The Secret of the Stradivarius
The story follows the adventures of two young men, John and Arthur, who are on a quest to uncover the secret of the Stradivarius, a legendary violin made by the famous Italian luthier Antonio Stradivari. The two men travel to Italy, where they meet a mysterious old man who claims to have the secret of the Stradivarius. He tells them that the secret lies in a hidden chamber beneath the city of Cremona, and that the only way to access it is to find the key. John and Arthur set out to find the key, but soon discover that they are not the only ones searching for it. They must battle against a sinister group of criminals who are also after the secret of the Stradivarius. Along the way, they uncover a web of intrigue and deception, and must use their wits and courage to outwit their enemies and uncover the truth. The Secret of the Stradivarius is a thrilling mystery novel that will keep readers guessing until the very end. It is a classic story of adventure and intrigue, and is sure to delight fans of classic mystery novels.
By Hugh Conway · First published 1881 · Genre: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Adventure · 8,088 words
First lines
MY friend Luigi is reckoned one of the finest violin. players of the day. His wonderful skill has made him famous, and he is well known and honoured for his talent in every capital in Europe.
If in these pages I call him by another name than the one he has made famous, it is solely on account of a promise he exacted from me, in case I should ever feel tempted to make the following strange experiences, we shared together, public property. I am afraid, nevertheless, that too many will readily identify the man himself with the portrait I am obliged to draw.
What this Textopian page supports
The Secret of the Stradivarius is listed on Textopian as a short story by Hugh Conway, dated 1881 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Hugh Conway
- Date: 1881 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Adventure
- Length: 8,088 words
- Structure: 1 section, 87 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Secret of the Stradivarius by Hugh Conway
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Secret of the Stradivarius?
- How does this short story by Hugh Conway fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Mystery first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- In The Rue Monge by Emma Orczy
- The Coin Of Dionysius by Ernest Bramah
- The Black Abbot by Perley Poore Sheehan
- The Barons Quarry by Egerton Castle
- The Ivory God by J. S. Fletcher
- The Bully Of Brocas Court by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Genres
- Mystery — The title of the book implies a secret that needs to be uncovered, which is a common element of mystery stories.
- Historical Fiction — The Stradivarius is a historical instrument, suggesting that the book may take place in a historical setting.
- Adventure — The title implies that the protagonist may go on an adventure to uncover the secret of the Stradivarius.
Tags
mystery · historical fiction · Stradivarius · violin · art theft · adventure · intrigue · music · detective · suspense · treasure hunt · 19th century