The book's protagonist, Lewis Haystoun, is persuaded to use his academic knowledge of Indian frontier to help prevent a Russian invasion. The effort transforms his character, and ultimately saves India -- but not without tragic cost. John Buchan, the first Baron Tweedsmuir, was a Scottish novelist best known for his novel The Thirty-Nine Steps. The book was produced as a film by Alfred Hitchcock; it was the first of five books featuring the character of Richard Hannay. John Buchan was also a Unionist politician who served as Governor General of Canada. He studied at the University of Glasgow and at Brasenose College, Oxford, winning the Newdigate prize for poetry. His friends at Oxford included Hilaire Belloc, Raymond Asquith, and Aubrey Herbert. Beginning with Prester John, he wrote thirty novels and seven collections of short stories.

Author Biography

John Buchan (1875 - 1940) was a Scottish novelist, historian and Unionist politician who served as Governor General of Canada, the 15th since Canadian Confederation. After a brief legal career, Buchan simultaneously began his writing career and his political and diplomatic careers, serving as a private secretary to the colonial administrator of various colonies in southern Africa. He eventually wrote propaganda for the British war effort in the First World War. Buchan was in 1927 elected Member of Parliament for the Combined Scottish Universities, but he spent most of his time on his writing career, notably writing The Thirty-Nine Steps and other adventure fiction.