Product Description
"Penguin Readers" is a series of simplified novels, film novelizations and original titles that introduce students at all levels to the pleasures of reading in English. Originally designed for teaching English as a foreign language, the series' combination of high interest level and low reading age makes it suitable for both English-speaking teenagers with limited reading skills and students of English as a second language. Many titles in the series also provide access to the pre-20th century literature strands of the National Curriculum English Orders. "Penguin Readers" are graded at seven levels of difficulty, from "Easystarts" with a 200-word vocabulary, to Level 6 (Advanced) with a 3000-word vocabulary. In addition, titles fall into one of three sub-categories: "Contemporary", "Classics" or "Originals". At the end of each book there is a section of enjoyable exercises focusing on vocabulary building, comprehension, discussion and writing. Some titles in the series are available with an accompanying audio cassette, or in a book and cassette pack.Additionally, selected titles have free accompanying "Penguin Readers Factsheets" which provide stimulating exercise material for students, as well as suggestions for teachers on how to exploit the Readers in class. ... Read more

Book Description
In this classic tale of wartime espionage, Richard Hannay's living nightmare begins with the discovery of a dead man and a notebook with thirty-nine steps to uncover. David Robb stars as Hannay and Doctor Who’s Tom Baker plays his ally Sir Walter Bullivant, in this recording which pays homage to the classic Hitchcock film. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Great radio dramatisation
This is a wonderful radio dramatisation, complete with realistic sound effects and polished actors to re-create the suspense of the novel. As a result, lengthy car journeys seem to "fly" by. ... Read more

Product Description
The major biography of one of Scotland's most enigmatic and underrated writers. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Review extracts
Mr Coker is entitled to his views but Amazon readers should be aware that all five editions of the biography received extremely favourable coverage. A selection of extracts follows:

"Andrew Lownie gives us a clear account of Buchan's career, which rattles along as pacily as a Hannay thriller...Admirably readable, this book will be invaluable to those who are now encountering Buchan's work for the first time in the World's Classics and Penguin reprints which have begun to appear since his copyrights entered the public domain in 1990. Lownie's lucid account of Buchan's life redefines the man as infinitely more complex than we thought he was." Sunday Times

"This, like many other questions about this amazing man, is answered by Andrew Lownie in his wonderful new life. Lownie explains, even more convincingly than Janet Adam Smith in the hitherto standard biography, how Buchan's successes in life never satisfied his inner yearnings...Lownie explains this inner sense of failure of this exceptional man with vastly greater insight than any previous writer...Trumpets should now sound for Buchan; and I will sound one of my own for Andrew Lownie, who has brought this most extraordinary man to life in a way no previous writer has."The Independent

"Lownie's meticulous biography is particularly good on the financial pressures which influenced most of Buchan's decisions...This formidably detailed study is a labour of love by a devoted Buchanite, a nuanced understanding of a figure who, for too long, has been regarded as an extension of his fictional heroes."The Guardian

"Andrew Lownie offers a solid and convincing portrait of a complex man, and controls the innumerable aspects of Buchan's life in an exemplary manner, without losing sight of the fact that Buchan was, in Simon Raven's words, 'a very odd fish indeed.'" Times Literary Supplement

"Andrew Lownie's meticulously researched and attractively written new biography - the first since Janet Adam Smith's in 1965 - presents us with a John Buchan who is a great deal more complex and nuanced than might be imagined from the assiduously self-promoted clubland hero persona Buchan himself created in his rise as public man and heartily outdoor countryman-author...Lownie is sympathetic to Buchan, but this is by no means a hagiography. With scrupulous honesty, Buchan's faults and foibles are exposed to us along with his undoubted virtues...this exemplary biography, full of new insights and fresh documents unearthed and published for the first time, makes fascinating reading."The Scotsman.

"Lownie's study is equally well argued and written with an evident, though at times exasperated, fondness for his subject." Scotland on Sunday

"He has been the subject of previous biographies, but Andrew Lownie's is a welcome addition...Mr Lownie has done him proud." Financial Times

"Brilliantly written and researched - and the first biography of Buchan in 30 years - Lownie draws on newly-released private papers to astutely pick his way through the public image and the passionately private man, painting a vivid and refreshingly readable literary portrait of one of the great unacknowledged and substantive figures in recent Scottish life." Catholic Life.

" The best biography yet of the creator of Richard Hannay and The Thirty-Nine Steps. It shows Buchan to be the complex and rewarding figure his fans have always known him to be."The Express on Sunday

" Lively and brilliantly researched new biography of one of Scotland's most enduringly popular writers...Buchan's was nevertheless an impressive life, and Lownie tells it with sympathy and style. The Scotsman


"It is hard to imagine how this deft portrait of the bantamweight politician and still highly readable thriller writer could be bettered...As Lownie's excellent literary criticism suggests, Buchan's paradoxical nature underlies the evergreen potency of his novels." Independent

"This exemplary biography draws on private papers not used until now to give a most convincing portrait of a complex character as well as lucid and detailed criticism of Buchan's literary oeuvre." Sunday Telegraph

"...this biography (rightly acclaimed on its first publication in 1995) will help restore a much-underated author - and historic figure - to his rightful status." Scotsman

"Andrew Lownie's widely researched biography of this fascinating, complex and enigmatic figure has to be the definitive work. Lownie is admirably objective in his approach to Buchan and perceptive on the springs of his character." Sarah Bradford, The Tablet

"...a compelling picture of the author's life, and a wide view of British political, social and literary circles during the first half of the 20th century." Scots Magazine

"...solid and scholarly..." The Globe and Mail.

"In his thorough and lucid biography, Andrew Lownie, a Scottish journalist and editor of several collections of Buchan's stories and poetry, sympathetically evokes this `highly complex and private man who may not always himself have understood his own motivations and abilities.' " New York Times

"...the full sweep of this remarkable man's career is well told by Andrew Lownie in John Buchan: The Presbyterian Cavalier."Washington Times

Highly unsatisfactory
I can still recall the thrill, about 25 years ago, when I obtained a copy of CLUBLAND HEROES by Richard Usborne, which listed and discussed the "thriller" novels of Dornford Yates, "Sapper" and John Buchan.With the titles of the novels in hand, I was able to obtain almost all of the relevant works by all three authors, although the effort consumed... about 25 years.Buchan's novels were, I found, by far the most interesting, challenging and "literary," with Yates' running second, and I then obtained and read with interest biographies of Buchan and Yates.

Here's a new biography of Buchan and, alas, it doesn't amount to much.One of Buchan's major talents was the ability to make fast friends quickly, and this seems to have impressed the author, Andrew Lownie, more than any of his other abilities.On almost every page, once the book gets well underway and Buchan begins to mix with humanity, is a list of ten, twenty or even thirty names of people (most of whom will be unknown to any British citizen under 70, and almost all of whom will be unknown to any American citizen of any age), most of them completely unidentified within the text, that Buchan met or consorted with in the interval covered by that page.

The english style in which the book is written is at times nearly impenetrable.The author seems to have something against commas; mainly, there aren't any, and where at rare intervals one appears, there is generally no reason for it to be there.A number of sentences do not make sense, either because of misprints, or because the text proved nearly impossible to proofread so that omitted words or phrases were not detected.

Buchan's career as a politician seems to have been hampered by his fame as an author, whilst his career as an author seems to have been hampered by the demands of his government responsibilities.One recurring theme of the biography is the odd withholding from Buchan of the customary honors his many government services would ordinarily have merited. Another theme is Buchan's periodic struggles with intervals of very poor health, mainly tracking back to gastric ulcers.Another theme is Buchan's tremendous physical energy, demonstrated by the fact that in addition to working "full time" for a publisher, writing his own books, holding various political offices, etc., all simultaneously, he could always find time to walk 30 miles in a day, or climb some difficult peak with essentially no preparation.

Lownie discusses Buchan's literary activities in chapters separated from those discussing his other activities, which is good in a way, but also becomes quite confusing, since a "book" chapter, say Chapter N, can jump 5 or 10 years ahead of the following "life" chapter, N+1.

Buchan was eventually appointed Governor-General of Canada, and since this imperial officer could not be a commoner, Buchan at last became a Peer of the Realm, Lord Tweedsmuir of Elsfield. His enjoyment of the appointment was alas short-lived. He had held the office for only 5 years when a slip in the bathroom smashed his skull.

I don't know to what extent Buchan's books are read any more, or easily available any more.But his "thrillers" featuring Richard Hannay, Edward Leithen, and other characters as attractive as Buchan himself must have been in person, have a timeless quality and settings so vividly and immediately described that the reader can effortlessly imagine himself right there with the characters. The novels are as readable and enjoyable today as they ever were. ... Read more

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A fast-paced thriller that narrates the journey of protagonist from London to Scotland is presented. It is the story of an ordinary-man-turned-spy in the backdrop of an international conspiracy.

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Product Description
Andrew Garvald is a young Scottish merchant who has bravely come to make his fortune in a newly colonised America.Outlawed from Virginian society for opposing the London traders' monopoly, his friends are Red Ringan, a pirate and gentleman adventurer and Shalah, an exiled Indian prince.When Garvald is faced with a deadly foe, the stakes are high - the love of a beautiful lady and the existence of Virginia. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Buyer Beware
I recommend that you do not buy this edition of Little Women.There were spelling and punctuation errors on nearly every page.It was very distracting and difficult to read.

An enthralling saga about one man's struggle to survive
A novel set during the beginning of the Jamestown Colony, Salute To Adventurers is an enthralling saga about one man's struggle to survive and even find love in a land beset by trade controls with England enforced by pirates, religious strife manifested through a fanatic who stirs Indian tribes to attack settlers, harsh environmental conditions, the unending chores of daily life, and much more. Painting a vivid picture of what it was once like to earn a living in untamed lands, Salute To Adventure is an exciting chronicle featuring conflicts of man vs. nature and man vs. man alike. Action, self-discovery, and the resolve to make the most of one's life distinguish this involving narrative.
... Read more

Product Description
In commenting upon the transformation of the Roman Republic into a great and glorious empire, John Bucan wrote: 'This book is an attempt to understand a little part of the mind of a great man ... Augustus, while he had able colleagues - and one of his gifts was his power to choose collaborators - was always the master designer and the chief executant. ' Buchan's study of Augustus, great nephew of Julius Caesar, is a descriptive and detailed biography. The author's admiration for his subject's creative mind and policies shine through this major historical account. ... Read more

Product Description
For a moment he paused on the threshold, looking at the structure in the centre of the floor. He wondered vaguely how they were getting on with it. Mighty long job, building a thing like that. It hadn't looked any different for months, as far as he could see ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

a weak and very dated piece of forgotten science fiction...
'Stowaway to Mars' is an early work of John ('Day of the Triffids') Wyndham, written way back in the 1930s.The book was obviously a dud when it was first published since it was not released in the USA until the 1970s after John Wyndham finally found some success.And the book has not been reprinted in the USA since then either.So I was hoping this lack of attention was unfair and I had bumped into a hidden gem when I found this book at a used bookstore.Wrong.Very wrong.

Well as you can guess from the title, this book is about an adventure to Mars where a female stowaway "with a secret" creates a bit of havoc amongst the all-male crew.While the technology aspects of the story are incredibly dated I found the build up of sending the rocket to Mars to be rather entertaining.However the story degrades rather quickly when they actually land on Mars.The author fails to develop the situation, with the result being a very amateurish effort at describing Martian terrain and life.I was just glad the pain didn't last long since the book is very short.


Bottom line: a rather poor read I'm afraid.John Wyndham wrote much better stuff later in his career.

Life on Mars - From Earth
"Stowaway To Mars" is one of John Wyndham's early science fiction efforts, written years before he got his big break with "The Day of the Triffids". This futuristic story is set in the far-off year1981, when a ship called the Gloria Mundi carries the first people to Mars.A young woman has sneaked aboard the ship, and tells the crew of what toexpect when they touch down on Mars.

This novel can be compared to H.G.Wells' "First Men in the Moon". Both stories have been provedinaccurate by that bubble burster called Reality. But this doesn't matter.The imagination of such stories is what really counts. This book is thebeginning of one man's distinguished career.

1930s science fiction
Written by a young, pre-Triffids Wyndham under the name John Beynon, this is a less well developed effort that nonetheless shows his talent. The plot is standard, with an attractive female stowaway joining an all-male crew ona race to be the first nation to land on Mars, but it's graced withoriginal details and intelligent epithets such as "Mind is the controlof brain by memory," and the fast-paced plot keeps you reading. Themost interesting elements are the Martian landscape, the rusty berserkMartian robots, and the sad remains of the Martian people whose cities arelike a series of empty rooms. When the story turns into a space romance,you understand why the stowaway had to be female. Wyndham always wrote witha sure hand, and that was no less true of this early effort than of hislater, better novels. ... Read more

Product Description
When his friend Charles Pitt-Heron vanishes mysteriously, Sir Edward Leithen is at first only mildly concerned.But a series of strange events that follow Pitt-Heron's disappearance convince Leithen that he is dealing with a sinister secret society.Their codename is 'The Power-House'.The authorities are unable to act without evidence.As he gets deeper involved with the underworld, Leithen finds himself facing the enemy alone and in terrible danger. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Power House
A very interesting book which captivates your attention from beginning to end.John Buchan writes "lyrically", candid, smooth style which provides readers with easy reading.

A Classic of Paranoia
Though not as good as his "The 39 Steps," this lesser effort is still an enjoyable read.Buchan efectively invented the thriller genre, and this short novel follows the rules, though in a somewhat diffident manner.Our hero is a staid lawyer/politician who stumbles upon a conspiracy that finds-- it seems, anyway-- most of the people of London on his tail, seeking his demise.Buchan is businesslike as always, and this is one of his better efforts. ... Read more

Product Description
This is Patrick Barlow's Olivier Award winning stage adaptation, based on John Buchan's gripping whodunit - memorably filmed by Alfred Hitchcock in 1935 - is now in its fourth year at the Criterion Theatre in the West End. Nothing has been cut from this hilarious version of Britain's most spell-binding thriller - legendary scenes include the chase on the Flying Scotsman, the escape on the Forth Bridge, the first theatrical bi-plane crash ever staged and the death-defying (or nearly!) finale at the London Palladium! With four actors playing a minimum of one hundred and thirty-nine roles, it's the most astonishing theatrical tour de force of the year. ... Read more

Product Description
relates the adventures of a young John Buchan, author of The 39 Steps, who is sent from his post as a junior civil servant in 1903 South Africa to search for the missing treasure of the Boer. ... Read more

Product Description
This is a reproduction of a book published before 1923.This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process.We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide.We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book. ... Read more

Product Description
Two unforgettable heroes and two classic thrillers, in one volume. Set in Edwardian London, The Power-House features Sir Edward Leithen in a deadly struggle with a sinister secret society. In The 39 Steps, Richard Hannay is the archetypal "man who knew too much," relentlessly pursued by an international network of spies. ... Read more

Product Description
This is an EXACT reproduction of a book published before 1923. This IS NOT an OCR'd book with strange characters, introduced typographical errors, and jumbled words.This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process. We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book. ... Read more

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a definitive and scrupulously candid study of a remarkable man.'___ The Financial Times . ... Read more

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This volume explores the interrelatedness of the lives and work of John and Anna Buchan, both gifted writers whose writings crystallized a certain range of values and served a passion for the idea of Britain and the British Empire. ... Read more

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Long before James Bond was born, the man of action to whom His Majesty's Government turned when there was a devious espionage ring to be infiltrated or an evil international super-spy to be brought to justice, was Richard Hannay. The most famous fictional creation of author, politician and statesman John Buchan, Hannay averted disaster for king and country on many occasions, being hounded by ruthless villains from Scotland to the Swiss Alps and the wilds of Turkey in the process.Together in this one epic volume are his three thrilling First World War adventures comprising: "The Thirty-Nine Steps" - Richard Hannay first becomes involved in the despicable skullduggery of a German spy network, battling to expose them while wanted by the police for a murder he didn't commit and pursued by the enemy in one of the greatest man-hunts ever; "Greenmantle" - Just as he finishes convalescing from wounds received on the battlefield in France, Hannay, now Major Hannay, is reunited with some old friends and sent to thwart German plans to instigate a holy war in the Middle East; and, "Mr Standfast" - Drafted back into the Secret Service once more and working undercover as a pacifist to bring down German operation in Britain, Hannay comes up against the enemy's most cunning master spy, meeting the love of his life along the way. For thriller fans who have fought the Boche with Richard Hannay before, this collection puts you right back in the firing line, and for anyone who's used to seeing their secret agents weighed down by gadgets and gizmos, Hannay shows you how a real man survives with just skill, determination and sheer guts. ... Read more