The Lost Stradivarius


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(3.8 stars; 11 reviews)

The Lost Stradivarius (1895), by J. Meade Falkner, is a short novel of ghosts and the evil that can be invested in an object, in this case an extremely fine Stradivarius violin. After finding the violin of the title in a hidden compartment in his college rooms, the protagonist, a wealthy young heir, becomes increasingly secretive as well as obsessed by a particular piece of music, which seems to have the power to call up the ghost of its previous owner. Roaming from England to Italy, the story involves family love, lordly depravity, and the tragedy of obsession (Summary by Wikipedia) (5 hr 19 min)

Chapters

Introduction 4:34 Read by Clarica
Chapter 1 12:14 Read by Karen Savage
Chapter 2 6:49 Read by Karen Savage
Chapter 3 20:32 Read by Maire Rhode
Chapter 4 12:14 Read by Maire Rhode
Chapter 5 8:34 Read by Tamara Hamilton
Chapter 6 9:49 Read by Tamara Hamilton
Chapter 7 25:28 Read by Laura Koskinen
Chapter 8 29:49 Read by Ralph Snelson
Chapter 9 19:56 Read by Ralph Snelson
Chapter 10 25:12 Read by Ralph Snelson
Chapter 11 19:16 Read by Ralph Snelson
Chapter 12 16:37 Read by Ralph Snelson
Chapter 13 11:48 Read by J. M. Smallheer
Chapter 14 13:27 Read by J. M. Smallheer
Chapter 15 27:08 Read by Ralph Snelson
Mr. Gaskell's Note 55:47 Read by Ralph Snelson

Reviews

Music and the soul


(4 stars)

This is an intriguing story which, at its heart, is about the power of music as an expression of, and influence upon, our deepest selves. I wondered at times whether it might have been a source of inspiration for the movie "The Red Violin" since the book and the movie share a number of concepts although the story lines are quite different. Serviceably-read by a number of different readers. Thank you for introducing me to this interesting author!

Bizarre tale with suspect motives


(1 stars)

investigate neoplatonism as regards the era of Falkner...never should a novel be taken as a reflection of the authors background (antecedents, as they were called,) yet this strange tale coincides with a change in the life and surroundings of Falkner. ah well...