The Touchstone Of Fortune (dodo Press)

Charles Major (1856-1913) was an American lawyer and novelist. He developed an interest in both law and English history at an early age and attended the University of Michigan from 1872 through 1875, being admitted to the Indiana bar association in 1877. Shortly thereafter he opened his own law practice, which launched a short political career, culminating in a year-long term in the Indiana state legislature. Writing remained an interest of Major's, and in 1898, he published his first novel, When Knighthood Was in Flower under the pseudonym Edwin Caskoden. With a successful writing career, Major gradually lessened his legal obligations, closing his law practice over a year after his first novel, in 1899. In 1902, he published his second novel, Dorothy Vernon of Haddon Hall. He continued to write and publish several additional novels as well as a number of children's adventure stories. His other works include: Yolanda: Maid of Burgundy (1905), A Gentle Knight of Old Brandenburg (1909) and The Touchstone of Fortune (1912).