John Buchan (1875-1940) was a Scottish novelist, historian, and public servant whose adventure novels helped establish the modern spy thriller. Educated at the University of Glasgow and Oxford, Buchan pursued careers in publishing, politics, and government service while writing numerous works of fiction and history. His most famous creation, Richard Hannay, appears in several novels beginning with The Thirty-Nine Steps. Buchan later served as Governor General of Canada and was elevated to the peerage as Baron Tweedsmuir.
