to face the police hunting him down. The story thus reveals a disorder and evilness in the society and in a way it questions the power of civilization. Although The Thirty-Nine Steps is a pure thriller, it also contains some elements of a detective story like the finding of a dead body or hidden clues. It can thus be called a spy thriller or a detective thriller. Due to the success of this thriller, John Buchan became “the seller” of thrillers for the following 20 years. Besides, the story of The Thirty-Nine Steps was adapted in 3 films (1935, 1958, and 1978) of which the first one was produced by Alfred Hitchcock. After the publication of The Thirty-Nine Steps a series of Richard Hannay novels followed, including the further very famous thriller The Greenmantle (1916). John Buchan also worked as the editor of The Spectator (1903-1906) and as a war correspondent for The Times (1915). He contributed to collections of discussions and commentaries.
Political Career
Apart from his success as a writer John Buchan was actively engaged in politics. He was amongst others the Director of Intelligence (1918). In 1935 he was created Baron Tweedsmuir of Elsfield due to his office as the Governor-General of Canada. While taking office John Buchan represented the Crown and was thus like the King entitled to be kept fully informed. John Buchan officiated in this position until 1937. Due to his political engagement and many travels John Buchan had many political links, for example to the US-American President Roosevelt. John Buchan died in 1940 in Canada.
Sources
Daniell, David (Ed.). The Best Short Stories of John Buchan. London: Panther Books, 1985. John Buchan Society. Ed. David Crackanthorpe. 2010. 3 Jan. 2012. <http://www.johnbuchansociety.co.uk/index.html> Smith, Janet Adam. John Buchan. A Biography. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1985.