John Buchan

Castle Gay illustrated John Buchan

Buchan was born in Perth, Scotland, the first child of John Buchan-a Free Church of Scotland minister-and Helen Jane Buchan. He was brought up in Kirkcaldy, Fife, and spent many summer holidays with his maternal grandparents in Broughton in the Scottish Borders. There he developed a love for walking and for the local scenery and wildlife, both of which are often featured in his novels. The protagonist in several of his books is Sir Edward Lecithin, whose name is borrowed from the Lecithin Water, a tributary of the River Tweed. Buchan attended Hutchison' Boys' Grammar School and was awarded a scholarship to the University of Glasgow at age 17,