The Watcher by the Threshold

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House of Stratus, Dec 11, 2011 - Fiction - 202 pages
A collection of stories from John Buchan, author of 'The Thirty-nine Steps'. The pagan themes and classic adventures are set in Scottish countryside. In 'The Far Islands' and 'Fountainblue' Buchan describes the call to adventure as described by a small boy.
 

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Contents

The Shieling of Farawa
3
Tells of an Evenings Talk
10
The Scarts of the Muneraw
18
The Darkness that is Under the Earth
24
The Troubles of a Conscience
34
Summer on the Moors
41
In Tuas Manus Domine
47
Note in Conclusion by the Editor
55
The House of More
87
The Minister Intervenes
108
Events on the Uplands
120
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About the author (2011)

John Buchan, Baron Tweedsmuir, was a Scottish diplomat, barrister, journalist, historian, poet and novelist. He wrote adventure novels, short-story collections and biographies. His passion for the Scottish countryside is reflected in much of his writing. Buchan's adventure stories are high in romance and are peopled by a large cast of characters. 'Richard Hannay', 'Dickson McCunn' and 'Sir Edward Leithen' are three that reappear several times. Alfred Hitchcock adapted his most famous book 'The Thirty-Nine Steps', featuring Hannay, for the big screen. Born in 1875 in Perth, Buchan was the son of a minister. Childhood holidays were spent in the Borders, for which he had a great love. He was educated at Glasgow University and Brasenose College, Oxford, where he was President of the Union. Called to the Bar in 1901, he became Lord Milner's assistant private secretary in South Africa. By 1907, however, he was working as a publisher with Nelson's. During the First World War Buchan was a correspondent at the Front for 'The Times', as well as being an officer in the Intelligence Corps and advisor to the War Cabinet. Elected as a Conservative Member of Parliament for one of the Scottish Universities' seats in 1927, he was created Baron Tweedsmuir in 1935. From then, until his death in 1940, he served as Governor General of Canada, during which time he nevertheless managed to continue writing.

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