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Huntingtower
- Narrated by: Steven Cree
- Length: 8 hrs and 56 mins
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Huntingtower
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Editor reviews
Newly-retired grocer Dickson McCunn ventures out to explore the hills of southwest Scotland only to be swept into bizarre and unexpected adventures. Contrary to his better sense, Dickson becomes tangled in a plot involving a kidnapped Russian princess and a revolutionary struggle. Narrator Steven Cree's light Scottish accent adds brightness to the first in a trilogy of stories about reluctant hero Dickson. In addition to his good sense of the story's quick pace, Cree has an exceptional feel for the characters, tweaking his accent and pitch to show differences in status and origin.
Summary
Dickson McCunn, a respectable, newly retired grocer of romantic heart, plans a modest walking holiday in the hills of southwest Scotland. He meets a young English poet and, contrary to his better sense, finds himself in the thick of a plot involving the kidnapping of a Russian princess, who is held prisoner in the rambling mansion Huntingtower.
This modern fairy tale is also a gripping adventure story, and in it Buchan introduces some of his best-loved characters, including the Gorbals Die-Hards, who reappear in later novels. He also paints a remarkable picture of a man rejuvenated by joining much younger comrades in a challenging and often dangerous fight against tyranny and fear.
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.
About the Author: John Buchan, Baron Tweedsmuir, was a Scottish diplomat, barrister, journalist, historian, poet and novelist. He wrote adventure novels, short-story collections and biographies. His passion for the Scottish countryside is reflected in much of his writing. Buchan's adventure stories are high in romance and are peopled by a large cast of characters. "Richard Hannay", "Dickson McCunn" and "Sir Edward Leithen" are three that reappear several times. Alfred Hitchcock adapted his most famous book The Thirty-Nine Steps, featuring Hannay, for the big screen.
Born in 1875 in Perth, Buchan was the son of a minister. Childhood holidays were spent in the Borders, for which he had a great love. He was educated at Glasgow University and Brasenose College, Oxford, where he was President of the Union. Called to the Bar in 1901, he became Lord Milner's assistant private secretary in South Africa. By 1907, however, he was working as a publisher with Nelson's. During the First World War Buchan was a correspondent at the Front for The Times, as well as being an officer in the Intelligence Corps and advisor to the War Cabinet. Elected as a Conservative Member of Parliament for one of the Scottish Universities' seats in 1927, he was created Baron Tweedsmuir in 1935. From then until his death in 1940 he served as Governor General of Canada, during which time he neverthelss managed to continue writing.
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What listeners say about Huntingtower
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Mark Ward
- 27-05-23
Another Buchan classic
I started searching out John Buchan's work after rediscovering the Thirty Nine Steps, and this swashbuckling tale of Dickson McCunn did not disappoint. Atmospheric description and authentic narration combined well for a riproaring tale!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 10-12-23
A life affirming
A timeless classic well read with excellent charateriization why have I not tried this before highly recommended to all loves of adventure
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Ben Gabel
- 14-04-22
excellent and surprisingly unaged
very very good narration, and the story was surprisingly ok for such a dated book, I really enjoyed it.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Kindle Customer
- 19-03-24
The Scottish accent was excellent.
The story was of its time and as such the politics are rather far right but when you take the era into account its an enjoyable story.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
- Cameron H.
- 31-10-21
Buchan at his very best ...
Dickson McCunn is one of the world's great heroes - and The Gorbals Die-hards are unsurpassed. The hills and hollows of Carrick glow in Buchan's superb prose. A wonderful book (though perhaps a wee bit more attention could have been given to the authenticity of the accents in the Audible recording; the all too frequent default to Belfast can be a wee bit jarring)
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Prudence Magee
- 07-07-14
History alive
What made the experience of listening to Huntingtower the most enjoyable?
Well read with good characterisation
What was one of the most memorable moments of Huntingtower?
The description of the defence of the house. Vivid description building suspense.
Have you listened to any of Steven Cree’s other performances? How does this one compare?
No but will be looking out for other books.
If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?
the urchins and the princess
Any additional comments?
Well worth reading. One forgets the great skills of story telling from the classic authors.
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Eggy
- 13-08-21
A grand Scottish yarn
An “adventure” story with a Scottish accent. In same sort of vein as Treasure Island. I like because written in times past & so I like the small historical details. I thought the reader a little wooden to begin with but grew on me & the vocab is often colloquial thus needs a Scottish accent
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- J from Yorkshire
- 25-01-23
Very enjoyable adventure
This is a great story set in Scotland in the 1920s, with heroes that you can identify with. It is easy to picture the glorious Scottish countryside and to imagine yourself at the heart of this adventure. It is delightful to go back in time to this period of our history. Buchan is a great writer.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- T. Keates
- 14-10-21
A ripping yarn
A wonderful adventure from the Edwardian era. Scottish vernacular is spoken in much of the dialogue betwixt characters. You will have to be fleet of foot to catch all of the detail, unless you are familiar with the tongue. Therefore it makes it all the more colourful for the listener, as though you were overhearing the protagonists as the plot unfolds deep within the Scottish countryside.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance2 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Pamela
- 22-06-22
Weak Narration and Plot.
I did my best to finish this because I enjoy the work of John Buchan. However, I did not completely finish the book as the narrator is very flat and wooden. It has nothing to do with his Scottish accent and everything to do with the difference between reading and giving a narration performance. Many times his voice was so monotone I had filtered it out. It reminded me of the libra vox recordings where people can read a book and put it in the public domain. There is a difference between the ability to read and reading aloud and liking a book and performing a book are not the same thing.
Anyway, that is my two cents worth
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