J. Meade Falkner

For other people named Falkner, see Falkner (disambiguation).

John Meade Falkner
Born	May 8, 1858(1858-05-08) Manningford Bruce, Wiltshire, England
Died	July 22, 1932(1932-07-22) (aged 74) Durham, England
Pen name	J. Meade Falkner
Occupation	Novelist
Nationality	English
Period	1895 - 1903

John Meade Falkner (8 May 1858 – 22 July 1932) was an English novelist and poet, best known for his 1898 novel, Moonfleet. An extremely successful businessman as well, he became chairman of the arms manufacturer Armstrong Whitworth during World War I.

Life and works

Falkner was born in Manningford Bruce, Wiltshire and spent much of his childhood in Dorchester and Weymouth. He was educated at Marlborough College and Hertford College, Oxford, graduating with a degree in history in 1882. After Oxford, he was a master at Derby School, then went to Newcastle as tutor to the family of Sir Andrew Noble, who ran Armstrong Whitworth Co., one of the largest arms manufacturers in the world. Falkner eventually followed him as chairman in 1915. In his business travels round the world, Falkner brought back antiquarian treasures of all kinds.

After his retirement as chairman in 1921 he became Honorary Reader in Paleography at the University of Durham, as well as Honorary Librarian to the Dean and Chapter Library of Durham Cathedral. Falkner fell in love with Durham and, although he spent his later years travelling frequently, he called Durham his home, living in the Divinity House (now the University Music School) on Palace Green in front of the cathedral from 1902 until his death. There is a commemorative plaque there, while his monument is in the south cloister of the cathedral.

In addition to his three novels and his poetry, he also wrote three topographical guides (Oxfordshire, Bath and Berkshire) and a History of Oxfordshire.

Bibliography

Fiction

• The Lost Stradivarius (1895)
• Moonfleet (1898)
• The Nebuly Coat (1903)

Non-Fiction

• Handbook for Travellers in Oxfordshire (1894)
• A History of Oxfordshire (1899)
• Handbook for Berkshire (1902)
• Bath in History and Social Tradition (1918)

External links

• Works by John Meade Falkner at Project Gutenberg
• John Meade Falkner Society web site
• J. Meade Falkner at Find a Grave

References

• John Meade Falkner, sportsman, at rjbw.net

Persondata
Name	Falkner, J. Meade
Alternative names	Falkner, John Meade
Short description
Date of birth	8 May 1858
Place of birth	Manningford Bruce, Wiltshire, England
Date of death	22 July 1932
Place of death	Durham, England