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The Thirty-Nine Steps [and] Greenmantle

by John Buchan

Series: Richard Hannay (Omnibus 1-2)

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661402,911 (3.61)3
"(Thirty-nine steps)' was the phrase; and at its last time of use it ran-'(Thirty-nine steps, I counted them-high tide 10.17 p.m.)'. I could make nothing of that.""About six in the evening I came out of the moorland to a white ribbon of road which wound up the narrow vale of a lowland stream. As I followed it, fields gave place to bent, the glen became a plateau, and presently I had reached a kind of pass where a solitary house smoked in the twilight. The road swung over a bridge, and leaning on the parapet was a young man. He was smoking a long clay pipe and studying the water with spectacled eyes. In his left hand was a small book with a finger marking the place. Slowly he repeated- As when a Gryphon through the wilderness With winged step, o'er hill and moory dale Pursues the Arimaspian. He jumped round as my step rung on the keystone, and I saw a pleasant sunburnt boyish face. 'Good evening to you,' he said gravely. 'It's a fine night for the road.' The smell of peat smoke and of some savoury roast floated to me from the house."… (more)
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Both of these Richard Hannay stories provide beautiful examples of colloquial English in the early decades of the 20th century as spoken in South Africa, Scotland, and England. The main character, Richard Hannay, is a jaunty South African drawn into spy escapades with other colorful European characters. Alfred Hitchcock's critically acclaimed movie based on The Thirty-nine Steps provides a decent introduction the character of Richard Hannay but, as usual, the book is better. The volume includes two of five Richard Hannay stories. These are entertaining and fast-moving reads.
The author was a noted historian who went on to be appointed to the highest office in Canada. ( )
  dragon25a | Apr 22, 2012 |
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"(Thirty-nine steps)' was the phrase; and at its last time of use it ran-'(Thirty-nine steps, I counted them-high tide 10.17 p.m.)'. I could make nothing of that.""About six in the evening I came out of the moorland to a white ribbon of road which wound up the narrow vale of a lowland stream. As I followed it, fields gave place to bent, the glen became a plateau, and presently I had reached a kind of pass where a solitary house smoked in the twilight. The road swung over a bridge, and leaning on the parapet was a young man. He was smoking a long clay pipe and studying the water with spectacled eyes. In his left hand was a small book with a finger marking the place. Slowly he repeated- As when a Gryphon through the wilderness With winged step, o'er hill and moory dale Pursues the Arimaspian. He jumped round as my step rung on the keystone, and I saw a pleasant sunburnt boyish face. 'Good evening to you,' he said gravely. 'It's a fine night for the road.' The smell of peat smoke and of some savoury roast floated to me from the house."

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