John Buchan

Born in Perth, Scotland, he was educated at Glasgow University and Brasenose College, Oxford, winning the Newdigate prize for poetry while a student at the latter. Buchan at first entered into a career in law, but almost immediately moved into politics, becoming private secretary to Alfred Milner[?], who was high commissioner of South Africa - hence Buchan gained an acquaintance with the country that was to feature prominently in his writing.

Having served as Director of Information during World War I, he began to write on historical subjects, and in 1927 was elected a member of parliament. In 1935 he became Governor-General of Canada and was made a lord. In Canada he founded the Governor General's Awards for many years Canada's premeir literary awards.

His career as a novelist was by then a thriving one, and he had produced his best-known works, including Prester John (1910), The Thirty-Nine Steps (1915), and Greenmantle[?] (1916). He moved on to write biographies of Sir Walter Scott, Augustus Caesar, Oliver Cromwell and Montrose[?].

In recent years, Buchan's reputation has been tarnished by the lack of political correctness perceived, with hindsight, in his novels. However, in many other ways, his work stands the test of time, and he is currently undergoing a resurgence in popularity.

External Links e-texts of some of John Buchan's works:

• Greenmantle (http://www.abacci.com/books/book.asp?bookID=808)
• Huntingtower (http://www.abacci.com/books/book.asp?bookID=2511)
• The Moon Endureth (http://www.abacci.com/books/book.asp?bookID=1370)
• Mr. Standfast (http://www.abacci.com/books/book.asp?bookID=1391)
• The Path of the King (http://www.abacci.com/books/book.asp?bookID=1624)
• Prester John (http://www.abacci.com/books/book.asp?bookID=1835)
• The Thirty-Nine Steps (http://www.abacci.com/books/book.asp?bookID=2330)