John Buchan (1875-1940) author of over 100 books including The Thirty-Nine Steps was a
stealth writer of supernatural and Weird fiction. From the beginning of his career to his last
works he brought supernatural elements into his narratives to test his characters and thrill
his readers. His 1932 novel The Gap in the Curtain was his last full-length work devoted to
exploring a supernatural theme: if you were able to see one year into the future what would
you do with that foreknowledge? And what would it do to you? The novel tells the story of five
country-house guests who are trained by the ailing Professor Moe an Einsteinian mathematician
who has devised a way of seeing into the future. These five guests gain one piece of knowledge
from the experiment and have to decide how to act on it. Five episodes ensue: The story of the
philanthropist who played the markets for too long The story of the politician who changed
sides too often The story of the antiquarian book dealer in the clutches of a feminist
capitalist The story of the man who foresaw his own death The story of the woman who would not
let her lover die This novel is classic Buchan ranging from epic to farcical to battling with
natural forces and the horrors of feminism. It hasn¿t been in print for 15 years and is
shamefully undervalued. The Introduction is by Kate Macdonald one of the leading Buchan
experts. It has crossover appeal from the classic 1930s fiction to period supernatural short
stories. The cover reuses the original 1932 artwork from the Hodder & Stoughton edition. The
episodes vary from high drama to social comedy and use Buchan¿s skill in writing political
intrigue and adventure abroad. This is a novel that showcases Buchan¿s talents as a storyteller
and is a thoroughly satisfying read.
