There are bestseller novels and then there are definitive novels. Novels that not only redefine storytelling but also invent an entire genre. Thirty Nine Steps is one such definitive work. It was published in 1915 and has been reprinted and adapted multiple times since. The most famous being Alfred Hitchcock’s 1935 adaption. It is one of the first novels that defined rather invented the traits of the Spy genre itself. Another one being probably The Power House (1910) by John Buchanan again.
Richard Hannay’s central character is ‘man-on-the-run’, a concept used by many other writers since John Buchan’s The Thirty-Nine Steps. Hammond Ines (The Wreck of the Mary Deare), Desmond Bagley (The Vivero Letter), C.S Forester (Brown on Resolution) are only a few of them. From an innocuous flat in London the novel quickly moves into the hinterlands of Britain and then almost serendipitously into the heart of the massive spy ring that is out to sabotage peace on the British islands.
The novel sprints back into the High Establishment of British Intelligence services for closure amidst high drama. Even though Richard Hannay fights for his life for most of the novel he doesn’t shy away from doing what’s right for his country. A trait that was used by many others later including Ian Fleming for the 007 series.
The novel is a short sprint into the world of early twentieth century espionage and perfect for a four to five hour flight read.
Story Page Count : 128
Word Count ~ 37,000
Reading Time: Two hours thirty minutes (250 words per minute)
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