Sick Heart River

In this introspective novel set just before World War II, Sir Edward Leithen, faced with a terminal diagnosis, leaves his law career to seek personal closure and undertake one final adventure. He is tasked by an old friend to find a missing Canadian banker, leading him and his companions through the challenging wilderness of Northwest Canada. As Leithen aids a declining local tribe, he grapples with a poignant decision: to embrace the possibility of recovery or commit to a noble cause at great personal risk. Written during Buchan's own battle with illness, this reflective tale reveals the author's profound sense of duty and humanity.