Sick Heart River cover art

Sick Heart River

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Sick Heart River

By: John Buchan Peter
Narrated by: Peter Newcombe Joyce
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About this listen

Shortly before the outbreak of the Second World War, Sir Edward Leithen is told that he has but one year left to live. He relinquishes his law practice and resigns from public office in order to make peace with himself and to reconcile himself with his maker. However, he also wants to die standing, not to creep into the 'bleak bag's end of life'. This will involve one last physical challenge.

An old friend, John Blenkiron, comes to him with a request. He is asked to find a young Canadian banker called Galliard, a man who, suffering from a personal crisis, has disappeared into the wilds of Northwest Canada.

The task stretches Leithen and his gallant companions to the limits of their endurance and ends with a heartrending choice for him. A local tribe of Indians has gone into decline and need his help to save their race, but the invigorating air of the region has begun to effect a cure of his condition. Should he help the natives at the risk of his own life or return to England and enjoy an unexpected reprieve?

This was Buchan's last novel, written when he was suffering from a terminal illness. More literary and introspective than his other adventure stories, it has been acknowledged by some critics to be his best. Listeners will certainly be made aware of the immensity of the author's heart and his sense of duty.

Public Domain (P)2013 Assembled Stories
Biographical Fiction Classics Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Mystery Fiction Biography

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An engaging and interesting work, in which Buchan (himself by then terminally ill) demonstrates more gravitas than in his previous writing, while painting vivid images of the Canadian north, and the people to be found there in the first half of the twentieth century.

This is by no means a light hearted romp, an not really a tale of daring do, but it’s well worth a listen.

Buchan’s most meaningful work?

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I thoroughly enjoyed hearing this wonderful book read by a sympathetic and very competent reader.

Excellent performance of an excellent book

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Buchan’s last novel (and Leithen’s last adventure) and what a fabulous admixture of descriptions of the natural world, philosophy, pathos, and human interactions.
If you don’t want to explore Northwest Canada, weeping at the end, and bemoan the loss of a superhuman writer - then you and I shall never be friends.

Fabulous story, gorgeously read

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