The Thirty Nine Steps

As the story’s protagonist, Richard Hannay is adaptable, patriotic, and humble. Buchan frames him as an ordinary, if skilled, British citizen—an ordinary person who does the extraordinary. He is a single, 37-year-old man who moved from Scotland to London when he was six years old and spent several years living in British colonies. Most recently, he made a small fortune working as a mining engineer in Rhodesia,. At the start of the story, though he is positioned to enjoy his wealth in London society, he feels bored and restless.

Throughout the story, Hannay uses previous experiences to adapt to new situations. For example, he excitedly spends several hours decoding Scudder’s notebook: “I have a head for things like chess and puzzles, and I used to reckon myself pretty good at finding out cyphers” (25). This passage captures the attitude with which he approaches most challenges: a casual mix of confidence and humility. His good eyesight and physical fitness help him avoid capture in the highlands. He also rigs an explosive to escape the house of the old archaeologist, takes on various disguises, and deftly decides how much information to reveal or conceal to those he meets. Further, even though the German spies are expertly disguised, Hannay recognizes them as the Black Stone.