The 100-Year-Old Thriller That Still Sets the Rules

How did the First World War inspire The 39 Steps? Why did John Buchan set the novel in Scotland? And, is the dashing protagonist Richard Hannay, a model for later Spy heroes? Join Dominic Sandbrook and Tabitha Syrett as they delve into the fascinating story behind the writing of The 39 Steps, and the world it was born of. UPCOMING BOOKS 4 Aug MY BRILLIANT FRIEND 11 Aug BRAVE NEW WORLD 18 Aug FOR WHOM THE BELL TOLLS 25 Aug REBECCA 0:00 The Opening of The Thirty-Nine Steps 1:28 The Book That Invented the Modern Thriller 7:42 The Extraordinary Life of John Buchan 17:16 South Africa, the British Empire and Adventure 24:06 How The Thirty-Nine Steps Was Written 29:08 A Wartime Bestseller in the Trenches 31:22 The Books and Stories That Inspired Buchan 36:31 Why The Thirty-Nine Steps Was Different 42:51 Technology and the Birth of the Modern Spy Thriller 46:39 Conspiracies, Antisemitism and the Black Stone 53:10 The Book’s Eccentric Supporting Characters 56:32 Richard Hannay: The Prototype Action Hero 1:00:34 How Hannay Inspired James Bond 1:02:30 Does The Thirty-Nine Steps Still Hold Up? 1:07:00 The Books Coming Next Senior Producer: Nicole Maslen Assistant Producer: Alfie Norris Social Producer: Harry Balden Video Editors: Lorcan Moullier & Joe Pettit Executive Producer: Dom Johnson