John Buchan wrote The Thirty-Nine Steps while he was seriously ill at the beginning of the First World War. In it he introduces his most famous hero, Richard Hannay, who, despite claiming to be an 'ordinary fellow', is caught up in the dramatic race against a plot to devastate the British war effort. Hannay is hunted across the Scottish moors by police and spy-ring alike, and must outwit his intelligent and pitiless enemy in the corridors of Whitehall and, finally, at the site of the mysterious thirty-nine steps. The best-known of Buchan's thrillers, The Thirty-Nine Steps has been continuously in print since first publication and has been filmed three times, most notably by Alfred Hitchcock in 1935. In this, the only critical edition, Christopher Harvie's introduction interweaves the writing of the tale with the equally fascinating story of how John Buchan, publisher and lawyer, came in from the cold and, via The Thirty-Nine Steps, ended the war as spy-master and propaganda chief. ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.

约翰•巴肯（John Buchan）

当过政治家，英国保守党国会议员，律师，出版商，也参过军。他以创作惊险故事而著称，其中以理查德•汉内系列的悬疑小说最为经典。

1915年出版的《三十九级台阶》是他最著名的小说，也是文学史经典的悬疑小说。美国推理作家协会评选的100部经典推理小说中，它排第22位。《卫报》评选的“死前必读的1000本小说”，它也位列其中。

约翰•巴肯是希区柯克最喜欢的作家之一。第一次读到《三十九级台阶》时，希区柯克说：“从我第一次读约翰•巴肯的《三十九级台阶》起，就觉得它一定能被拍成一部伟大的电影。”1935年，希区柯克将其改编成电影，由奥斯卡影帝罗伯特•多纳特主演。这部电影成了影史上最经典的悬疑片之一。