Description

"There are some melodies that should never be played, and some spirits that should never be awakened."

Young Sir John Maltravers is a man of refinement, wealth, and deep musical talent. But his life takes a dark turn during his time at Oxford when he discovers a hidden 1704 Stradivarius violin tucked away in a secret compartment in his rooms. Along with the instrument, he finds a mysterious piece of music—a Gagliarda by the composer Pogliari. As John becomes increasingly obsessed with the violin's otherworldly tone, he begins to change, falling under the influence of the ghost of Adrian Temple, a debauched ancestor who once owned the instrument. From the halls of England to the sun-drenched, sinister villas of Naples, John descends into a spiral of moral decay and supernatural terror.

The Power of the Forbidden: Falkner explores the idea that art is not always benign. The Gagliarda acts as a ritualistic bridge, allowing the spirit of the hedonistic Adrian Temple to possess the living. The novel serves as a chilling warning about the dangers of aestheticism when it is divorced from morality.

A Masterclass in Atmosphere: While Moonfleet is a story of action, The Lost Stradivarius is a story of mood. Falkner uses the imagery of flickering candles, dusty manuscripts, and the "thin, piping" sound of the violin to create a sense of mounting dread. It is a classic "ghost story" in the tradition of M.R. James, where the horror is suggested as much as it is shown.

Ancestral Curses and Secret Lives: As John's family watches him wither away, they uncover the secret history of Adrian Temple—a man who sought forbidden knowledge and pagan mysteries. The novel builds to a heart-stopping climax where the past literally reaches out to claim the present.

Listen to the music of the shadows. Purchase "The Lost Stradivarius" today and discover the price of perfection.