The Thirty-Nine Steps
Richard Hannay, newly returned to London from Rhodesia and bored to distraction, is approached by a frightened neighbor named Scudder who claims to have uncovered a plot that will set Europe at war. Days later Scudder is dead in Hannay's flat, and Hannay, suspected of murder and hunted by the real killers, flees north to Scotland with Scudder's coded notebook. What follows is a chase across moors and glens, with Hannay stealing cars, hiding in cottages and improvising identities as both police and spies close in. Buchan wrote it while ill in 1914 and published it in 1915, calling it a "shocker." It fixed the pattern of the innocent man on the run that thrillers have used ever since. Read it online in your browser on Vinteuil; the first chapter is free.
Start reading right away, without signing up. The complete text is included in Vinteuil Reading, or yours forever with a one-time purchase.
Frequently asked questions about The Thirty-Nine Steps
The Thirty-Nine Steps by John Buchan can be read online on Vinteuil, directly in your browser. The first chapter is free for everyone; the complete book is included in Vinteuil Reading ($4.99/month or $39.99/year) or yours forever for $2.99.
Can I read The Thirty-Nine Steps online?
Yes. The Thirty-Nine Steps opens right on this page, in a reader designed for long reading: adjustable text size, light, sepia and dark themes, a clickable table of contents and your place saved when you are signed in. No download or app is needed.
Is The Thirty-Nine Steps free to read on Vinteuil?
The first chapter of The Thirty-Nine Steps is free, without an account. To read the whole book, either buy its online reading for $2.99 (£2.99 in the UK) and keep it forever, or subscribe to Vinteuil Reading for $4.99/month (£4.99/month in the UK) or $39.99/year, with 1 month free for new subscribers. The subscription opens every book in the library and can be cancelled at any time.
Is The Thirty-Nine Steps in the public domain?
Yes. The Thirty-Nine Steps by John Buchan is a public-domain work. Vinteuil offers a carefully prepared digital edition made for comfortable reading on screen.
How long does it take to read The Thirty-Nine Steps?
About 2 h 44 min of reading, at an average reading pace. Your place is saved automatically when you are signed in, so you can read in several sittings and on several devices.
What kind of book is The Thirty-Nine Steps?
The Thirty-Nine Steps by John Buchan is filed under "Mystery" in the Vinteuil library.
