Moonfleet written by J. Meade Falkner is set on the Dorset coast, follows the fortunes of John Trenchard, a young orphan. John's involvement with a group of local smugglers forces him to run away from his home in Moonfleet, but as far as he travels he is never able to escape the legend of Colonel John Mohune more commonly known as Blackbeard and the curse of his diamond. Elzevir Block, a man who has lost his own son is forced to flee with John. Elzevir shows John the absence of dreams of fortune and glory. Eventually John returns home to Moonfleet, to his childhood love, Grace.

The novel focuses on two main characters. The main character is John Trenchard, who at the beginning of the story is a 15-year old boy who lives with his aunt Jane because both his parents have died. The story is narrated by...