Very much part of the Buchan tradition
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Readers who cannot stomach the idea of a protagonist who does not share current modern sensibilities should be warned; Mr Standfast is quite capable of arousing the same unwarranted controversy as its predecessors. Warning must also be also given of Buchan's habit of periodically inserting a bit of social commentary between the action scenes conducted by the returning Richard Hannay.
That said, Mr Standfast is a fascinating tale with a trademark John Buchan plot that should satisfy those who enjoyed The Thirty-Nine Steps. Hannay's adventures see him return to the Scottish Highlands, as well as wartime France and neutral Switzerland in pursuit of yet another international spy ring, masterminded by an old Hannay enemy - the Graf von Schwabing. Thus we are back on familiar territory indeed with ingredients of world conspiracy, physical challenges and dark suspicions.
However, those seeking a return of characters from previous books such as Blenkiron, Pienaar and Arbuthnot will be disappointed, as these occupy either a peripheral role within the book or simply fail to appear. The progression of the storyline is not always the smoothest or most concise either, and the pace of the book not always consistent.
It could be concluded, then, Mr Standfast epitomises both John Buchan's talents as a writer and his flaws. A potential reader should be willing to interpret the book according to its place in history, while still taking pleasure in the narrative itself which is, at times, an enjoyable example of its type.
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