Prester John

Written by John Buchan

Narrated by Peter Joyce

What is sinister preacher John Laputa doing on a remote Scottish shore in the moonlight hours?Young David Crawfurd and his friends are lucky to escape with their lives when they disturb his rituals. Years later David travels to Africa and meets the minister again, this time in company with the evil Henriques. Using his knowledge of Laputas background David investigates the mystery that surrounds Blaauwildebeestfontein, the Rooirand mountains and the legend of Prester John and discovers a plot, backed by an illicit diamond trade, using the native tribes to take control of Africa and destabilise the continent. Although Buchan has since been accused of political incorrectness he knew the country well and it is interesting to set his observations against the profile of Africa today-particularly in the content of the letter which closes the story. Irrespective of the political ramifications the story is very exciting and is considered one of Buchans’ best adventure yarns.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Assembled Stories
• Release date: Jan 12, 2010
• ISBN: 9781860153228

John Buchan

John Buchan was a Scottish diplomat, barrister, journalist, historian, poet and novelist. He published nearly 30 novels and seven collections of short stories. He was born in Perth, an eldest son, and studied at Glasgow and Oxford. In 1901 he became a barrister of the Middle Temple and a private secretary to the High Commissioner for South Africa. In 1907 he married Susan Charlotte Grosvenor and they subsequently had four children. After spells as a war correspondent, Lloyd George's Director of Information and Conservative MP, Buchan moved to Canada in 1935. He served as Governor General there until his death in 1940. Hew Strachan is Chichele Professor of the History of War at the University of Oxford; his research interests include military history from the 18th century to date, including contemporary strategic studies, but with particular interest in the First World War and in the history of the British Army.