John Buchan (1875-1940) was a Scottish historian, politician, and author. Born and educated in Scotland, Buchan received a scholarship to Oxford at the age of 17 where he studied classics. It was here that his writing career began, and he won prizes for his poetry and essays. He began a career in diplomacy and government following his graduation, whilst continuing to pursue his writing career. In 1915 he published his most famous novel, the thriller 'The Thirty-Nine Steps', which was adapted into a film by Alfred Hitchcock in the 1930s. An author of predominantly political thrillers, some of his other best-loved works include 'The Three Hostages', 'The Power-House', and 'The Blanket of Dark'. He died at the age of 64 in Canada, where he had been serving as the Governor General.
