The Richard Hannay Collection: books 1 - 5 - John Buchan Audiobook

Written by John Buchan
Read by Steven Crossley, Simon Vance, Peter Joyce
Format: MP3
Bitrate: Mixed
Unabridged

Major General Sir Richard Hannay is a fictional secret agent created by Scottish novelist John Buchan and made further popular by the 1935 Alfred Hitchcock film The Thirty Nine Steps. The series was written between 1915 and 1929.

The Thirty-Nine Steps

Narrated by: Steven Crossley
Publisher: Tantor Media, Inc.
Release date: July 26, 2010
Duration: 04:10:26

Hannay arrives in London on the eve of World War I, where he meets an American agent seeking help in stopping a political assassination. Before long, Hannay finds himself in possession of a little black book that holds the key to the conspiracy — and on the run from both the police and members of a mysterious organization that will stop at nothing to keep their secrets hidden.

The 39 Steps. Buchan’s resourceful, German-speaking spy is partly based on Edmund Ironside, from Edinburgh, an espionage operative during the Second Boer War.

Greenmantle

Simon Vance
Richard Hannay Series, Book 2
Publisher: Blackstone Publishing
Release date: January 1, 2006
Duration: 09:00:35

In this tale of intrigue and adventure, Richard Hannay, the South African mining engineer and war hero first introduced in The Thirty-Nine Steps, travels across war-torn Europe in search of a German plot—the creation of a secret weapon—and an Islamic messiah.

He is joined by three others: John S. Blenkiron, an American who is determined to battle the Kaiser; Peter Pienaar, an old Boer Scout; and the colorful Sandy Arbuthnot, who is modeled on Lawrence of Arabia. Disguised, they travel through Germany to Constantinople and the Russian border to confront their enemies, the hideous Stumm and the evil beauty Hilda von Einem. Their success or failure could change the outcome of the First World War.

With all the elements of a good spy novel, this tale offers a glimpse into the complex times of a tumultuous era.

Mr Standfast

Narrated by: Peter Joyce
Series: Richard Hannay, Book 3
Length: 13 hrs and 13 mins
Release date: 12-15-10
Publisher: Assembled Stories

Recalled from duty on the Western Front by spymaster Sir Walter Bullivant, Hannay goes undercover as a pacifist, working to outwit a dangerous German spy and his agents.

Guided by his contact—and love interest—Mary Lamington, Hannay tracks his enemy from London to Glasgow to the Scottish Highlands, eventually confronting him in a dramatic climax above the battlefields of Europe.

The title refers to a character in John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress, to which there are many other references in the novel; Hannay uses a copy of Pilgrim’s Progress to decipher coded messages from his contacts, and letters from his friend Peter Pienaar.

The Three Hostages

Narrated by: Peter Joyce
Length: 12 hrs and 23 mins
Release date: 06-01-15
Publisher: Assembled Stories

Hannay is living on his estate in the country in western Britain with his wife Mary and his young son Peter John. He is now trying to move on from his WWI experiences, to enjoy a retirement, but he is brought back to reality when he is advised of three kidnappings.

Hannay agrees to assist. He returns to London and gets info; there are two related aspects. The three kidnaps: a young man, a young lady and the young boy. As well the intelligence services with his old friend, MacGillivary in charge, are trying to break up a criminal enterprise of major proportions. The timing of trying to rescue the kidnapped and breaking up the organization is critical as if they are too quick with one the other will be lost.

Hannay begins to investigate and along the way meets old friends from other books, especially Sandy Arbuthnot, who will play a major role in the resolution of the story. Hannay meets Medina, an English politician and attends a dinner along with Arbuthnot. Medina is popular with all except Arbuthnot who is suspicious. After the dinner, Hannay is drugged and an attempt by Medina is made to hypnotize and gain control of Hannay. This fails but Hannay now uses this action to continue investigating further into Medina and his organization.

It’s a fascinating story, with hypnotism, black arts (somewhat) and a good old adventure. There is considerable tension and sufficient action, especially in the closing chapters, which are excellent.

The Island of Sheep

Narrated by: Peter Joyce
Series: Richard Hannay, Book 5
Length: 9 hrs and 15 mins
Release date: 10-13-10
Publisher: Assembled Stories

The last of John Buchan’s thrillers and the final appearance of Richard Hannay.

He is now in retirement reverie deep in the comfortable Cotswolds.

However, he and Sandy [Lord Clanroyden] are roused to action once more to help the son of a recently deceased treasure hunter, called Haraldsen. The heir is receiving threats from Lancelot Troth, a man who believes himself ill treated financially by Haraldsen’s father and seeks revenge and reparation. The mission is complicated when the villain is aided by accomplices prepared to use extortion and child kidnap to achieve their aims.
The action moves from Norfolk to the Scottish Borders and on to the Norlands where the conspirators are finally confronted in a thrilling climax with Hannay’s son and Haraldsen’s daughter involved in the resolution.

In 1929 Buchan wrote The Courts of the Morning in which Hannay realizes he is now too old for the job of thwarting evil designs and enlists the aid of his old friend Sandy Arbuthnot, now Lord Clanroyden. The Book is 16 hours long and not included.