"The 39 Steps" is a classic spy thriller novel written by John Buchan and published in 1915. It
tells the story of Richard Hannay, a man caught up in a conspiracy to steal British military
secrets, who must evade both the police and the spies who are pursuing him.
The novel opens with Hannay, a retired mining engineer, settling into a quiet life in London.
He is bored and restless, and when he is approached by a man named Franklin P. Scudder,
who claims to be a spy on the run, Hannay is intrigued. Scudder tells Hannay about a plot to
steal British military secrets and about a mysterious organization called the Black Stone that
is behind it.
When Scudder is killed in Hannay's apartment, Hannay realizes that he is now in danger as
well. He decides to flee to Scotland, where he hopes to find a way to clear his name and
expose the Black Stone. On the way to Scotland, Hannay is pursued by both the police and
the spies, and he narrowly escapes several attempts on his life.
In Scotland, Hannay takes on the persona of a Scottish farmer and meets a young woman
named Pamela, who initially believes him to be a criminal. Hannay eventually convinces
Pamela to help him, and together they make their way to the home of an old acquaintance
of Hannay's, Sir Walter Bullivant.
Bullivant and his colleagues confirm Hannay's story and enlist his help in stopping the Black
Stone's plot. They give Hannay a map that shows the location of the group's secret base,
and he sets off to infiltrate it.
Hannay is captured by the Black Stone, but he manages to escape and destroy their plans.
He then returns to London and confronts the mastermind behind the plot, a man named
Professor Jordan, who is arrested.
In the end, Hannay is hailed as a hero and reunited with Pamela, with whom he has fallen in
love. The novel ends with Hannay reflecting on his adventures and the thrill of danger.
"The 39 Steps" is a classic spy thriller that has inspired numerous adaptations, including a
successful stage play and several films. It is a fast-paced, action-packed adventure that is
filled with intrigue, suspense, and danger. Hannay is a classic hero, a man who rises to the
occasion in the face of danger and proves himself to be resourceful, brave, and cunning. The
novel is also notable for its vivid descriptions of Scotland, which add to its atmosphere and
sense of place.
Voordelen van het kopen van samenvattingen bij Stuvia op een rij:
Verzekerd van kwaliteit door reviews
Stuvia-klanten hebben meer dan 700.000 samenvattingen beoordeeld. Zo weet je zeker dat je de beste documenten koopt!
Snel en makkelijk kopen
Je betaalt supersnel en eenmalig met iDeal, creditcard of Stuvia-tegoed voor de samenvatting. Zonder lidmaatschap.
Focus op de essentie
Samenvattingen worden geschreven voor en door anderen. Daarom zijn de samenvattingen altijd betrouwbaar en actueel. Zo kom je snel tot de kern!
Veelgestelde vragen
Wat krijg ik als ik dit document koop?
Je krijgt een PDF, die direct beschikbaar is na je aankoop. Het gekochte document is altijd, overal en oneindig toegankelijk via je profiel.
Tevredenheidsgarantie: hoe werkt dat?
Onze tevredenheidsgarantie zorgt ervoor dat je altijd een studiedocument vindt dat goed bij je past. Je vult een formulier in en onze klantenservice regelt de rest.
Van wie koop ik deze samenvatting?
Stuvia is een marktplaats, je koop dit document dus niet van ons, maar van verkoper noahcapelle06. Stuvia faciliteert de betaling aan de verkoper.
Zit ik meteen vast aan een abonnement?
Nee, je koopt alleen deze samenvatting voor $5.51. Je zit daarna nergens aan vast.