The Thirty-nine Steps

by

Read by Adrian Praetzellis

English · 1915 · 4h 20m · Espionage, Action & Adventure, Mystery & Thriller

4.6 (1861 reviews)

Richard Hannay’s boredom is soon relieved when the resourceful engineer is caught up in a web of secret codes, spies, and murder on the eve of WWI. This exciting action-adventure story was the inspiration for Alfred Hitchcock’s 1939 classic film of the same name. John Buchan (1875-1940) was Governor General of Canada and a popular novelist. Although condemned by some for anti-Semitic dialog in The Thirty-Nine Steps, his character’s sentiments do not represent the view of the author who was identified in Hitler’s Sonderfahndungsliste (special search list) as a "Jewish sympathiser." (Summary by Adrian Praetzellis)

Chapters

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Chapter 1 30:13 Read by Adrian Praetzellis
Chapter 2 16:31 Read by Adrian Praetzellis
Chapter 3 30:14 Read by Adrian Praetzellis
Chapter 4 27:48 Read by Adrian Praetzellis
Chapter 5 23:11 Read by Adrian Praetzellis
Chapter 6 36:50 Read by Adrian Praetzellis
Chapter 7 26:31 Read by Adrian Praetzellis
Chapter 8 19:10 Read by Adrian Praetzellis
Chapter 9 15:39 Read by Adrian Praetzellis
Chapter 10 34:35 Read by Adrian Praetzellis

Reviews

Such a fun spy thriller!


(5 stars)

the reader is AMAZING!!! THOSE SCOTTISH ACCENTS! The story was a joyride, too--a real adventure with high stakes, shifting loyalties, ciphers and chases and disguises. Hannay is a fun and interesting character, an able spy and yet human enough to be relatable. the narrative humanizes all the characters, which I really appreciate, and it was interesting to see glimpses of the political climate at the time. overall, an awesome book that made my day at work a million times better.

Albania is the type of place that might keep a man from yawning


(5 stars)

loved it, great story of a selfish dilettante who became central to solving a great mystery

excellent reading


(5 stars)

loved the timbre, pacing, and clarity of the reading. a great tale. Very enjoyable to listen to.

Hard to put down


(5 stars)

Adrian Praetzallis is such a great reader and definitely added to the enjoyment of this book. I think it a bit hard to believe how much our hero went through to finally capture the evil ones. How many times can a person sleep outside in the rain, not eat for days, blow up a house, escape, and run like a gazelle through the moors? Apparently, a lot. Lots of action in this enjoyable story.

Delightful!


(5 stars)

The 39 Steps is a fun, interesting, and well written novelette. Of course, it is an adventure story, but never too fast paced. I’m used to the Hitchcock film version, so I kept waiting for the love interest! There never was one, but I loved the story anyway. And Mr. Praetzellis has an extraordinary voice. His Scottish accent is so fun to hear. Thanks for your time, Mr. Praetzellis!

Gripping tale full of adventure


(5 stars)

I'm always happy when I stumble upon an author from the ages with a modern writing style. As with any British novel, class and privilege are discussed and acted upon without much inner reflection on the part of the upper classes. In this work, these class contrasts provide texture and grit to the narrative.

Forever Excellent


(5 stars)

There is a reason “The Thirty-Nine Steps” has been hailed as a classic for decades. It is interesting, innovative, and intensely exciting. I have read it many times and numerous scenes stay vivid in my mind. This LibriVox reader does an excellent job of bringing Richard Hannay to life.

Awesome Book


(5 stars)

Stayed up half the night listening cause I had to know what happened. Gripping story that will have you on the edge of your seat. Amazing reader! He really outdid himself on those Scottish acents. I also love that he had a different voice for each character.