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Moonfleet
Everyone in the tiny village of Moonfleet lives by the sea one way or another, so it's no surprise when young John Trenchard gets involved in the smuggling trade. Forced to flee England with a price on his head, John little guesses the adventures and trials he will have before he sees Moonfleet again or the change in his fortunes when he does.
195 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1898
499 people are currently reading
5913 people want to read
About the author
John Meade Falkner
138 books60 followersJohn Meade Falkner, the son of a country cleryman, was born in 1858. After taking his degree at Oxford, he went to Newcastle-upon-Tyne as a private tutor to the sons of Andrew Noble. When they had grown up he stayed on with the family, and entered the firm where Sir Andrew worked. He travelled a great deal for the firm, particularly to the Balkans, helping to export warships and armaments, for which he received many decorations from appreciative foreign governments.
Meade Falkner was a great collector of books, and an expert palaeographer - he even received a medal from the Pope for this. He was a benefactor to libraries, not only in England, but also to the Vatican library in Rome. He loved the small Cotswold town of Burford which it was said of in 1970 that it owed its then present state of preservation to his generosity. He was buried in its churchyard after his death in 1932.
He published guide books, historical essays, and some poetry, but his best work was in his novels. He wrote four, but only published three as he lost one while on a train. Of these, Moonfleet, his best adventure story, was made into a feature film.
Meade Falkner was a great collector of books, and an expert palaeographer - he even received a medal from the Pope for this. He was a benefactor to libraries, not only in England, but also to the Vatican library in Rome. He loved the small Cotswold town of Burford which it was said of in 1970 that it owed its then present state of preservation to his generosity. He was buried in its churchyard after his death in 1932.
He published guide books, historical essays, and some poetry, but his best work was in his novels. He wrote four, but only published three as he lost one while on a train. Of these, Moonfleet, his best adventure story, was made into a feature film.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 581 reviews
May 25, 2012
A Blast from the Past
Number me among the many who read this book in grade school back in the late 60's or 70's and the name stuck with me through the years.
Later as an adult, I returned to this book to read it anew and experience the magic again.
Yes, this is book designed for the younger reader. But as is the case with most well written books, all ages will find something to take away. Treasure Island, Kidnapped etc. are all of the same genre, but what makes Moonfleet unique is the tight identification of the young protagonist John Trenchard and the first person telling which brings the reader into seeing and experiencing it though his eyes.
For a book published in 1898 and set in 1757 and following, that youth in the 60's would find it so fascinating and real is a testament to the talent of Falkner.
Timeless. Engaging. Intriguing. Fantastic!
Did I mention that I like it and recommend it heartily?
Number me among the many who read this book in grade school back in the late 60's or 70's and the name stuck with me through the years.
Later as an adult, I returned to this book to read it anew and experience the magic again.
Yes, this is book designed for the younger reader. But as is the case with most well written books, all ages will find something to take away. Treasure Island, Kidnapped etc. are all of the same genre, but what makes Moonfleet unique is the tight identification of the young protagonist John Trenchard and the first person telling which brings the reader into seeing and experiencing it though his eyes.
For a book published in 1898 and set in 1757 and following, that youth in the 60's would find it so fascinating and real is a testament to the talent of Falkner.
Timeless. Engaging. Intriguing. Fantastic!
Did I mention that I like it and recommend it heartily?
May 28, 2025
MOONFLEET is one of only two novels on the list of books which I was assigned in high school English that I read and actually enjoyed (the other one was HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES). And what's more, I was thrilled to discover that it held up and was equally enjoyable when I re-read it more than 50 years later as a confirmed eclectic and avid senior reader. How good is that?
Read
September 28, 2019This is billed as an adventure story for younger readers.
One evening in March, when the days were lengthening fast, there came a messenger from Dorchester, and brought printed noticed for fixing to the shutters of the Why Not and the church door, which said that in a week's time a bailiff of the duchy of Cornwall would visit Moonfleet. This bailiff was an important person, and his visits stood as events in village history. Once in five years he made a perambulation, or journey, through the whole duchy, inspecting all royal properties, and arranging for new leases. His visits to Moonfleet were usually short enough, for owing to the Mohunes owning all the land, the only duchy estate there was the Why Not, and the only duty of the bailiff to renew that five-year lease under which the Blocks had held the inn, father and son, for generations. But for all that, the business was not performed without ceremony, for there was a solemn show of putting up the lease of the inn to the highest bidder, though it was well understood that no one except Elzevir would make an offer.
I was actually *more* patient with convoluted, old-fashioned prose when I was a kid than I am now, but I would have not finished this book. The friend who gave it to me read it at eight and only remembers how dull it was.
The main character, John, is weirdly lacking in personality, too. He's a little bit greedy, but not enough to be a serious character defect -- he doesn't have a family or great prospects, and who doesn't want to find a pirate treasure when they're 15? He doesn't have any friends, seemingly by choice. He isn't attached to the aunt with whom he lives; he seems to merely appreciate rather than care about adults who are kind to him. He likes a girl, and looking at the sea. There's just not a lot there to make me care about him.
Suckered by a neat title yet again. DNFing yet again.
One evening in March, when the days were lengthening fast, there came a messenger from Dorchester, and brought printed noticed for fixing to the shutters of the Why Not and the church door, which said that in a week's time a bailiff of the duchy of Cornwall would visit Moonfleet. This bailiff was an important person, and his visits stood as events in village history. Once in five years he made a perambulation, or journey, through the whole duchy, inspecting all royal properties, and arranging for new leases. His visits to Moonfleet were usually short enough, for owing to the Mohunes owning all the land, the only duchy estate there was the Why Not, and the only duty of the bailiff to renew that five-year lease under which the Blocks had held the inn, father and son, for generations. But for all that, the business was not performed without ceremony, for there was a solemn show of putting up the lease of the inn to the highest bidder, though it was well understood that no one except Elzevir would make an offer.
I was actually *more* patient with convoluted, old-fashioned prose when I was a kid than I am now, but I would have not finished this book. The friend who gave it to me read it at eight and only remembers how dull it was.
The main character, John, is weirdly lacking in personality, too. He's a little bit greedy, but not enough to be a serious character defect -- he doesn't have a family or great prospects, and who doesn't want to find a pirate treasure when they're 15? He doesn't have any friends, seemingly by choice. He isn't attached to the aunt with whom he lives; he seems to merely appreciate rather than care about adults who are kind to him. He likes a girl, and looking at the sea. There's just not a lot there to make me care about him.
Suckered by a neat title yet again. DNFing yet again.
June 24, 2023
4.5 stars
A captivating, and suspenseful tale of swashbuckling adventure! I loved this book.
Through this literary gem, Falkner keeps you on the edge of your seats and effortlessly transports you to mysterious seascapes. In this review I would not share any quotes or details of the plot. Oh, the joy to read it for the first time!
Each chapter starts by building up a suspense or some thrill, like a microcosm of the whole story. That either reaches its conclusion or becomes a cliffhanger, by the end of the chapter.
Falkner gives you anticipation of events to come, pages in advance. It makes the experience even more intriguing. This suspenseful narrative masterfully unfolds, leaving one on the edge of anticipation, eagerly turning each page to unravel the mysteries that lie within.
With its enchanting prose and evocative storytelling, this timeless classic weaves a captivating tapestry of adventure, loyalty, and the pursuit of hidden truths.
These tales of adventures, set at seaside with myths and legends of buried treasures are strangely nostalgic, taking us on a journey back in time, immersing us in an era of smugglers and clandestine codes.
In terms of character development, true and selfless friendship is at the core of this book. Yes, this book is thrilling and enthralling from beginning to the end. But apart from that the prose is eloquent and has its poignant moments. It explores themes of loyalty, honor, and the indomitable spirit that resides within us, resonating with readers long after the final page is turned. The characters are well developed.
There is a reason this book is a classic and has stood the test of time!
Highly recommended.
PS: Unrelated but found an impactful Browning quote at the beginning of one chapter in this book.
How he lies in his rights of a man!
Death has done all death can
A captivating, and suspenseful tale of swashbuckling adventure! I loved this book.
Through this literary gem, Falkner keeps you on the edge of your seats and effortlessly transports you to mysterious seascapes. In this review I would not share any quotes or details of the plot. Oh, the joy to read it for the first time!
Each chapter starts by building up a suspense or some thrill, like a microcosm of the whole story. That either reaches its conclusion or becomes a cliffhanger, by the end of the chapter.
Falkner gives you anticipation of events to come, pages in advance. It makes the experience even more intriguing. This suspenseful narrative masterfully unfolds, leaving one on the edge of anticipation, eagerly turning each page to unravel the mysteries that lie within.
With its enchanting prose and evocative storytelling, this timeless classic weaves a captivating tapestry of adventure, loyalty, and the pursuit of hidden truths.
These tales of adventures, set at seaside with myths and legends of buried treasures are strangely nostalgic, taking us on a journey back in time, immersing us in an era of smugglers and clandestine codes.
In terms of character development, true and selfless friendship is at the core of this book. Yes, this book is thrilling and enthralling from beginning to the end. But apart from that the prose is eloquent and has its poignant moments. It explores themes of loyalty, honor, and the indomitable spirit that resides within us, resonating with readers long after the final page is turned. The characters are well developed.
There is a reason this book is a classic and has stood the test of time!
Highly recommended.
PS: Unrelated but found an impactful Browning quote at the beginning of one chapter in this book.
How he lies in his rights of a man!
Death has done all death can
June 14, 2023
4.5/5
Novela catalogada como juvenil donde un huérfano descubre una información en la tumba Barbanegra para hacerse con un diamante que Barbanegra le robó a Carlos I pero se entera del hallazgo el magistrado local para hacerse con el botín antes que el joven, con tan mala suerte que este magistrado es el padre de la joven de la que está enamorado el protagonista.
Novela clásica de aventuras que no le falta de nada, súper interesante y muy recomendable
Tenéis una breve reseña aquí:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wsI5d...
Novela catalogada como juvenil donde un huérfano descubre una información en la tumba Barbanegra para hacerse con un diamante que Barbanegra le robó a Carlos I pero se entera del hallazgo el magistrado local para hacerse con el botín antes que el joven, con tan mala suerte que este magistrado es el padre de la joven de la que está enamorado el protagonista.
Novela clásica de aventuras que no le falta de nada, súper interesante y muy recomendable
Tenéis una breve reseña aquí:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wsI5d...
May 20, 2023
If you never read this adventure tale as a kid, read it now. It's as good for adults as for kids. I am not into tales of adventure, and still I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Thanks, Cleo and Rosemarie for encouraging me to pick this up.
Read and discussed with Gundula--see comments below. You and I always have fun discussing books. Thank you for the shared experience.
This book surprised me. Adventure tales are usually not my cup of tea. This story grabbed me and did not let me go.
How is this achieved?
The prose is excellent. This has got to be the primary explanation!
Stories set by the sea attract me. Here we see the wind tearing at the trees during a storm, hear the rumble of the stones pulled by the undertow and smell the salt in the air. The story is set along the Dorset coastline of southwestern England near St. Alban’s Head. Events begin in the year 1757. The book’s written about a century and a half later.
That I am drawn by excellent writing depicting seascapes is not surprising. What is unusual and surprising is the author’s ability to make plot events exciting and captivating to me. There are episodes that frighten the reader so we hold our breath in suspense—for example, crawling along a foot wide chalk path on a cliff with the sea thundering below. Making the situation even worse, John, the fifteen-year-old central character ! This is but one example, but there are many! The prose, the author’s choice of words, puts the reader beside the protagonists! You are there. You are as frightened as John is. He doesn’t give up. What does this say about the boy?! And, what does this say about the relationship between the boy and the man he’s with?
The relationship between characters comes alive. A central theme is the value of friendship. We watch as friendships deepen and grow. The story is a coming of age tale. We follow what happens to John for ten years. He matures. Life shapes him. His character is molded by what happens to him.
The story is well told. The story has elements of mystery, adventure, life-threatening events, treasure hunting, smuggling and love. Underlying all, we observe character building and philosophical underpinnings related to what is important in life.
Peter Joyce narrates the audiobook. His voice reflects each character’s personality well. He dramatizes a bit, but not too much. I do not like how the recoding has music between chapters. They want us to believe we are at the movies…… The author’s words are what interest me, not side effects. I don’t like the audio’s production, but the narration itself is worth four stars.
The question now is if I should read more by the author? Has anybody read The Lost Stradivarius? Is it as good? Please advise me. ETA: It seems it’s Gothic in style and of the horror genre, so very different from Moonfleet!
This was exciting and in fact a very good read. The best classics fit both kids and adults!
**************
*Moonfleet 4 stars
*The Lost Stradivarius TBR
Thanks, Cleo and Rosemarie for encouraging me to pick this up.
Read and discussed with Gundula--see comments below. You and I always have fun discussing books. Thank you for the shared experience.
This book surprised me. Adventure tales are usually not my cup of tea. This story grabbed me and did not let me go.
How is this achieved?
The prose is excellent. This has got to be the primary explanation!
Stories set by the sea attract me. Here we see the wind tearing at the trees during a storm, hear the rumble of the stones pulled by the undertow and smell the salt in the air. The story is set along the Dorset coastline of southwestern England near St. Alban’s Head. Events begin in the year 1757. The book’s written about a century and a half later.
That I am drawn by excellent writing depicting seascapes is not surprising. What is unusual and surprising is the author’s ability to make plot events exciting and captivating to me. There are episodes that frighten the reader so we hold our breath in suspense—for example, crawling along a foot wide chalk path on a cliff with the sea thundering below. Making the situation even worse, John, the fifteen-year-old central character ! This is but one example, but there are many! The prose, the author’s choice of words, puts the reader beside the protagonists! You are there. You are as frightened as John is. He doesn’t give up. What does this say about the boy?! And, what does this say about the relationship between the boy and the man he’s with?
The relationship between characters comes alive. A central theme is the value of friendship. We watch as friendships deepen and grow. The story is a coming of age tale. We follow what happens to John for ten years. He matures. Life shapes him. His character is molded by what happens to him.
The story is well told. The story has elements of mystery, adventure, life-threatening events, treasure hunting, smuggling and love. Underlying all, we observe character building and philosophical underpinnings related to what is important in life.
Peter Joyce narrates the audiobook. His voice reflects each character’s personality well. He dramatizes a bit, but not too much. I do not like how the recoding has music between chapters. They want us to believe we are at the movies…… The author’s words are what interest me, not side effects. I don’t like the audio’s production, but the narration itself is worth four stars.
The question now is if I should read more by the author? Has anybody read The Lost Stradivarius? Is it as good? Please advise me. ETA: It seems it’s Gothic in style and of the horror genre, so very different from Moonfleet!
This was exciting and in fact a very good read. The best classics fit both kids and adults!
**************
*Moonfleet 4 stars
*The Lost Stradivarius TBR
May 5, 2019
As in life, so in a game of hazard, skill will make something of the worst of throws
A fine story of coming of age and treasure hunt starting from a village of smugglers in Southern England steeped in local tales and legends.
Maybe the twists and turns in the second half are overdone and far-fetched but it spoils nothing of the fun of taking part in this marvelous treasure hunt!
Matching Soundtrack :
Isabeau s'y promène ("Je fis une rencontre") - Traditional Song in Quebec
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QuE0M...
-------------------------
"Dans la vie, comme dans un jeu de hasard, l'habile tirera toujours quelque chose du pire coup de dés"
Une belle histoire de passage à l'âge adulte et de chasse au trésor qui part d'un petit village de contrebandiers dans le sud de l'Angleterre.
Les rebondissements qui s'enchaînent à partir de la seconde moitié sont sûrement invraisemblables, mais ça n'enlève rien au plaisir de prendre part à cette fantastique chasse au trésor !
Musique folklorique :
Isabeau s'y promène ("Je fis une rencontre") - Traditional Song in Quebec
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QuE0M...
A fine story of coming of age and treasure hunt starting from a village of smugglers in Southern England steeped in local tales and legends.
Maybe the twists and turns in the second half are overdone and far-fetched but it spoils nothing of the fun of taking part in this marvelous treasure hunt!
Matching Soundtrack :
Isabeau s'y promène ("Je fis une rencontre") - Traditional Song in Quebec
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QuE0M...
-------------------------
"Dans la vie, comme dans un jeu de hasard, l'habile tirera toujours quelque chose du pire coup de dés"
Une belle histoire de passage à l'âge adulte et de chasse au trésor qui part d'un petit village de contrebandiers dans le sud de l'Angleterre.
Les rebondissements qui s'enchaînent à partir de la seconde moitié sont sûrement invraisemblables, mais ça n'enlève rien au plaisir de prendre part à cette fantastique chasse au trésor !
Musique folklorique :
Isabeau s'y promène ("Je fis une rencontre") - Traditional Song in Quebec
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QuE0M...
September 5, 2018
I began reading this book aged I think about 12 , whilst on the train with my father for a trip to London, l was totally engrossed in it and could not put it down . Unfortunately a few days later as we travelled across one of the bridges crossing the Thames on our way to the Science museum in a red double decker bus , I was downstairs seated near the open door at the back, reading with the book open on my lap , when to my great distress a gust of wind blew the book out of my hands and out of the bus ! Dad & I got off at the next stop and went in search for it , but alas we were unable to find it ! I remember that I had been fairly close to finishing it and was frustrated that I did not find out how the story ended . Dad promised to buy me another copy, but for whatever reason this never happened. However roll on another 48 years to find that at least my sorry little tale does have a happy ending
Whilst on a break in the Lakes with my wife , daughter , son in law and my 1st incubating grandchild , we visited a cracking second hand bookshop in Kendal which we had , previously been to before, and low and behold there to my great delight on the well stocked shelves was my old friend . I am now finally a happy man looking forward with great anticipation to re reading my long lost travelling companion , but this time I will hold onto it very tightly ..... right to the very end.
Whilst on a break in the Lakes with my wife , daughter , son in law and my 1st incubating grandchild , we visited a cracking second hand bookshop in Kendal which we had , previously been to before, and low and behold there to my great delight on the well stocked shelves was my old friend . I am now finally a happy man looking forward with great anticipation to re reading my long lost travelling companion , but this time I will hold onto it very tightly ..... right to the very end.
May 31, 2023
I am not generally all that much a fan of treasure hunting or piracy types of adventure stories (and yes, this would definitely also be including smuggling as a theme, since smuggling is for me totally and utterly a form of piracy). Because and to be brutally honest, for me with treasure hunting, with piracy, and with in fact the majority of adventure types of tales, far too often, thematics and contents seem to focus too much and too heavily on events, on what is happening, on specific external plot elements and not at all sufficiently on questions of writing style, on description, milieu and background. However, John Meade Falkner's 1898 novel Moonfleet is rather a shining and glowing exception for me (and definitely rises above most adventure stories I have read to date). For yes and indeed, Falkner's sense of time (the 18th century) and geographic place (Dorset, England and seaside smuggling escapades), they are superbly rendered in Moonfleet, they are beautifully and authentically, believably penned and with so much written magic and observational power of description shown by the author, by John Meade Falkner (and by extension of course and equally by his youthful first person narrator and main protagonist John Trenchard) that the necessary for adventure books elements of skulduggery, smuggling, hidden treasure, greed, treachery, and of course true love (all the ingredients for a good yarn to be sure, but also potentially annoying for someone who is not an adventure tale buff, like myself), well, with both my adult self and also my inner child totally adoring the descriptive magic of Moonfleet, I am almost able to forget that I personally do not really enjoy stories with adventure and piracy/smuggling themes and that my reading experience with Moonfleet has definitely been one of major descriptive joy, that even the exciting and tense plot elements I would usually not find all that engaging and all that readable theme-wise, they have been made both readable and also quite delightfully enjoyable by John Meade Falker's simply wonderful and magical descriptions and how Falkner sets up the scenes and shows the land and the seascapes etc. of 18th century Dorset England in Moonfleet.
And while I pretty much raced through Moonfleet really quickly last night and early this morning, and am already kind of forgetting many specifics of plot, yes, my memories of John Meade Falkner's delightful and gorgeous writing style and of his (and main character John Trenchard's) atmospheric descriptions of both the land and the sea, these all and sundry will definitely remain with me and will linger in my memory long after everything else regarding Moonfleet has dwindled and faded. So most definitely, a very solid four star rating with regard to descriptiveness for Moonfleet (and a story that I found exciting enough in general and also quite nicely readable, but equally like almost all adventure tales rather quickly forgettable, but with landscape, with the author's brilliant sense of time and place making Moonfleet totally marvellous and memorable for me, and yes, even with contents and thematics I generally rather do dislike for my reading materials, and with any dated elements regarding gender and class structure due to the 1898 publication date of Moonfleet also not at all negatively influencing my adoration of description and John Meade Falkner's penmanship).
And while I pretty much raced through Moonfleet really quickly last night and early this morning, and am already kind of forgetting many specifics of plot, yes, my memories of John Meade Falkner's delightful and gorgeous writing style and of his (and main character John Trenchard's) atmospheric descriptions of both the land and the sea, these all and sundry will definitely remain with me and will linger in my memory long after everything else regarding Moonfleet has dwindled and faded. So most definitely, a very solid four star rating with regard to descriptiveness for Moonfleet (and a story that I found exciting enough in general and also quite nicely readable, but equally like almost all adventure tales rather quickly forgettable, but with landscape, with the author's brilliant sense of time and place making Moonfleet totally marvellous and memorable for me, and yes, even with contents and thematics I generally rather do dislike for my reading materials, and with any dated elements regarding gender and class structure due to the 1898 publication date of Moonfleet also not at all negatively influencing my adoration of description and John Meade Falkner's penmanship).
October 10, 2021
Ιδανικό για τις τελευταίες βροχερές μέρες που ταιριάζουν και με το κλίμα του βιβλίου.
Λίγο παλιομοδίτικο, γράφτηκε το 1898 άλλωστε, πολύ ατμοσφαιρικό, μια εφηβική περιπέτεια με λαθρέμπορους, κρυμμένους θησαυρούς, κατάρες, σκοτεινά νεκροταφεία, μια δυνατή φιλία, έναν μεγάλο έρωτα κι ενα φαντασμα.
Διασκεδαστικό, συγκινητικό και λίγο creepy, μου άρεσε πάρα πολύ.
Λίγο παλιομοδίτικο, γράφτηκε το 1898 άλλωστε, πολύ ατμοσφαιρικό, μια εφηβική περιπέτεια με λαθρέμπορους, κρυμμένους θησαυρούς, κατάρες, σκοτεινά νεκροταφεία, μια δυνατή φιλία, έναν μεγάλο έρωτα κι ενα φαντασμα.
Διασκεδαστικό, συγκινητικό και λίγο creepy, μου άρεσε πάρα πολύ.
Read
November 16, 2025Pre-read: smugglers and blackbeards treasure, all included.
September 19, 2019
إنها واحدة من روايات الأدب الانجليزي للناشئين ، تم نشرها في اواخر القرن التاسع عشر ، احداثها تنطلق من احدى القرى الانجليزية في عام ١٧٥٧ ..
ان الفتى "جون" يبحث عن تلك الجوهرة الثمينة وبعد رحلة طويلة وشاقة سيعثر عليها ولكنها تسبب التعاسة والشقاء لمن يمتلكها ، فهل يتخلى عنها ويدعها تذهب الى حال سبيلها ؟ ...
هذه القصة ممتعة بالرغم من ان احداثها تكاد تخلو من العاطفة ، ولم يُدهشني بالطبع النهاية مفرطة السعادة التي كانت بانتظاري ، ولكن الم يسبق لي وقد قلت بأن الحياة محبطة وعلى الأطفال ان يدركوا ذلك مبكراً ....
ان الفتى "جون" يبحث عن تلك الجوهرة الثمينة وبعد رحلة طويلة وشاقة سيعثر عليها ولكنها تسبب التعاسة والشقاء لمن يمتلكها ، فهل يتخلى عنها ويدعها تذهب الى حال سبيلها ؟ ...
هذه القصة ممتعة بالرغم من ان احداثها تكاد تخلو من العاطفة ، ولم يُدهشني بالطبع النهاية مفرطة السعادة التي كانت بانتظاري ، ولكن الم يسبق لي وقد قلت بأن الحياة محبطة وعلى الأطفال ان يدركوا ذلك مبكراً ....
September 7, 2010
This is one of the best books I have ever read and the best book I have read in a very long time. It is an absolute treasure. Because it does not float to the top of the list for classics, it is easily missed, but I would put it up there with Treasure Island. It had me in its grip from start to finish (and I rarely experience that anymore). Wonderful setting, themes, characters. An adventure with a heart-wrenching message about life, love, and the pursuit of fortune. A must read!
October 6, 2025
4.5. My girlfriend and I have been sick for days, so as we have been taking turns making tea and passing tissues to each other, I decided to finally embark on one of her favourite novels. I like an adventure novel from time to time, though I find they often lack a certain emotional depth, instead favouring thrills and twists of the plot, but I found Moonfleet to have an abundance of both. Indeed, tonight, after finishing, my girlfriend asked me to read the final paragraph aloud. So, I took up the book and read it again, aloud, and found myself quite moved by it. As I grow older, though I understand I am still quite young, I realise I am favouring the simplicity of these 19th century tales. I've had my fair share of snarky, overly indulgent and intelligent novels, but now there is something so comforting and so rewarding about reading a book like this; it gives you what you expect and what you hope to get. There is a kind of order to it, unlike the chaotic and unpredictable postmodern novels I was once more enamoured with. Closing Moonfleet I felt equal parts content, sad and hopeful.
May 8, 2016
Smugglers, betrayal, murder, love, avarice, it would be difficult to say what Falkner’s late 18th Century tale of adventure doesn’t have. In my opinion Moonfleet equals Stevenson’s or Twain’s works although it’s never quite received the same recognition.
As with Jim Hawkins or Huck Finn, the tale’s main character and first person narrator, is a young boy, John Trenchard, yet I would argue that in terms of characterisation Falkner’s work is superior to these two other works, for the maturational journey from naïve youth to guilt ridden and almost broken adulthood is expertly handled. In contrast to the YA, boy’s own adventure scenes earlier on, the last third is incredibly emotive, especially the final shipwreck scene and Elzevir Block.
Chance is a recurring theme in the novel (symbolised as the role of dice in a backgammon game), as is self-resilience and these two elements are juxtaposed throughout as Trenchard’s fate rises then falls dramatically until its seems utterly hopeless.
No spoilers here though, you should read this one for yourself.
As with Jim Hawkins or Huck Finn, the tale’s main character and first person narrator, is a young boy, John Trenchard, yet I would argue that in terms of characterisation Falkner’s work is superior to these two other works, for the maturational journey from naïve youth to guilt ridden and almost broken adulthood is expertly handled. In contrast to the YA, boy’s own adventure scenes earlier on, the last third is incredibly emotive, especially the final shipwreck scene and Elzevir Block.
Chance is a recurring theme in the novel (symbolised as the role of dice in a backgammon game), as is self-resilience and these two elements are juxtaposed throughout as Trenchard’s fate rises then falls dramatically until its seems utterly hopeless.
No spoilers here though, you should read this one for yourself.
March 19, 2023
this book is an absolute British classic ever ! very charming, calm and easy to read.
loneliness, adventure, reliability, theft, betrayal, freedom
John, you will wander on the sea, and may perhaps put into Moonfleet. Though you have not been here of late, I have kept a candle burning at the window every night, as in the past. So, if you come to beach on any night you will see that light, and know Grace remembers you. And if you see it not, then know what I am dead or gone, for I will think of you every night till you come back again
I have to say, the illustration cover of the book is amazing and Wordsworth really choose one of the best artist (also one of my favourites) August Ro 🌞
it's year 17something and 15-year-old John has decided to find an old local Moonfleet treasure, a diamond that the town founder had hidden a long time ago. He's a boy without parents, with an adventuresome heart, with only one girl in his mind.
The story is well written and bonds with your heart and mind. I really couldn't get it off my head. The book has, I should say, really romantic quotes and I heard somewhere that it didn't get much attention from the public in becoming a real British classic. It's more like only a few people heard about it.
loneliness, adventure, reliability, theft, betrayal, freedom
John, you will wander on the sea, and may perhaps put into Moonfleet. Though you have not been here of late, I have kept a candle burning at the window every night, as in the past. So, if you come to beach on any night you will see that light, and know Grace remembers you. And if you see it not, then know what I am dead or gone, for I will think of you every night till you come back again
I have to say, the illustration cover of the book is amazing and Wordsworth really choose one of the best artist (also one of my favourites) August Ro 🌞
it's year 17something and 15-year-old John has decided to find an old local Moonfleet treasure, a diamond that the town founder had hidden a long time ago. He's a boy without parents, with an adventuresome heart, with only one girl in his mind.
The story is well written and bonds with your heart and mind. I really couldn't get it off my head. The book has, I should say, really romantic quotes and I heard somewhere that it didn't get much attention from the public in becoming a real British classic. It's more like only a few people heard about it.
April 28, 2022
Cor, absolutely wonderful storytelling!
I have the 1964 Puffin paperback version, priced then at three and sixpence, the paper now yellowing with age but still in good condition.
The original was published in 1898, nine years before my old dad was born in India. He’s been gone many a year now, so sadly I can’t ask him, but I wonder if he ever thrilled to it, as I did? On the frontispiece, it recommends (in 1964!) the story ‘for all readers from 9 upwards, especially boys’, so it would have been bang on then!
I have the 1964 Puffin paperback version, priced then at three and sixpence, the paper now yellowing with age but still in good condition.
The original was published in 1898, nine years before my old dad was born in India. He’s been gone many a year now, so sadly I can’t ask him, but I wonder if he ever thrilled to it, as I did? On the frontispiece, it recommends (in 1964!) the story ‘for all readers from 9 upwards, especially boys’, so it would have been bang on then!
March 20, 2015
This is probably the best YA book I have ever read. Only a few others were as good as this one was. After all, What can be better than Floating Coffins in a small village called
Moonfleet
with smugglers Galore, hairbreadth escapes on cliff paths which zigzag up in an alarming manner and a lost diamond?
John was wholly believable and likable, even if I did want to shake him till his teeth rattled. His substitute Father I liked better. He may have been a smuggler but he was a sight better then the rest of the men in this book. Who would have thought there could be a good smuggler, one who wasn't out to wring everyone's neck? It was wonderful to read a YA book that was not stereotyped.
I loved this book enough to reread it right now. And that ending! Oh, talk about shivers down your spine! Breathtakingly beautiful. I'm at a loss for words.
John was wholly believable and likable, even if I did want to shake him till his teeth rattled. His substitute Father I liked better. He may have been a smuggler but he was a sight better then the rest of the men in this book. Who would have thought there could be a good smuggler, one who wasn't out to wring everyone's neck? It was wonderful to read a YA book that was not stereotyped.
I loved this book enough to reread it right now. And that ending! Oh, talk about shivers down your spine! Breathtakingly beautiful. I'm at a loss for words.
March 6, 2011
How I loved this book. I had never heard of it growing up but recently found a most intriguing blog post, which speaks to the power of a good book review. When a grown woman recommends a boy's adventure story, it bears looking into.
I haven't read Robert Louis Stevenson so can't say whether it is Treasure Island-lite (as another reviewer noted, I also expected pirates and found none, though there are smugglers, shipwrecks, and hidden treasure), but the imagery is beautiful, the language is evocative, and the characters are moving.
Here is the blog post that led me to read it:
http://www.annesage.com/blog/2008/12/...
I haven't read Robert Louis Stevenson so can't say whether it is Treasure Island-lite (as another reviewer noted, I also expected pirates and found none, though there are smugglers, shipwrecks, and hidden treasure), but the imagery is beautiful, the language is evocative, and the characters are moving.
Here is the blog post that led me to read it:
http://www.annesage.com/blog/2008/12/...
July 31, 2016
The first sixteen chapters of this nineteen chapter novel belong to a near perfect adventure story. After that, unfortunately, things get a little murky and overstated, but the ending is satisfying in its own quite grim fashion. I have a feeling that this is a novel I will return to again and again, and hope to read to my kids in the future. If you're an enthusiast of pirates, smuggled goods, old cursed treasure and deadly shipwrecks, you may well feel the same.
April 1, 2018
4 αστέρια μόνο και μόνο επειδή δεν το διάβασα εγκαίρως, ο ηλίθιος!
https://pepperlines.blogspot.gr/2018/...
https://pepperlines.blogspot.gr/2018/...
October 29, 2025
This is “just” an adventure story but I ended up with tears pouring down my cheeks at the end. And I’m not a crier! If you like found family, read this. If you like smuggling and adventure, read this. If you like A Tale of Two Cities, read this. One of my new favorite noble male characters is in this and what a man! So moving. It’s such a great coming-of-age story too. John Trenchard is a delightful main character. He really is so endearing. I will be waiting until my adopted nephews reach 16 or so years old so I can hand them this book. I still feel the tears tingling in my eyes thinking about the end.
March 17, 2013
عواملٌ شتّى توضع عليها المقاديرُ حين يدوى صفيرُ التقدير
حياة جون ترنشارد أختزلها هو نفسه فى صفحاتٍ دون أخرى
لكنّها كانت الأكثر تورّداً .. و الأكثر حساسيّةً .. و الأكثر تعتّماً أيضاً
سياق الرواية عتيقٌ يرجع إلى الكلاسيكيّات المتأخّرة فى الأدب الإنجليزى المعاصر .. و ربّما جالت نفسى فى سينما النصف الأول من القرن العشرين حيث ترامت روايات المغامرات الدرامية التى ترمى لحلم البطل بالثراء و حبيبته البعيدة المنال .. و من ثمَّ يحدث ما يجعله يضرب فى الأرض كلّها بحثاً عن سبل تحقيق حلّمه فيكلل به حلمه الأكبر بنوال حبيبته .. و لكنّ الحياة التى لا تعطى إلا اليسير تفتنه بسبيل مُنيته و لو كان الثمن تعاسةً و حزناً لا يفارقه .. حتى إذا ما غلى الضيم .. و تتطابق الكدر .. يبزغ الأمل برّاقاً من بين طيّاته المهترئة .. آتيةً به الأقدار لموطنه و درّة قلبه .. فيجد معشوقته على عهدها القديم من الحب و الذكر .. و إن خسِر هو المال و سنىَّ العمر و أقرب الأصدقاء .. لكن الدنيا تؤتيه قرّة عينه و مهجة قلبه بل و تُبالغ فى نهايتها السعيدة إذ تؤتيه ثروة لا قِبَل له بإنفاقها ولو عاش الدهر كلّه .. فيتبيّن لمن ظلمه و أنتزع من عمره عشر سنوات كان البطل فيها فى غياهب سجنٍ ناءٍ عن الدنيا و ما فيها .. أن استحقاق الحق لذويه حقٌ و لا سبيل للحق إلّا لأصحابه
فمع الأخذ فى الأعتبار حقبة كتابتها و هى النصف الثانى من القرن التاسع عشر .. فلا ريب أنها من الروائع فهى تحاكى الحِقَبُ المعاصرة كلّها باستثناء النهاية التى غالى الكاتب فى إتمام سعادتها و أختزلها دون تطرّق لخلجات النفس .. وجود الحبيب إلى جوار حبيبته إلى الأبد
لم تحمل من الملل أقلّه .. لكنّ وقعها الدراماتيكى خاصّة مع النهاية مبالغٌ فيه بعض الشىء و لا ينفى ذلك من وِرودِه
الترجمة لم تكن على القدر الراقى من البلاغة و استعار الأحداث نظراً لتسارع الأحداث فى معظم أركان الرواية و تركيز الكاتب - على لسان الراوى و هو البطل نفسه - على صفحات الحياة التى تقاطعت مع أمانيه .. حبيبته .. و السبيل إليها .. فلم يُجدى المترجم قوة و رنيناً فى الألفاظ حين الأندفاع و الأندلاع و الإندمال و غيره من هبّات النفس مع أحداث الرواية
حياة جون ترنشارد أختزلها هو نفسه فى صفحاتٍ دون أخرى
لكنّها كانت الأكثر تورّداً .. و الأكثر حساسيّةً .. و الأكثر تعتّماً أيضاً
سياق الرواية عتيقٌ يرجع إلى الكلاسيكيّات المتأخّرة فى الأدب الإنجليزى المعاصر .. و ربّما جالت نفسى فى سينما النصف الأول من القرن العشرين حيث ترامت روايات المغامرات الدرامية التى ترمى لحلم البطل بالثراء و حبيبته البعيدة المنال .. و من ثمَّ يحدث ما يجعله يضرب فى الأرض كلّها بحثاً عن سبل تحقيق حلّمه فيكلل به حلمه الأكبر بنوال حبيبته .. و لكنّ الحياة التى لا تعطى إلا اليسير تفتنه بسبيل مُنيته و لو كان الثمن تعاسةً و حزناً لا يفارقه .. حتى إذا ما غلى الضيم .. و تتطابق الكدر .. يبزغ الأمل برّاقاً من بين طيّاته المهترئة .. آتيةً به الأقدار لموطنه و درّة قلبه .. فيجد معشوقته على عهدها القديم من الحب و الذكر .. و إن خسِر هو المال و سنىَّ العمر و أقرب الأصدقاء .. لكن الدنيا تؤتيه قرّة عينه و مهجة قلبه بل و تُبالغ فى نهايتها السعيدة إذ تؤتيه ثروة لا قِبَل له بإنفاقها ولو عاش الدهر كلّه .. فيتبيّن لمن ظلمه و أنتزع من عمره عشر سنوات كان البطل فيها فى غياهب سجنٍ ناءٍ عن الدنيا و ما فيها .. أن استحقاق الحق لذويه حقٌ و لا سبيل للحق إلّا لأصحابه
فمع الأخذ فى الأعتبار حقبة كتابتها و هى النصف الثانى من القرن التاسع عشر .. فلا ريب أنها من الروائع فهى تحاكى الحِقَبُ المعاصرة كلّها باستثناء النهاية التى غالى الكاتب فى إتمام سعادتها و أختزلها دون تطرّق لخلجات النفس .. وجود الحبيب إلى جوار حبيبته إلى الأبد
لم تحمل من الملل أقلّه .. لكنّ وقعها الدراماتيكى خاصّة مع النهاية مبالغٌ فيه بعض الشىء و لا ينفى ذلك من وِرودِه
الترجمة لم تكن على القدر الراقى من البلاغة و استعار الأحداث نظراً لتسارع الأحداث فى معظم أركان الرواية و تركيز الكاتب - على لسان الراوى و هو البطل نفسه - على صفحات الحياة التى تقاطعت مع أمانيه .. حبيبته .. و السبيل إليها .. فلم يُجدى المترجم قوة و رنيناً فى الألفاظ حين الأندفاع و الأندلاع و الإندمال و غيره من هبّات النفس مع أحداث الرواية
May 2, 2017
رواية لطيفة...تدور أحداثها في قرية تقع جنوب انجلترا تدعى "مون فليت" في زمن الملك شارل الرابع حول فتى يتيم يدعى وهو جون ترنشاد يبلغ من العمر خمسة عشر عاما توفي والداه ويعيش عند خالته فكان يذهب في وقت متأخر من الليل إلى منطقة المقابر ليرى شاطئ البحر حيث يكشف سرا يؤدى إلى تغير ميار حياته...ويصبح واحدا من المهربين!
في الرواية قصة حب لطيفة حيث تنتهي الرواية بلقطة سعيدة...
الرواية كلاسيكية وتناسب الناشئة
في الرواية قصة حب لطيفة حيث تنتهي الرواية بلقطة سعيدة...
الرواية كلاسيكية وتناسب الناشئة
July 20, 2018
‘Moonfleet’ was recommended to me as a pleasant reminder of Black Sails, absolutely the best TV series about pirates and one of my all-time favourite shows. Although Black Sails is ostensibly a prequel to Treasure Island, I preferred ‘Moonfleet’ and felt it was closer in spirit to Black Sails. While both Treasure Island and ‘Moonfleet’ are narrated by a teenage boy, John Trenchard the narrator of ‘Moonfleet’ is a great deal more sympathetic. Largely because he is less inclined to murder, while also having a flexible enough morality to be comfortable with smuggling, burglary, and white lies. The tale concerns smugglers rather than pirates per se, however it has a similar plot full of adventure on the high seas and treasure-hunting. An unfortunate moment of antisemitism aside, it has aged well. I liked the bonds of found family, the condemnation of inequality, and the wonderfully atmospheric writing. I’ve been to Dorset and visited some of the places mentioned (Swanage, Corfe Castle), which added to the appeal. Falkner evokes a wonderful sense of place; the village of Moonfleet is vividly drawn. This is an exciting adventure story with a core of anti-establishment subversion - the real villain is the rich for not sharing their wealth. Overall, I had a great time reading ‘Moonfleet’ and was pleasantly reminded of my beloved pirates.
March 23, 2020
An adventure novel that's one of its kind, the book takes you to Moonfleet, a quaint little coastal village, in 18th century England. A kid named John Trenchard guided by his curiosity explores a sinkhole in a graveyard and finds himself in a pickle that gets tangier by the page. A smuggling mission gone wrong puts a price on his head and the events that unravel after that had me on the edge of my seat.
I really enjoyed the quotes that preceded each chapter, which though were vaguely pertinent did not prime my expectations of the plot. What caught me off guard was the emotional undertone in this adrenaline rush of a novel.
I really enjoyed the quotes that preceded each chapter, which though were vaguely pertinent did not prime my expectations of the plot. What caught me off guard was the emotional undertone in this adrenaline rush of a novel.
August 25, 2016
Written in 1898, Moonfleet has held up well for its age. Its an adventure story/coming of age story about a likeable character who makes mistakes and pays for them. Some of the coincidences require serious amounts of suspension of disbelief, but it is the sort of story that makes you feel like everything is fated, anyway.
March 6, 2014
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 19, 2014
'I have just finished rereading Moonfleet, after a lifetime of knowing full well that I had been read it as a boy, but, I confess, remembering very little about it, only that I had enjoyed it hugely. But then as I read it again, nearly sixty years on, I discovered that my recollection of this great adventure story had not been lost at all, nor was it confused, as I had thought it might be, with other stories of smugglers and pirates and lost treasure. On the contrary, with every page I turned there were moments of déjà vu, and I realised that my memories of this story had simply been lying dormant in my imagination all these years, and were still there waiting to be reawakened.'
I know I had not previously read Moonfleet. I also know that I had it read to me, by the headmaster at our school. I didn't know its title or that it was a beloved classic; I had in fact assumed that it was some forgotten 1950's tale. The imagery of the crypt scenes had stayed with me all my life though and when this edition appeared in the Folio Society catalogue I knew I had identified that book. I'm quoting Michael Morpurgo's introduction to that edition here at length because it seems so apposite. This is a powerfully told tale that belies its age. Yes, perhaps it seems a little old now but not nearly as old as it is. Not just simply a riveting yarn it is something that seeps into your subconscious, becoming something formative. Like Morpurgo, I remembered vividly what I was doing when I first encountered this story, as much as I did the story itself.
'It is easy to be dismissive of a plot that seems somehow to have all the tried and tested ingredients - and Moonfleet does have all of them. John Trenchard is a teenage lad with no proper home of his own, who falls in (literally!) with a band of smugglers. From then on this breathless tempestuous tale becomes a real page-turner, with a plot so absurd you might think, so full of fortuitous improbabilities, of clichés and overly crafty coincidences, as to be ridiculous. Yet somehow it works. As you read it, you want to believe it, so you do believe it. How can that be? How did he (John Meade Falkner) do it?'
Part of the answer, surely, lies in the beautiful, compelling relationship between Trenchard and Elzevir Block. Both of whom find in the other what they need. Morpurgo hints at that, too. It's much, much more than that though. This is simply a novel that belies the sum of its parts to become something altogether better.
August 26, 2016
I am a huge fan of the children’s books of the Golden Age (from, let us say, Alice in Wonderland to The Hobbit). The best ones combine corking-good yarns with deeper overtones of myth and spirituality, and focus on ethics in a nonpreachy way. I admire their authors’ gift for dropping the reader straight into the middle to the tale, in contrast to the literary trends of the time, and for holding the reader in suspense. As a sucker for vocabulary, I also love that they don’t “write down” to their readers, forcing readers to stretch to understand.
Plus I’m working on a smuggling story, so when I heard about John Meade Falkner’s Moonfleet, I just had to read it! Set in the mid-eighteenth century (though written about 150 years later), it tells the story of John Trenchard, a teenage orphan growing up in an impoverished coastal village in southern England. He is being brought up by an aunt who is more strict than loving, but finds affection and some parenting among the older men of the village. He also has a crush on a girl, the daughter of the wealthiest man in town; she has been a childhood pal but now is more to him.
As becomes rapidly clear, many of the townspeople are engaged in the free-trade—smuggling—and before long John is embroiled in their activities. The fact that his sweetheart’s father is actively engaged in defeating the smugglers ratchets up the conflict. Things very rapidly go bad for John, and he finds himself on the run.
At this point my interest in the story started to flag a bit, though the book did carry me on to the end. Cut loose from his village context, John encounters a series of—well, they’re too dire to call them adventures, more like calamities—and this story becomes more and more lurid. The book became more about “whatever will happen next?” and less about character and nuance. The dénouement was hasty and pretty sentimental. In the end, while I enjoyed the story and the author’s style, I felt there was something missing.
Plus I’m working on a smuggling story, so when I heard about John Meade Falkner’s Moonfleet, I just had to read it! Set in the mid-eighteenth century (though written about 150 years later), it tells the story of John Trenchard, a teenage orphan growing up in an impoverished coastal village in southern England. He is being brought up by an aunt who is more strict than loving, but finds affection and some parenting among the older men of the village. He also has a crush on a girl, the daughter of the wealthiest man in town; she has been a childhood pal but now is more to him.
As becomes rapidly clear, many of the townspeople are engaged in the free-trade—smuggling—and before long John is embroiled in their activities. The fact that his sweetheart’s father is actively engaged in defeating the smugglers ratchets up the conflict. Things very rapidly go bad for John, and he finds himself on the run.
At this point my interest in the story started to flag a bit, though the book did carry me on to the end. Cut loose from his village context, John encounters a series of—well, they’re too dire to call them adventures, more like calamities—and this story becomes more and more lurid. The book became more about “whatever will happen next?” and less about character and nuance. The dénouement was hasty and pretty sentimental. In the end, while I enjoyed the story and the author’s style, I felt there was something missing.
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