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  • The Island of Sheep

  • A Richard Hannay Thriller, Book 5
  • By: John Buchan
  • Narrated by: Peter Joyce
  • Length: 9 hrs and 15 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (93 ratings)
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The Island of Sheep cover art

The Island of Sheep

By: John Buchan
Narrated by: Peter Joyce
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Summary

The last of John Buchan’s thrillers and the final appearance of Richard Hannay, now in retirement reverie deep in the comfortable Cotswolds.

However, he and Sandy [Lord Clanroyden] are roused to action once more to help the son of a recently deceased treasure hunter, called Haraldsen. The heir is receiving threats from Lancelot Troth, a man who believes himself ill treated financially by Haraldsen’s father and seeks revenge and reparation. The mission is complicated when the villain is aided by accomplices prepared to use extortion and child kidnap to achieve their aims.

The action moves from Norfolk to the Scottish Borders and on to the Norlands where the conspirators are finally confronted in a thrilling climax with Hannay’s son and Haraldsen’s daughter involved in the resolution.

Beautiful descriptive passages written by a man obviously at home in the natural world and some philosophic reflections about finding personal peace and contentment make this a fitting end to both Buchan’s important contribution to the genre and the history of Brigadier General Richard Hannay-a man of his time but with an everlasting popularity.

About Assembled Stories: Over the years the national press have reviewed Assembled Stories titles as ‘excellent’, ‘remarkable’, ‘entrancing’, ‘superb’, ‘magic for sure’, ‘masterly’, ‘wonderful’, ‘a class act’ and ‘a splendid example of audio at its best’.

©1995 John Buchan (P)2009 Assembled Stories

Critic reviews

"Peter Joyce is the most remarkable one-man band in audiobook publishing. Joyce, an experienced actor, reads them all himself." ( The Independent)

What listeners say about The Island of Sheep

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A story very much of its time.

A good old fashioned adventure yarn with a slew of vocabulary not found in other literature. Really gives definition to the times it was written in.
Important to notice several non PC parts of the dialogue and I’m really glad they’ve not been edited out as we all need to remember how much our modern views have progressed (maybe not enough yet but heading in the right direction). I’m of the opinion that we shouldn’t be covering up what was a general and supposedly informed by travel view of the world in the past. And, I would hope that our more modern sensitivities would quickly spot and find grotesque the obviously racist and anti-feminist and imperialist standpoints on view.
Despite all this, it’s still a good story and worth the penetration of this different view of life in the past.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

good

I love John Buchan books, especially Richard Hanny I was extremely pleased to see the later books being read and sold for audibles,although where is the fourth book? Read very well, although this book is probably my least favorite. I really don't think that Sandy would have a Scottish accent as he is upper class and educated in private school in England, but that is the only negative. Please now provide The 3 Hostages.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

Dated and drawn out story

Didn't enjoy it or really get the point of it. Too many characters. Did not finish as it was too painful to carry on!

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

The Island of Sheep

Fine end to the Hannay series . The whole book has an elegiac feel, the last hurrah of the adventurer with some of his old comrades in for the ride. Yes, it is a bit dated but none the worse for that, it adds to the charm of a story written nearly a century ago. Pity we don't have the same idea of duty and honour today.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent

A very enjoyable adventure from the 1930s set in beautiful surroundings in England, Scotland, and a Nordic island. Very atmospheric, and lots of interesting detail. Performed brilliantly. Good sound quality. Lovely to return to those days.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A tale well told

A good listen clearly of it’s time. Charming manners and very British…in a good way. A bit wordy in description at times. Overall, a bit like a good old black and white film.

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