When Richard Hannay returns to London from South Africa, he expects boredom-not murder and international conspiracy. But after a mysterious American lodger is found dead in his flat, Hannay becomes the prime suspect in a plot he barely understands . On the run from both the police and shadowy foreign agents, he must cross the wilds of Scotland in a desperate attempt to stay alive and prevent a catastrophe that could drag Britain into war. Originally published in 1915, The Thirty-Nine Steps is a fast-paced espionage thriller that launched a new kind of hero: the reluctant man of action. With its mix of chase scenes, coded messages, and cliffhanger suspense, John Buchan's novel laid the groundwork for the modern spy story and inspired generations of writers and filmmakers-including Alfred Hitchcock's classic 1935 adaptation. A timeless tale of intrigue, adventure, and patriotism, The Thirty-Nine Steps remains as gripping today as it was on the eve of the First World War.