John Buchan was a historian, politician and novelist. He was mostly know for writing jungle adventures and books based on historical subjects. His career as a writer took a turn for the better when he wrote what he called his first "shocker." It was the Thirty-nine Steps. The first of five novels to star his adventure Richard Hannay. The title came from his daughter. She was young and beginning to learn to count and counted the stairs at the place where her father was healing from an illness. She proudly announced that there were 39 steps.