Can three bored men pass themselves off as poacher extraordinaire John Macnab?
John Macnab – the blurb
In 1925, John Buchan published his second most famous novel, John MacNab; three high-flying men – a barrister, a cabinet minister and a banker – are suffering from boredom. They concoct a plan to cure it. They inform three Scottish estates that they will poach from each two stags and a salmon in a given time. They sign collectively as ‘John McNab’ and await the responses. This novel is a light interlude within the Leithen Stories series – an evocative look at the hunting, shooting and fishing lifestyle in Highland Scotland.
Lets go a hunting
First published in 1924 this book is definitely of its time, with language, stereotypes and attitudes. Nevertheless I found myself enjoying the 3 men’s capers as they galivanted across crags and gulleys (there was a lot of gallivanting) hunting deer and salmon whilst deceiving hapless landowners. I’d describe the book as a bit of a ‘romp’ – good fun had by all (except for the deer) with a decent warm hearted ending. I could well imagine it being televised although modernisation would be needed. And of course it is set in Scotland, always a bonus.
It’s apparently an inbetweeny in a series featuring one of the books main characters Sir Edward Leithen. Enjoying both this and The Thirty Nine Steps I will keep an eye out for others by Buchan. Anyone have any recommendations?