John Buchan

John Buchan (1875–1940) was a Scottish novelist, historian, journalist, and politician. He is best known for adventure and crime novels, particularly *The Thirty-Nine Steps*, featuring the character Richard Hannay. He began writing the novel in 1914 while recovering from an illness, and it was published in 1915. Buchan also wrote historical works, biographies, essays, and an autobiography. During the First World War, he worked in British intelligence and information administration. He later served as a Member of Parliament and, from 1935 to 1940, as Governor General of Canada. He died in Montreal in 1940.