Today I’m travelling back in time to revisit a reading challenge I completed in 2018. It was to read (and in many cases, re-read) twelve books by John Buchan, a different book each month. For each book, I published an introduction and then my review. Links from the titles will take you to my reviews and each of them has a link to my introductory article.
Reading Schedule
January: The Power House – an early adventure story introducing the character, Sir Edward Leithen
February: John MacNab – a light-hearted story about a poaching challenge
March: Mr. Standfast – Richard Hannay’s third outing with influences from Bunyan’s The Pilgrim’s Progress
April: Greenmantle – another adventure for Richard Hannay set in WWI
May: A Lost Lady of Old Years – historical romance set during the Jacobite Revolution
June: The Half-Hearted – a novel with the themes of commitment and duty
July: The Watcher by the Threshold – a short story collection
August: Huntingtower – adventure set in Scotland introducing the character, retired grocer Dickson McCunn
September: Castle Gay – a second outing for Dickson McCunn
October: Witch Wood – historical fiction set in 17th Century Scotland
November: Memory Hold-The-Door – Buchan’s memoir, reportedly one of John F. Kennedy’s favourite books
December: Sick Heart River – Buchan’s elegiac last novel, published posthumously
About John Buchan
John Buchan (1875 – 1940) was an author, poet, lawyer, publisher, journalist, war correspondent, Member of Parliament, University Chancellor, keen angler and family man. He was ennobled and, as Lord Tweedsmuir, became Governor-General of Canada. In this role, he signed Canada’s entry into the Second World War.
Nowadays he is probably best known – maybe only known – as the author of The Thirty-Nine Steps. However, he wrote so much more that is worth reading: fiction, poetry, short stories, biographies, memoirs and history. In his lifetime, he published over 100 books.
You can find out more about John Buchan, his life and literary output by visiting The John Buchan Society website.
Buchan of the Month Reading Project
What Cathy Read Next... 