Thirty-nine Steps

The Thirty-Nine Steps is a 1915 adventure novel by John Buchan, featuring Richard Hannay, an engineer who becomes embroiled in espionage and murder on the eve of World War I. The story is notable for its fast-paced narrative and has inspired numerous adaptations, including Alfred Hitchcock's 1939 film. While the book includes controversial elements, such as anti-Semitic dialogue, Buchan's own views were more sympathetic, as he was identified as a 'Jewish sympathiser' by the Nazis. This work is considered a classic of the spy genre.