Mr Standfast by John Buchan (1919)

Here’s another of John Buchan’s Richard Hannay novels. The series runs: The Thirty-Nine Steps (1915); Greenmantle (1916); Mr Standfast (1919); The Three Hostages (1924); The Island of Sheep (1936). Review by David R: As with “Greenmantle”, this is very much a novel of its time. Germans are occasionally referred to as “The Boche” and there … Continue reading →

The Thirty-Nine Steps by John Buchan (1915)

This is John Buchan’s first ‘shocker’. He dedicated the book to his friend and business partner Thomas Nelson (of Thomas Nelson Publishing): My dear Tommy, You and I have long cherished an affection for that elementary type of tale which Americans call the ‘dime novel’ and which we know as the ‘shocker’ – the romance where the … Continue reading →

Greenmantle by John Buchan (1916)

This month we have also read the Richard Hannay novels by John Buchan. Responses were very mixed! Some thought the later novels inferior to the first, The Thirty-Nine Steps (1915), others thought them a rollicking read! The five Hannay novels are: The Thirty-Nine Steps (1915); Greenmantle (1916); Mr Standfast (1919); The Three Hostages (1924); The … Continue reading →

John Galsworthy by Hermon Ould (1935)

One of the subjects of this month’s reading group was John Galsworthy’s Forsyte Saga. I have ploughed through the first three novels, and must post a review! But not today, as I must finish a conference paper. In the meantime, here is George’s thoughts on one of the books about Galsworthy that was published immediately … Continue reading →

Challenge to Sirius by Sheila Kaye Smith (1917)

Review by Thecla W: I found this novel hard-going but it has a certain dreary fascination for any fan of Cold Comfort Farm. The narrative is chronological and the novel is structured in episodes, each one set in a specific place: Sussex, London, Sussex, America, Yucatan, Sussex. Frank Rainger lives with his father at Luke … Continue reading →

Frontier Passage by Ann Bridge (1942)

Review by Sylvia D: I’d never heard of Ann Bridge until I read Frontier Passage which turned out to be one of 14 novels written by Bridge between 1932 and 1953.  Ann Bridge is the pseudonym of Lady Mary Ann Dolling (Sanders) O’Malley, also known as Cottie Sanders, yet another woman novelist who wrote partly … Continue reading →