The False Faces

By: Louis Joseph Vance

Narrated by: Jack de Golia

The False Faces: Further Adventures from the History of the Lone Wolf, by Louis Joseph Vance, was first published in 1918, and is the second of what eventually became an 8-book series. The main character, known as The Lone Wolf, is a reformed jewel thief who in this story, is a British spy, who uses several names including Michael Lanyard.

This second book begins in the "No Man's Land" France as Lanyard crawls through mud and horror toward the British lines. He then moves to a ship crossing the Atlantic he's thrown overboard by German agents just before the ship is torpedoed by a German submarine. Lanyard takes refuge on the sub, pretending to be a German agent. He's discovered, taken prisoner, lands on secret German sub base on Martha's Vinyard, escapes, and comes to New York City with vital information for the British Secret Service. Along the way, Lanyard meets a young woman, who story becomes interwoven with his, and is aided by an American Secret Service agent. Spies clash, traitors are revealed, and struggles both physical and mental bring the "Great War" to the U.S., as Lanyard seeks his archenemy from the first book, the German spy, Ekstrom.

"The Lone Wolf" series was also made into 24 films between 1914 and 1949, as well radio and television dramas.

Louis Joseph Vance (1879-1933) was a novelist, playwright, screen writer, and early-day film producer, who attended the Brooklyn Polytechnic Institute and worked in the movies for a time in Los Angeles. His body of work includes short stories and verse, all written after 1901, and many popular novels. Vance died at age 54, in an accidental fire in his New York City apartment.

Public Domain (P)2024 Jack de Golia