Two 19th century stage illusionists, the aristocratic Rupert Angier and the working-class Alfred Borden, engage in a bitter and deadly feud; the effects are still being felt by their respective families a hundred years later. Working in the gaslight-and-velvet world of Victorian music halls, they prowl edgily in the background of each other's shadowy life, driven to the extremes by a deadly combination of obsessive secrecy and insatiable curiosity. At the heart of the row is an amazing illusion they both perform during ...
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Two 19th century stage illusionists, the aristocratic Rupert Angier and the working-class Alfred Borden, engage in a bitter and deadly feud; the effects are still being felt by their respective families a hundred years later. Working in the gaslight-and-velvet world of Victorian music halls, they prowl edgily in the background of each other's shadowy life, driven to the extremes by a deadly combination of obsessive secrecy and insatiable curiosity. At the heart of the row is an amazing illusion they both perform during their stage acts. The secret of the magic is simple, and the reader is in on it almost from the start, but to the antagonists the real mystery lies deeper. Both have something more to hide than the mere workings of a trick. Winner of the World Fantasy Award for best novel, 1996 Read by Jonathan Keeble, Peter Kenny, Clare Wille and David Timson (p) 2008 Orion Publishing Group
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Seller's Description:
Good. Bumps/wear at edges/corners. Marks, scratches and some crease lines to cover. Tear at side edge of front cover, repaired with cellotape. Fading/scratches at text blocks. Fading at page edges. Text good and clean. B-format paperback. 416 p.
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Good. All orders are dispatched within 1 working day from our UK warehouse. Established in 2004, we are dedicated to recycling unwanted books on behalf of a number of UK charities who benefit from added revenue through the sale of their books plus huge savings in waste disposal. No quibble refund if not completely satisfied.
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Good. All orders are dispatched within 1 working day from our UK warehouse. Established in 2004, we are dedicated to recycling unwanted books on behalf of a number of UK charities who benefit from added revenue through the sale of their books plus huge savings in waste disposal. No quibble refund if not completely satisfied.
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Dispatched, from the UK, within 48 hours of ordering. This book is in good condition but will show signs of previous ownership. Please expect some creasing to the spine and/or minor damage to the cover. Damaged cover. The cover of is slightly damaged for instance a torn or bent corner.
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Fair. Dispatched, from the UK, within 48 hours of ordering. The book is perfectly readable and fit for use, although it shows signs of previous ownership. The spine is likely creased and the cover scuffed or slightly torn. Textbooks will typically have an amount of underlining and/or highlighting, as well as notes. If this book is over 5 years old, then please expect the pages to be yellowing or to have age spots.
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Very good. Simply Brit – welcome to our online used book store, where affordability meets great quality. Dive into a world of captivating reads without breaking the bank. We take pride in offering a wide selection of used books, from classics to hidden gems, ensuring there's something for every literary palate. All orders are shipped within 24 hours and our lightning fast-delivery within 48 hours coupled with our prompt customer service ensures a smooth journey from ordering to delivery. Discover the joy of reading with us, your trusted source for affordable books that do not compromise on quality.
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Good. Simply Brit – welcome to our online used book store, where affordability meets great quality. Dive into a world of captivating reads without breaking the bank. We take pride in offering a wide selection of used books, from classics to hidden gems, ensuring there's something for every literary palate. All orders are shipped within 24 hours and our lightning fast-delivery within 48 hours coupled with our prompt customer service ensures a smooth journey from ordering to delivery. Discover the joy of reading with us, your trusted source for affordable books that do not compromise on quality.
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Very good. **SHIPPED FROM UK** We believe you will be completely satisfied with our quick and reliable service. All orders are dispatched as swiftly as possible! Buy with confidence! Greener Books.
This book was not as good as the movie, but it was definitely interesting. I reads like two diaries. The two Magicians are warring with one another just like the movie, but it is over causing one's wife to miscarriage instead of killing her like seen in the movie. When you read the first diary you think he is right, then you read the other guy's diary and you begin to wonder who is lying and who's side to be on. I believe it is a matter of opinion. I personally was on Hugh Jackman's side in the movie and in the book, but everyone else seems to think different. The book was very interested until the end and you feel like someone just got too lazy to finish the book. I felt it was a waste to have an ending like that but some people like that vague garbage. I would still recommend it just because it was so different. There is no story like that I know of. But just be warned it has no ending.
Maggy
Apr 4, 2008
Having gotten the book after reading the movie, I found that the book was more of a science-fiction/fantasy exploration than the movie, but both were good in their own rights. The main difference is that, in the book, the story of the two feuding musicians falls within the story of the eventual meeting of their grandchildren. It's not the best-written book, but the story is extremely interesting, creative, and gripping.
CathyK
Jun 27, 2007
See the Movie!
I bought this after seeing the movie, hoping to clear up some plot points that left me wishing the movie were longer (now, that's a great kind of movie). Frankly, I think the movie improved on the story a bit. Although it's a captivating story, the book needed some serious tightening up. The movie cleaned up the important plotlines and did away with some of the dead-end subplots. By the last 50 pages of the book, we're ready for a slam-bang wrap-up, but we don't get it. The final two pages are downright amateurish - there's no resolution. I'm all for spooky, mysterious, open-ended exits, but we get a melodramatic chase scene and a fizzle of a climax. After the final sentence, I actually checked to see whether my used copy was missing some pages! It was that unsatisfying. Basically, the movie changes many details in the book and crafts its own story based on the broad character strokes and the concept of Tesla's machine. I'm not sorry I read it, but if you're considering buying this book based on seeing the movie, be aware that they're two different animals.
Jaks
Apr 3, 2007
Excellent read - read before you watch the movie
This is an excellently written book that paints a vivid picture of the two main characters and their struggles. I enjoyed that the reader is shown the lives of both the main characters - the reader is able to expereince some incidents from more than one point of view. I thoroughly enjoyed the novel and anticipated the movie - the book is much better and different - than the movie, so if you are going to experience both - experience the novel first. Many people who had not read the novel loved the book, but if you loved the movie the book paints a much richer exciting story. The novel is well worth the read I enjoyed the entire book!