# Richard Hannay — Mr. Standfast character guide > Richard Hannay in Mr. Standfast by John Buchan. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Dick, Hannay, General Hannay, Brigadier-General Richard Hannay **First appearance:** 0002-mr-standfast ## Snapshot A brigadier-general and seasoned hunter of spies, now fighting a war of nerves on the Western Front while chasing a traitor through the British home front. ## Who they are Hannay narrates the book from the mud of a thinly held sector, where a single German reconnaissance plane could doom his division, and from the stranger byways of a country riddled with enemy agents. He is a soldier who would rather be hunting than commanding, and his instinct for the lone trail repeatedly pulls him away from the safety of headquarters. His loyalty to Peter, Mary, and Blenkiron, and his growing hatred of Ivery, drive him through disguises, cliffs, and cold seas toward a confrontation he knows only one of them will survive. ## Relationships ### [Mary Lamington](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mr_standfast_se/characters/mary_lamington) _romantic_ Mary and Richard are in love, with a deepening romantic relationship that grows throughout the story. ### [Moxon Ivery](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mr_standfast_se/characters/moxon_ivery) _rivalry_ Ivery and Hannay are direct enemies, with Hannay hunting Ivery as a dangerous spy. ### [Mary Lamington](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mr_standfast_se/characters/mary_lamington) _romantic_ Mary and Richard are in love, with a deepening romantic relationship that grows throughout the story. ### [Moxon Ivery](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mr_standfast_se/characters/moxon_ivery) _rivalry_ Ivery and Hannay are direct enemies, with Hannay hunting Ivery as a dangerous spy. ### [Mary Lamington](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mr_standfast_se/characters/mary_lamington) _romantic_ Mary and Richard are in love, with a deepening romantic relationship that grows throughout the story. ### [Moxon Ivery](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mr_standfast_se/characters/moxon_ivery) _rivalry_ Ivery and Hannay are direct enemies, with Hannay hunting Ivery as a dangerous spy. ## In the story ### [Mr. Standfast Part I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mr_standfast_se/chapters/mr-standfast) The protagonist, a general recalled from the front for a secret mission. ### [The Wicket-Gate](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mr_standfast_se/chapters/part-i-i-the-wicket-gate) The protagonist, a brigadier general, is reluctantly persuaded to go undercover as Cornelius Brand. ### [The Reflections of a Cured Dyspeptic](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mr_standfast_se/chapters/part-i-iii-the-reflections-of-a-cured-dyspeptic) Hannay meets with Blenkiron in London, learns of the spy network, and agrees to go undercover in Glasgow. ### [IV: Andrew Amos](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mr_standfast_se/chapters/part-i-iv-andrew-amos) Narrator and protagonist, operating under the alias Cornelius Brand. He meets Andrew Amos in Glasgow and intervenes in a street fight to protect Abel Gresson. ### [Various Doings in the West](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mr_standfast_se/chapters/part-i-v-various-doings-in-the-west) Narrator, traveling undercover as Brand, following Gresson. ### [VI: The Skirts of the Coolin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mr_standfast_se/chapters/part-i-vi-the-skirts-of-the-coolin) Travels under the alias Cornelius Brand, navigating the Highlands toward Skye. ### [I Hear of the Wild Birds](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mr_standfast_se/chapters/part-i-vii-i-hear-of-the-wild-birds) Undercover as Cornelius Brand, Hannay tracks Wake to a cave in Skye and discovers Wake is an ally. He reveals his true identity as a British general. ### [The Adventures of a Bagman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mr_standfast_se/chapters/part-i-viii-the-adventures-of-a-bagman) Disguised as Mr. McCaskie, a publisher's traveller; travels south from Skye, evading police and enemy agents. ### [IX: I Take the Wings of a Dove](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mr_standfast_se/chapters/part-i-ix-i-take-the-wings-of-a-dove) Narrator and protagonist; fleeing police, uses Archie's flight to escape. ### [X: The Advantages of an Air Raid](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mr_standfast_se/chapters/part-i-x-the-advantages-of-an-air-raid) Returns to London, is arrested during an air raid, and later released by Macgillivray; reflects on his mission and fears Ivery's escape. ### [The Valley of Humiliation](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mr_standfast_se/chapters/part-i-xi-the-valley-of-humiliation) Returns to his flat in low spirits, reads Peter's letter, and later rallies the group to continue pursuing Ivery. ### [XII: I Become a Combatant Once More](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mr_standfast_se/chapters/part-i-xii-i-become-a-combatant-once-more) Narrator and protagonist; returns to front-line duty, commands a brigade and division, and continues his private investigation of Ivery. ### [The Adventure of the Picardy Château](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mr_standfast_se/chapters/part-ii-xiii-the-adventure-of-the-picardy-ch-teau) Investigates the Château and reunites with Mary Lamington, expressing his love for her. ### [Mr. Blenkiron Discourses on Love and War](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mr_standfast_se/chapters/part-ii-xiv-mr-blenkiron-discourses-on-love-and-war) Narrator; receives orders for Paris, reflects on his hatred for Ivery and love for Mary, and undergoes briefings for special service. ### [St. Anton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mr_standfast_se/chapters/part-ii-xv-st-anton) Disguised as the porter Joseph Zimmer, Hannay arrives in St. Anton to care for Peter Pienaar. ### [XVI: I Lie on a Hard Bed](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mr_standfast_se/chapters/part-ii-xvi-i-lie-on-a-hard-bed) Captured and strapped into a device by Ivery; manages to free his right arm and discovers he is in a different room than expected. ### [XVII: The Col of the Swallows](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mr_standfast_se/chapters/part-ii-xvii-the-col-of-the-swallows) Desperate and feverish after escaping the Pink Chalet, Hannay commandeers a car to pursue Ivery and save Mary, then resolves to cross the dangerous Col of the Swallows with Wake. ### [The Underground Railway](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mr_standfast_se/chapters/part-ii-xviii-the-underground-railway) The narrator who recounts Mary's story; his forged letter is used to lure Mary to the inn. ### [XIX: The Cage of the Wild Birds](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mr_standfast_se/chapters/part-ii-xix-the-cage-of-the-wild-birds) Exhausted and captive, Hannay observes the confrontation and insists Ivery face the front lines. ### [The Storm Breaks in the West](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mr_standfast_se/chapters/part-ii-xx-the-storm-breaks-in-the-west) Returns to the front, learns of the German breakthrough, and prepares to take over his old division. ### [How an Exile Returned to His Own People](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mr_standfast_se/chapters/part-ii-xxi-how-an-exile-returned-to-his-own-people) Takes command of a division, arranges Blenkiron's commission, confronts Ivery, and leads a counter-stroke. ### [The Summons Comes for Mr. Standfast](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mr_standfast_se/chapters/part-ii-xxii-the-summons-comes-for-mr-standfast) Hannay awakens from a deep sleep, reflects on the battle and the loss of Wake, and struggles with the tension of waiting for the French relief. He experiences a shift in mood from anxiety to hope. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mr_standfast_se/characters/richard_hannay - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mr_standfast_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mr_standfast_se/characters