This anthology of extracts from Buchan's writings is well worth reading for its historical range and wide selection of subjects close to the author's heart. Alongside portraits of Julius Caesar, Cleopatra, Virgil, Cromwell and Sir Walter Scott, to name but five, are lyrical descriptions of landscapes. Buchan's love for the great outdoors comes to the fore in his account of the African veld and in the more domestic Wood, Sea and Hill. There are also short essays on fishing, shooting and golf, among other sports.