
by John Buchan
THE PATH OF THE KING
PROLOGUE
CHAPTER I. HIGHTOWN UNDER SUNFELL
CHAPTER 2. THE ENGLISHMAN - Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
CHAPTER 3. THE WIFE OF FLANDERS
CHAPTER 4. EYES OF YOUTH
CHAPTER 5. THE MAID
In a remote winter camp amid the Selkirks, three men— a battle‑scarred soldier, a scholarly cutler, and a wandering narrator—exchange thoughts about the lingering spark of noble blood hidden in ordinary lives. Their conversation drifts from the romantic haze of historic campaigns to the unsettling idea that greatness may linger unseen in the veins of common folk, waiting for an appointed moment to flare. This meditation on lineage and destiny sets the tone for a tale that seeks the quiet echo of ancient crowns in the everyday.
From that fire‑lit speculation arises the story of a young boy named Biorn, who roams the dim corridors of Hightown’s great hall, daring to step into the fleeting shafts of light that cut through the darkness. His simple game of moving from shadow to glow becomes a metaphor for the courage required to pursue a hidden, higher purpose. As he grows, the subtle encouragement of an enigmatic observer hints that the boy’s modest beginnings may yet carry the weight of a forgotten royal lineage.
Language
en
Duration
~7 hours (457K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Mary Starr, and David Widger
Release date
1999-11-01
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1875–1940
Best known for the breathless suspense of The Thirty-Nine Steps, he brought a rare mix of adventure, public service, and historical imagination to his writing. His books move quickly, but they also reflect a life spent close to politics, war, and the wider British world.
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by John Buchan

by John Buchan

by John Buchan

by John Buchan

by John Buchan

by John Buchan

by John Buchan

by John Buchan