The Magician's Assistant - Softcover

Patchett, Ann

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0156006219 ISBN 13: 9780156006217

Publisher: Harcourt Brace, 1998

Synopsis

From the bestselling author of The Dutch House, a secretive magician’s death becomes the catalyst for his partner’s journey of self-discovery in this “enchanting” book (San Francisco Chronicle) “that is something of a magic trick in itself.” (Newsweek)

When Parsifal, a handsome and charming magician, dies suddenly, his widow Sabine—who was also his faithful assistant for twenty years—learns that the family he claimed to have lost in a tragic accident is very much alive and well. Sabine is left to unravel his secrets, and the journey she takes, from sunny Los Angeles to the bitter windswept plains of Nebraska, will work its own magic on her.

Sabine's extraordinary tale, “with its big dreams, vast spaces, and disparate realities lying side by side” captures the hearts of its readers and “proves to be the perfect place for miraculous transformations.” (The New Yorker)

About this title

About the Author

Ann Patchett is the author of novels, works of nonfiction, and children’s books. She has been the recipient of numerous awards, including the PEN/Faulkner, the Women’s Prize for Fiction in the UK, and the Book Sense Book of the Year. Her novel The Dutch House was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. Her work has been translated into more than thirty languages, and Time magazine named her one of the 100 Most Influential People in the World. President Biden awarded her the National Humanities Medal in recognition of her contributions to American culture. She lives in Nashville, Tennessee, where she is the owner of Parnassus Books.

From the Back Cover

" Her finest novel . . . Patchett's lush and suspenseful story is also a portrait of America, which-- with its big dreams, vast spaces, and disparate realities lying side by side-- proves to be the perfect place for miraculous transformations, including Sabine's own."--The New Yorker

When Parsifal, a handsome and charming magician, dies suddenly, his widow Sabine--who was also his faithful assistant for twenty years--learns that the family he claimed to have lost in a tragic accident is very much alive and well. Sabine is left to unravel his secrets, and the adventure she embarks upon, from sunny Los Angeles to the bitter windswept plains of Nebraska, will work its own magic on her. Sabine's extraordinary tale will capture the hearts of its readers just as Sabine is captured by her quest.

"Enchanting . . . Ann Patchett is the real thing."--San Francisco Chronicle

Ann Patchett is the author of Bel Canto, Taft, and The Patron Saint of Liars, which was a New York Times Notable Book of the Year. She has written for many publications, including Elle, GQ, the Paris Review, and Vogue. She lives in Tennessee.

Edition details

• Publisher: Harcourt Brace
• Publication date: 1998
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0156006219
• ISBN 13: 9780156006217
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 357