Ursula Buchan

John Buchan is known today, if at all, as the writer of a series of novels and stories featuring the adventurer Richard Hannay, the most famous of these being ‘The Thirty-Nine Steps’. In fact, most people know these stories through various film, television and radio adaptations, rather than through the books themselves.

John Buchan was far more than just a ‘shocker’ writer (as he termed these books) and this loving, comprehensive and very readable biography by his granddaughter lays show more out the events and motivations of what today might be considered an incomprehensible array of talents and achievements.

The son of a Free Church minister in Scotland, Buchan was a published author before he went up to Oxford (achieving a First in Greats), became a barrister, moved to South Africa to take up what became a senior and important post in the colonial administration, returned to England to become a senior member of a major publishing house, before becoming the leader of the British propaganda campaign in the First World War, writing a very popular and influential commentary and history of the War. He ends his career with a 5-year stint as the Governor-General of Canada leading up to the Second World War, where he played a major part not only in binding Canada together as a unified and independent country, but in presenting the Allies’ case to the United States.

On top of all this he wrote, wrote, wrote. Approximately 100 books, both fiction and non-fiction, some of which was highly scholarly, and thousands of articles, essays and journalism.

The key element that this book brings out is the personality of Buchan. He was almost universally admired and liked. He had the knack of being able to talk to anyone and hold their interest as an equal.

This is an excellent biography that reveals the life and talents of a man that, frankly, would not be believable were it not true. I read this in great gulps as I always wanted to find out what happened next - one of they key requirements of a successful ‘shocker’. show less

Having read a number of books by John Buchan and various members of his family, it was time I learnt more about the man himself. This is an excellent account of his life, and shows how wrong I was to think of him primarily as a writer of popular fiction, indeed, that whatever words have been used attempting to sum him up there is always much more to a man of quite such diverse experiences and attainments. I must now re-read his works.

Really enjoyed it, especially the first half which seemed better structured. I guess there was more of a story in the change to Britain on a war footing. I learned a lot - and it was fascinating - I don't think my generation, who arrived just as rationing had finished, understand what a profound impact the war had at every level. The structures of normal life change for ever even after the bombing stops and the armies come home.

Really enjoyed it, especially the first half which seemed better structured. I guess there was more of a story in the change to Britain on a war footing. I learned a lot - and it was fascinating - I don't think my generation, who arrived just as rationing had finished, understand what a profound impact the war had at every level. The structures of normal life change for ever even after the bombing stops and the armies come home.