# Richard Hannay — The Three Hostages character guide > Richard Hannay in The Three Hostages by John Buchan. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Sir Richard, Hannay, Sir Richard Hannay, Richard, The miserable Hannay **First appearance:** 0001-the-three-hostages ## Who they are A retired intelligence officer anchored in country contentment at Fosse Manor, Hannay is pulled back into the game when a desperate father begs him to find a missing girl. ## In the story ### [Dedication](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_three_hostages_se/chapters/dedication) Mentioned as a country neighbour who recently told the author the tale of an unpleasant business involving a pure contest of wits. ### [The Three Hostages](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_three_hostages_se/chapters/the-three-hostages) Living contentedly at Fosse Manor with his family, Hannay is reluctantly pulled back into intelligence work by Bullivant's letter. ### [I: Doctor Greenslade Theorises](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_three_hostages_se/chapters/i-doctor-greenslade-theorises) Narrator and host at Fosse Manor, enjoying domestic contentment with Mary and Peter John. ### [II: I Hear of the Three Hostages](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_three_hostages_se/chapters/ii-i-hear-of-the-three-hostages) Hannay is at Fosse Manor, initially reluctant to help Macgillivray, feeling his skills are unsuited for the office-work required. He is skeptical of the hostage theory but becomes increasingly disturbed by the story. ### [III: Researches in the Subconscious](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_three_hostages_se/chapters/iii-researches-in-the-subconscious) Narrator; sleepless and anxious about David Warcliff; presses Greenslade to recall the source of the three facts; travels to London. ### [IV: I Make the Acquaintance of a Popular Man](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_three_hostages_se/chapters/iv-i-make-the-acquaintance-of-a-popular-man) Narrator and protagonist; plans to take Medina into his confidence and discusses the conspiracy with Macgillivray. ### [The Thursday Club](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_three_hostages_se/chapters/v-the-thursday-club) Narrator and protagonist; attends the Thursday Club dinner and later experiences a hypnotic episode at Medina's library. ### [The House in Gospel Oak](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_three_hostages_se/chapters/vi-the-house-in-gospel-oak) Narrates the chapter; visits Dr. Newhover and undergoes a hypnotic session with Madame Breda, resisting her influence. ### [VII: Some Experiences of a Disciple](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_three_hostages_se/chapters/vii-some-experiences-of-a-disciple) Hannay deepens his undercover role as Medina's disciple, requesting investigations into Odell and Medina while struggling with the moral weight of his deception. ### [The Blind Spinner](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_three_hostages_se/chapters/viii-the-blind-spinner) Narrator; endures Medina's company, feigns obedience, resists hypnosis by Medina's mother. ### [I Am Introduced to Strong Magic](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_three_hostages_se/chapters/ix-i-am-introduced-to-strong-magic) Hannay is deeply horrified by Medina's conversation with the mage, realizing Medina's true goal is to steal souls. He begins to formulate a plan to stop him, arranging for Archie Roylance to provide an aeroplane for a trip to Norway. ### [X: Confidences at a Wayside Inn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_three_hostages_se/chapters/x-confidences-at-a-wayside-inn) Hannay discusses Medina's character with Sandy, reveals his hatred for Medina, and outlines his plan to trail Dr. Newhover to the Skarso. ### [How a German Engineer Found Strange Fishing](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_three_hostages_se/chapters/xi-how-a-german-engineer-found-strange-fishing) Narrator and protagonist; conducts reconnaissance of Snaasen and travels to Merdal. ### [XII: I Return to Servitude](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_three_hostages_se/chapters/xii-i-return-to-servitude) Narrates the chapter; cares for Mercot, devises the plan for him to return to captivity, and coordinates with Gaudian. ### [XIII: I Visit the Fields of Eden](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_three_hostages_se/chapters/xiii-i-visit-the-fields-of-eden) Narrator and protagonist; he is watching Medina closely, anxious about the hostages, and discovers his wife Mary at a dance hall. ### [Sir Archibald Roylance Puts His Foot in It](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_three_hostages_se/chapters/xiv-sir-archibald-roylance-puts-his-foot-in-it) Receives Mary's alarm call, visits Archie in hospital, accepts Medina's invitation to stay at his house, and despairs over David Warcliff's fate. ### [XV: How a French Nobleman Discovered Fear](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_three_hostages_se/chapters/xv-how-a-french-nobleman-discovered-fear) Hannay is mentioned as the narrator who has heard Turpin's story twice and reflects on Turpin's character. ### [Our Time Is Narrowed](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_three_hostages_se/chapters/xvi-our-time-is-narrowed) Discovers Medina's diary sheets showing the changed date to June 2nd; becomes a prisoner in Medina's house; struggles to communicate with allies. ### [The Night of the First of June](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_three_hostages_se/chapters/xviii-the-night-of-the-first-of-june) Narrator, trapped in despair and under Medina's watch, receives a message from Mary via Greenslade and prepares for the night's crisis. ### [XIX: The Night of the First of June—Later](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_three_hostages_se/chapters/xix-the-night-of-the-first-of-june-later) Present throughout the confrontation, initially helpless but later supports Mary's ultimatum. ### [XX: Machray](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_three_hostages_se/chapters/xx-machray) Narrator and protagonist; writes to Medina offering silence in exchange for good behavior, then prepares to face Medina's revenge at Machray. ### [XXI: How I Stalked Wilder Game Than Deer](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_three_hostages_se/chapters/xxi-how-i-stalked-wilder-game-than-deer) Narrator and protagonist; stalks Medina on the mountain, loses his ammunition, and uses deer to mask his position. ### [I: 9 a.m. to 2:15 p.m.](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_three_hostages_se/chapters/i-9-a-m-to-2-15-p-m) Narrator and protagonist; goes stag hunting and deliberately seeks out Medina after a warning shot. ### [II: 2:15 p.m., to About 5 p.m.](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_three_hostages_se/chapters/ii-2-15-p-m-to-about-5-p-m) Narrator and protagonist; uses stalking tactics and terrain knowledge to confront Medina. ### [III: 5 p.m., to About 7:30 p.m.](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_three_hostages_se/chapters/iii-5-p-m-to-about-7-30-p-m) Narrator and protagonist; fleeing from Medina, climbing the Pinnacle Ridge, loses his rifle. ### [IV: 7:30 p.m. and Onwards](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_three_hostages_se/chapters/iv-7-30-p-m-and-onwards) Narrator and protagonist; wounded in hand, climbs chimney, attempts to save Medina but fails. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_three_hostages_se/characters/richard_hannay - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_three_hostages_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_three_hostages_se/characters