# The Lost Stradivarius explained — The Lost Stradivarius > Chapter companion for The Lost Stradivarius by John Meade Falkner. ## What happens John Maltravers, a young man of good family and moderate fortune, matriculates at Magdalen Hall, Oxford, where he forms a close friendship with William Gaskell. After purchasing an old wicker chair, John begins to hear strange noises emanating from it, which are triggered by playing a particular piece of music, the Gagliarda. He soon sees the apparition of a man in the chair, a vision that Gaskell confirms is a supernatural presence. During a summer vacation at Worth, John discovers a hidden Stradivarius violin, which he sends to London for appraisal. The discovery is followed by a series of events, including a Christmas at Royston where John falls ill, his marriage to Constance Temple, and a honeymoon. After returning to England, John abandons his family and isolates himself in Italy, where Constance dies, leaving a legacy of family secrets and the haunting power of the past. ## Themes in this chapter ### Supernatural and the Occult The chapter is steeped in supernatural occurrences, from the mysterious noises in the wicker chair to the apparition that appears, suggesting a ghostly presence tied to the violin. ### Music as a Dangerous Force The Gagliarda, a specific piece of music, acts as a trigger for the supernatural phenomena, and the discovery of the Stradivarius violin sets in motion a chain of tragic events, portraying music as a conduit for dark forces. ## Character check-ins ### John Maltravers The protagonist, whose life is irrevocably altered by the supernatural events and the discovery of the violin. ### Mr. Gaskell John's close friend who confirms the supernatural presence and is a witness to the strange occurrences. ### Constance Temple John's wife, who becomes entangled in the tragic consequences of his obsession. ### Adrian Temple Constance's brother, who is part of the family circle affected by the unfolding events. ## Key lines > The Lost Stradivarius The narrative centers on the discovery and consequences of a missing Stradivarius violin. _This is the title of the chapter, which encapsulates the central plot device._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_lost_stradivarius_se/chapters/the-lost-stradivarius - Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_lost_stradivarius_se - All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_lost_stradivarius_se/chapters