The Path of the King

Book Excerpt: the sanctuary ofbed. That took all the fortitude in Biorn's heart, and not till the thingwas dared and done could he go happily to sleep.One night Leif the Outborn watched him at his game. Sometimes the man waspermitted to sleep there when he had been making sport for the housecarles."Behold an image of life!" he had said in his queer outland speech. "Wepass from darkness to darkness with but an instant of light between. Youare born for high deeds, princeling. Many would venture from the dark tothe light, but it takes a stout breast to voyage into the farther dark."And Biorn's small heart swelled, for he detected praise, though he did notknow what Leif meant.In the long winter the sun never topped Sunfell, and when the gales blewand the snow drifted there were lights in the hall the day long. In Biorn'sfirst recollection the winters were spent by his mother's side, while sheand her maids spun the wool of the last clipping. She was a fair woman outof the Western Isles, all brown andRead More

John Buchan, Baron Tweedsmuir, was a Scottish diplomat, barrister, journalist, historian, poet and novelist. He wrote adventure novels, short-story collections and biographies.
His passion for the Scottish countryside is reflected in much of his writing. Buchan's adventure stories are high in romance and are peopled by a large cast of characters. 'Richard Hannay', 'Dickson McCunn' and 'Sir Edward Leithen' are three that reappear several times.
Alfred Hitchcock adapted his most famous book 'The Thirty-Nine Steps', featuring Hannay, for the big screen.
Born in 1875 in Perth, Buchan was the son of a minister. Childhood holidays were spent in the Borders, for which he had a great love. He was educated at Glasgow University and Brasenose College, Oxford, where he was President of the Union. Called to the Bar in 1901, he became Lord Milner's assistant private secretary in South Africa. By 1907, however, he was working as a publisher with Nelson's. During the First World War Buchan was a correspondent at the Front for 'The Times', as well as being an officer in the Intelligence Corps and advisor to the War Cabinet.
Elected as a Conservative Member of Parliament for one of the Scottish Universities' seats in 1927, he was created Baron Tweedsmuir in 1935. From then, until his death in 1940, he served as Governor General of Canada, during which time he nevertheless managed to continue writing.