James Buchan (1) (1954–)

Highly recommended by its publisher (need this be said?), A Street Shaken by Light (Mountain Leopard Press) by James Buchan is published in September and is certainly one hell of a yarn. The hero, William Nielson, is a young man who leaves his native Scotland to find fortune and adventure abroad. He makes his way to Paris where he falls in love at first sight and is immediately imprisoned. On his release, he sets off across the world where he has adventures galore, learning diplomatic, linguistic and military skills that are allied to his hopeless romantic attachment to that girl he first encountered on his arrival in Paris. It swirls, surges and swamps at times as Nielson’s escapades become ever more arduous and he learns how to master whatever is thrown at him. This is historical fiction and storytelling at its entertaining best and is apparently the first in a trilogy.… (mer)