Error loading page.
Try refreshing the page. If that doesn't work, there may be a network issue, and you can use our self test page to see what's preventing the page from loading.
Learn more about possible network issues or contact support for more help.
Title details for Thirty-Nine Steps, the (Classic Drama) by John Buchan - Wait list

Thirty-Nine Steps, the (Classic Drama)

by John Buchan
David Robb
Audiobook
0 of 1 copy available
Wait time: About 2 weeks
Place a hold Listen to a sample Listen to a sample
0 of 1 copy available
Wait time: About 2 weeks
Tom Baker stars as Sir Walter Bullivant with David Robb as man of action Richard Hannay in a thrilling BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramatisation. In this classic tale of wartime espionage, Richard Hannay's living nightmare begins at home with the discovery of a dead man in his London flat. He becomes an innocent on the run, pursued by the police for a murder he didn't commit. In Scotland Hannay realises that the notebook he recovered from the dead man is worth far more than he first thought, not least of all to a gang of German spies who will apparently stop at nothing to retrieve it. The Foreign Office in London is his last refuge of safety, and when Sir Walter Bullivant becomes convinced of Hannay's innocence the two join forces. If they are to foil German plans to attack the British fleet, they must first unlock the notebook's secret of the thirty-nine steps... Faithful to many aspects of John Buchan's original novel, this adaptation also pays homage to the Alfred Hitchcock film which it famously inspired.

  • Creators

  • Publisher

  • Release date

    December 4, 2007

  • Formats

    • OverDrive Listen audiobook

      • ISBN: 9781405646819
      • File size: 53615 KB
      • Duration: 01:51:41

  • Languages

    • English

  • Reviews

    • AudioFile Magazine
      This classic in espionage fiction has been dramatized by everyone from Alfred Hitchcock to "Masterpiece Theatre" and is tailor-made for a full-cast adaptation. Music swells, skilled performers deliver dramatic portrayals, and production values shine. Even the plot is classic: An innocent man is caught up in a nightmare of mistaken identity that ratchets up the tension with one near disaster after another. Ordinary guy Richard Hannay searches desperately for someone who'll believe he's not a murderer and help him unravel a secret notebook before it's too late for all of Britain. This well-directed group of actors brings just the right over-the-top bravado to the production. D.G. (c) AudioFile 2010, Portland, Maine
    • Publisher's Weekly

      Starred review from February 22, 2010
      A full cast delivers a gripping performance of John Buchan's classic tale of espionage and intrigue. When Richard Hannay discovers a dead body in his apartment, he's dragged into a dark and dangerous world of global politics, secret societies, and undercover agents. Accused of murder and with the fate of the British fleet resting in his hands, Hannay must elude the police and
      foreign spies, decode a cryptic notebook, and convince the enigmatic Sir Walter Bullivant to believe his incredible tale. David Robb dazzles as Hannay, delivering a gritty, nuanced performance of a man living a nightmare, and with the addition of dramatic music and a host of pitch-perfect sound effects, this audiobook is highly enjoyable and highly recommended.

    • AudioFile Magazine
      When he's speaking as protagonist Richard Hannay, David Thorn does a fine job. He captures the tension, focus, and self-doubt of a man accidentally caught up in a spy caper. During these sections, it's easy to understand how this became a classic Hitchcock thriller and it's a pleasure to listen to. It's this narrative voice that sustains listeners through a plot that's a bit too clever and melodramatic to believe in--Thorn makes us cares about Hannay and the England that produced him. However, when he shifts accents, the results are uneven. Those close to an English accent, such as Scots, are adequate, but his Kentucky accent is so far off it detracts markedly from the listening experience. G.T.B. (c) AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine

Formats

  • OverDrive Listen audiobook

subjects

Languages

  • English

Loading
ESCC accessibility