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Product Description
Dickson McCunn, a respectable, newly retired grocer of romantic heart, plans a modest walking holiday in the hills of south-west Scotland. He meets a young English poet and, contrary to his better sense, finds himself in the thick of a plot involving the kidnapping of a Russian princess, who is held prisoner in the rambling mansion, Huntingtower. This modern fairy-tale is also a gripping adventure story, and in it Buchan introduces some of his best-loved characters, including the Gorbals Die-Hards, who reappear in later novels. He also paints a remarkable picture of a man rejuvenated by joining much younger comrades in a challenging and often dangerous fight against tyranny and fear.
About the Author
John Buchan, Baron Tweedsmuir, was a Scottish diplomat, barrister, journalist, historian, poet and novelist. He wrote adventure novels, short-story collections and biographies. His passion for the Scottish countryside is reflected in much of his writing. Buchan's adventure stories are high in romance and are peopled by a large cast of characters. 'Richard Hannay', 'Dickson McCunn' and 'Sir Edward Leithen' are three that reappear several times. Alfred Hitchcock adapted his most famous book 'The Thirty-Nine Steps', featuring Hannay, for the big screen. Born in 1875 in Perth, Buchan was the son of a minister. Childhood holidays were spent in the Borders, for which he had a great love. He was educated at Glasgow University and Brasenose College, Oxford, where he was President of the Union. Called to the Bar in 1901, he became Lord Milner's assistant private secretary in South Africa. By 1907, however, he was working as a publisher with Nelson's. During the First World War Buchan was a correspondent at the Front for 'The Times', as well as being an officer in the Intelligence Corps and advisor to the War Cabinet. Elected as a Conservative Member of Parliament for one of the Scottish Universities' seats in 1927, he was created Baron Tweedsmuir in 1935. From then until his death in 1940 he served as Governor General of Canada, during which time he neverthelss managed to continue writing.
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MR DICKSON MCCUNN completed the polishing of his smooth cheeks with the towel, glanced appreciatively at their reflection in the looking-glass, and then permitted his eyes to stray out of the window. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
MR DICKSON MCCUNN completed the polishing of his smooth cheeks with the towel, glanced appreciatively at their reflection in the looking-glass, and then permitted his eyes to stray out of the window. Read the first page
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
19 of 20 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
When Dickson McCunn decides to leave behind his store in Glasgow and set out on a walking holiday in the Scottish borders, excitement and adventure are possibly the last things on his mind, however, discover them he does. Huntingtower is a real rip roaring adventure story, the kind of thing to read when the wind is howling outside on a long dark night as you sit by the fire. It is a fantastic novel, which seems to get sadly overlooked these days. Once you have read Huntingtower there are another two novels starring Dickson - a much more enjoyable character than Richard Hannay in the 39 Steps. Read on.
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
If you like Mma Ramotswe here's another unlikely character - a retired grocer - plunged into adventure and finding hidden resources in his commonsense Scottish upbringing. For those that enjoy a good yarn there's a princess in peril, dangerous revolutionaries, and the denizens of a Glasgow slum all mixed together with a happy ending.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I first read this book when I was 11 and have just finished reading it for about the tenth time. Yes it is a simple enough but exciting tale but for descriptive passages of the natural world you will find few better than Buchan at setting a sense of place in just a few, sharply obervant sentences. It ocurred to me that the Gorbals Diehards pre-date the Famous Five by about twenty years and for this alone we should be thankful to Buchan for introducing young, self-reliant characters that have an air of truth about them and inhabit the real world unlike today's young heros like Alex Rider, Harry Potter and co who have had to have fantasy worlds woven around the characters to give them life.
Also, please forgive Buchan's turn of phrase which with the benefit of today's politically informed hindsight, does come across as a tad crass - references to "the Jew" for instance. This was of its time and Buchan's record on humanitarian works is there for all to see. I appreciate this is often offered up as an apology but I believe is nontheless worth repeating.
Also, please forgive Buchan's turn of phrase which with the benefit of today's politically informed hindsight, does come across as a tad crass - references to "the Jew" for instance. This was of its time and Buchan's record on humanitarian works is there for all to see. I appreciate this is often offered up as an apology but I believe is nontheless worth repeating.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Adventure
The ineffable Mr McCunn from John Buchan! What a joy to read him again. And I love the Gorbals Diehards
Published 18 months ago by nicola
A hero of the Third Age
"Huntingtower" is a classic old-fashioned adventure story in many ways but has a heart and soul that lift it above the run-of-the-mill fiction of this period. Read more
Published 19 months ago by Secret Spi
Gorbals virtues
I welcomed the speed with which Amazon sent me Huntingtower. I was very struck by the courage,skill and warmth of heart which the Gorbals Die-Hards - a teenage gang - showed in... Read more
Published on 27 July 2009 by John A. Robertson
Splendid old fashioned adventure story
This is a wonderful story about people discovering unexpected courage when faced with adversity, people from diverse social strata coming together, and good old improvisation. Read more
Published on 29 April 2009 by Richard M. Marshall
Old fashioned Adventure Yarn
This is the first of the books featuring Dickson McCunn (and the Gorbals Diehards).
By way of useful information the second is Castle Gay and the third House of the Four... Read more
By way of useful information the second is Castle Gay and the third House of the Four... Read more
Published on 29 Aug 2008 by AfterTheEvent
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