Mary Elizabeth Hawker (1848-1908), who wrote from 1890 onwards under the pseudonym of Lanoe Falconer, is remembered today primarily as the author of two best-selling novellas (Mademoiselle Ixe and Cecilia de Noël), five brilliant short stories (published under the title Hôtel d’Angleterre) and a slim volume of wonderful reminiscences entitled Old Hampshire Vignettes. All of these will be found in Collected Tales—but they are reinforced by eight additional short stories, one additional novella (Shoulder to Shoulder) and one additional vignette. These supplementary items, buried in the archives for more than a century, are now brought to light by Peter Rowland, Hawker’s biographer, after much patient research and dedicated delving. They are accompanied by a short series of penetrating Character Sketches, intended for a book (or books) that would never be written, plus an article on how to tackle short stories. Bearing additional witness to Lanoe Falconer’s astonishing range and versatility, this fresh material makes Collected Tales a unique and invaluable volume—one not to be missed by the growing army of this remarkable writer’s fans.