John Buchan, author of one of the most famous and fabulous spy thrillers of all time, The 39 Steps, was born today in Perth, Scotland. Date: 1875.Happy Birthday, Mr. Buchan!
To read more about John Buchan, click here.
John Buchan, author of one of the most famous and fabulous spy thrillers of all time, The 39 Steps, was born today in Perth, Scotland. Date: 1875.
Did you see the PBS version recently? It is available at Netflix if you missed it. I thought it was fantastic, and better than Hitchcock's version! (I know, I can't believe I said that either!)
ReplyDeletePS I just saw a title on your sidebar which I just know is from my favorite hymn - And One Was A Soldier by Julia Spencer-Fleming - I even wrote about it on the blog once!
http://lettersfromahillfarm.blogspot.com/2007/11/i-sing-song.html
Hi Nan, thanks for posting.
ReplyDeleteYes, I did see the PBS version and liked it very much. But I'm afraid my heart belongs to Robert Donat. Plus I LOVE the beginning of the Hitchcock film and the mysterious woman who shows up to disrupt Hannay's life. Never liked Madeleine Carroll's role though, so I sort of ignore her. Ha!
I'm not sure where Julia Spencer Fleming gets her titles, but they're always kind of long and hard to remember, at least for me. Good thing I love this series. AND ONE WAS A SOLDIER is the very latest one - can't wait! The first was IN THE BLEAK MIDWINTER. I believe she uses the Bible and perhaps Shakespeare as well as sources for titles. Here is her website if you'd care to look up her other titles.
http://www.juliaspencerfleming.com/
This is one series, though, that DEFINITELY has to be read in order. I love it and can't recommend it enough.
Oh, meant to add: THE 39 STEPS I'm dying to see is the Broadway show. (The second poster above is from the show.) It's supposed to be quite fun.
ReplyDeleteAnd my heart went to Rupert Penry-Jones. :<)
ReplyDeleteI read the first two or three of the JS-F books -up until the one that took place in 24 hours. Somehow I couldn't get into that one, and never picked up the series again. But I think I will go back to that one and continue on. In The Bleak Midwinter is a poem by Christina Rossetti which became the most beautiful hymn. And I believe her other titles come from Anglican/Episcopal hymns as well.
Good you're going to give this series another try, Nan. I'd say skip the one you didn't like and pick up the next. My main interest, I have to say, is the relationship between Russ and Clare. I like the way Spencer-Fleming develops it over a long span of time. Even if, in the beginning, I became impatient! ;)
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