Moonfleet by J. Meade Falkner

Thursday 13 September 2007
by  Loïc P
popularity : 8%

Blackbeard’s diamond : it is the treasure that John Trenchard, a teenager in Mohunefleet village and Elzevir Block, contrabandier and ex-inn keeper search for. This quest turns them into criminals and makes them travel through Europe. Will they be able to locate and obtain the treasure with Blackbeard’s precious clues? Will they be able to again " see the cliffs of Dover on the lee : tip the signal to the Swan" or will they perish at "Ymeguen"? Will they become rich and will John marry Grace Maskew?

This classic is written in a language understandable by all (at least 4° students) and the plot is captivating. Moonfleet kept me reading late into many nights despite a dull opening. J. Meade Falkner manages to show the life of those whose heads are priced in the XVIIIth century in a catchy classic that isn’t alien to modern day literature. If you don’t like classics but need to read one, chose Moonfleet.


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Sunday 30 December 2007 agrave 10h04, by  (^°^)

Could you ever possibly resist the temptation of a bright, red, walnut-like crystal curdled in your palm? "But all that glisters is not gold" by Shakespeare.

Although aware of the dangers, John Trenchard, young adult of our age, devotes his life in the long search of subtle secrets that lead him on the path of this cursed treasure; belonging to the powerful Mohune family that once had control of the island of Moonfleet. But, drawn into the dangerous, secretive world of smugglers it is not long before he and Elzevir Block (John’s "father") are forced to flee. Nevertheless, the inseparables soon track down the diamond and discover this cursed beauty, and also gain a fantastic sum of 70 pounds (a lot in those days!) pinned to their heads ’dead or alive’. But it won’t be their only mishaps of the day. Conned out of the gem by a filthy diamond-buyer, the two end up spying on the bugger, matching their "sham" with a dozen others of his own, "thrice as small as mine". For John it seems as if the curse of the diamond is always with him and will be for as many years before he returns to Moonfleet; although fate has a final hand to play.

This superb story with its themes of adventure and its gripping story line captivates the reader’s attention and engages their emotion through suspense, mystery and surprise. Its simple and realistic style, unfolding plots, and suspense is everything to make this story the perfect ’first classic’ for everyone. So don’t be prepared for a deception.

Alex M