John Meade Falkner was not a full time professional writer. In fact, during the First World War he became chairman of Armstrong Whitworth, the huge British arms manufacturer responsible for the construction of airplanes, cars, ships and more. Although he wrote some non-fiction (mostly travel guides), Falkner is primarily remembered for his classic of adventure fiction, the often dramatised 'Moonfleet'. Set in mid-eighteenth century England, the novel is a grippingly told smuggling tale that is now regarded as a classic. 'Moonfleet' is joined in this unique Leonaur edition by Falkner's two other novels. Aficionados of the ghostly tale will find much to reward them in the pages of the 'Lost Stradivarius'. Lauded as the novel that could potentially have been written by the master of the literary supernatural short story, M.R. James, the plot centres around the violin of the title which is said to conjure the spirit of its former owner. 'The Nebuly Coat' is another gripping mystery set in Dorset, in which young architect Edward Westray, the principal character, must unravel the secrets of the suspicious Blandamers, whose coat of arms features the 'nebuly'-a distinctive heraldic band device. This three-in-one Leonaur edition provides an excellent opportunity for both enthusiasts and newcomers to Falkner's work to read or reread his highly regarded novels in a single satisfying and substantial volume.
Leonaur editions are newly typeset and are not facsimiles; each title is available in softcover and hardback with dustjacket.