The Illusionists - Hardcover

Thomas, Rosie

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1468309900 ISBN 13: 9781468309904

Publisher: The Overlook Press, 2014

Synopsis

Set in Victorian London, where a young artists' model, Eliza Dunlop, meets the illusionist Hector Crumhall, aka Devil Wix, and his companions at the run-down Palmyra Theatre, this is the story of one woman and four men and the dark threads that entangle them. Slightly off-mint and felt-tip mark on lower trimmed edge.

About this title

About the Author

Rosie Thomas is the author of numerous critically acclaimed, bestselling novels, and has twice won the Romantic Novel of the Year Award. Born in a small village in northern Wales, Thomas discovered a love of traveling and mountaineering when her children were grown. In the years since, she has climbed in the Alps and the Himalayas, competed in the Peking to Paris car rally, and trekked in the footsteps of Shackleton on South Georgia Island.

Review

“Beneath this buoyant tale of down-market entertainers in Victorian London rumbles a heavyweight novel . . . As intricate and thrilling as any accomplished bit of conjuring.” —The New York Times

“Gripping . . . Rosie Thomas ably captures the magic of Victorian London—including its spectacular advancements in technology, such as the phonograph, electric lighting and automata—yet she does not neglect the seamy, hardscrabble life so prevalent among theatrical performers.” —Shelf Awareness

“Thomas’s sprawling follow-up to The Kashmir Shawl combines several elements: a story of a theater company, a thriller, and, most successfully, a portrait of a woman trying to create an equal partnership with a man . . . The heart of the book is Eliza’s long, slow attempt to not only marry Devil but to live in parity with him. Since she has no models for the relationship she wants, Thomas shows Eliza working to invent a new kind of life; a creation as novel for her time as the mechanical illusions at the Palmyra.” —Publishers Weekly

“This character driven novel is filled with odd and unusual characters whose personalities and quirks are revealed as the story progresses. . . . The story-line is compelling for its vivid descriptions and fascinating characters who are anything but normal and predictable . . . Definitely, an entertaining read that stands out for its unique qualities.” —Historical Novels Review

“Thomas enthusiastically explores a unique subject and skillfully creates the sights, atmosphere and sensations of British theater during this era . . . An excellent premise.” —Kirkus Reviews

“While the background details on stage magic and thetheater business are captivating, Devil and Eliza’s ardent love story is the book’s emotional heart, and theever-changing connections among all its intriguing performers fill it with genuine life and vitality.” —Booklist 

Praise for the work of Rosie Thomas:
 
“Rosie Thomas has the rare and wonderful ability to create stories and characters that take you instantly into another world.”—Penny Vincenzi
  
“Thomas writes with a sharp nib, not a dull computer key. She is neither mawkish nor squeamish, but full of fresh images.”  —Washington Post Book World
 
“A master storyteller.” —Cosmopolitan
 
“Thomas’s novels are beautifully written.” —Marie Claire
 
“Thomas can write with ravishing sensuality.” —The Times

"Utterly engrosing and beautifully written . . . [Thomas's] character's are so interesting and realistic that readers will be reluctant to let them go." —Library Journal

"Set in Victorian London, Thomas's delightful new novel blends romance, intrigue, and the edgy magic of the theater world. A great escape." —Reader's Digest

"London, 1885: Eliza Dunlop, a feisty woman ahead of her time, pushes her way into a salacious variety show featuring a develish magician, a pickpocket dwarf and a builder of robotic women. The ensuing mayhem makes for a mesmerizing story of deception and a most eccentric love triangle." —O, The Oprah Magazine

About this edition

• Publisher: The Overlook Press
• Publication date: 2014
• ISBN 10: 1468309900
• ISBN 13: 9781468309904
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 480