Five times Locke's books made the list of best selling novels in the United States for the year as determined by the New York Times. His works have been made into twenty-four motion pictures the most recent of which was Ladies in Lavender, filmed in 2004 and starring Dame Judi Dench and Maggie Smith. Adapted to the screen by Charles Dance, it was based on Locke's 1916 short story of the same title that had been published in a collection entitled "Faraway Stories." **From the book's Preface:DEAR SIR OR MADAM: Good wine needs no bush, but a collection of mixed vintages does. And this book is just such a collection. Some of the stories I do not want to remain buried for ever in the museum files of dead magazine-numbers an author's not unpar- donable vanity; others I have resuscitated from the same vaults in the hope that they still may please you. The title of a volume of short stories is always a difficult matter. It ought to indicate frankly the nature of the book so that the unwary purchaser shall have no grievance (except on the score of merit, which is a different affair altogether) against either author or publisher. In my title I have tried to solve the problem. But why "Far-away?" Well, the stories cover a long stretch of years, and all, save one, were written in calm days far-away from the present convulsion of the world. Anyhow, no one will buy the book under the impression that it is a novel, and, finding that it isn't, revile me as a cheat. And so I have the pleasure of offering it for your perusal with a clear conscience. You, Dear Sir or Madam, have given me, this many a year, an indulgence beyond my deserts. Till now, I have had no opportunity of thanking you. I do now with a grate- ful heart, and to you I dedicate the two stories that I love the best, hoping that they may excuse those for which you may not so much care, and that they may win continuance of that which is to me, both as a writer and as a human being, my most cherished possession, namely, your favour- able regard for Your most humble and obedient Servant to command, W. J. LOCKE June, 1919Chapters: - The Sonf of Life - Ladies in Lavender - Studies in Blindness - An Old-World Episode - The Conqueror - A Lover's Dilemma - A Woman of the War - The Princess' Kingdom - The Heart at Twenty - The Scourge - My Shadow Friends**....summary from Wikipedia