Set during the final years of the reign of James VII of Scotland (James II of England), most of the action takes place in the valleys of the rivers Tweed and Clyde. The tale is about two noble cousins feuding over pride and a pretty girl.
Buchan is hardly breaking new ground, as this story has strong echoes of R.D. Blackmore's Lorna Doone, a far superior work. It may be, this being only his second novel, Buchan was still finding his feet as an author. Be that as it may, what he did possess even at this early stage of his career was a fluent and effortless talent for describing the natural world - something I have always admired about his writing.
There is plenty of action and plenty of climaxes too, but it did get a bit repetitious. The characterisation is a bit black and white, but what would a historical romance be without some melodrama? The manservant Nicol is likeable and wily whereas his master John Burnet is raw and headstrong, and the baddie is cunning and most certainly dangerous.
Not the best book in the world. I enjoyed reading it despite its flaws. If you want some period derring-do in the Scottish lowlands, John Burnet of Barns will provide.
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