"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.
