The Laird's Luck and Other Fireside Tales is a set of stories from the Napoleonic Wars. In the title tale, a young Scottish Ensign dies gallantly, defending the colors, at the battle of Waterloo. Yet a serious charge has been laid against him that could dishonor his name despite his actions in battle, and all who might be able to defend him are also dead. Was he in fact a scoundrel? The other tales cover other aspects of war and human reactions to it. Sir Arthur Thomas Quiller-Couch wrote short stories, novels, criticism, and edited anthologies, including the Oxford Book series. He was Assistant Editor of the Liberal weekly The Speaker, and from 1912 until his death was Professor of English at Cambridge University.

Author Biography

Sir Arthur Thomas Quiller-Couch (1863 - 1944) was a Cornish writer who published using the pseudonym Q. Although a prolific novelist, he is remembered mainly for the monumental publication The Oxford Book Of English Verse 1250-1900 (later extended to 1918) and for his literary criticism. He influenced many who never met him, including American writer Helene Hanff, author of 84, Charing Cross Road and its sequel, Q's Legacy. His Oxford Book of English Verse was a favorite of John Mortimer's fictional character Horace Rumpole.