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The Prestige

The literary masterpiece about a feud that spans generations
3.92 goodreads logo

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( 24,257 ratings, 2,691 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
The Prestige by Christopher Priest focuses on the intense rivalry between two magicians in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Each is determined to outdo the other with increasingly complicated illusions, leading to a dangerous obsession. The novel explores themes of sacrifice, identity, and the nature of illusion.
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this intriguing novel if you're captivated by tales of fierce rivalry, complex illusions, and dark secrets set within the world of Victorian-era stage magic. With its blend of mystery and science fiction, it's perfect for those who appreciate a mind-bending narrative and the exploration of obsession, sacrifice, and the blurred line between reality and illusion.

Book Hero thinking about your next read

'A brilliantly constructed entertainment, with a plot as simple and intricate as a nest of Chinese boxes...a dizzying magic show of a novel' WASHINGTON POST

'A brilliantly constructed entertainment, with a plot as simple and intricate as a nest of Chinese boxes...a dizzying magic show of a novel' WASHINGTON POST

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

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.

The Prestige is a tale of rivalry, obsession, and the dark side of ambition, set against a mesmerising backdrop of magic and mystery.

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Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

The book is praised for its stylish and enigmatic narrative that captivates readers. It is described as enthralling and comes highly recommended by critics.

Book Hero reading reviews

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780575099418

Publisher: Orion Publishing Co

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 10 February 2011

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Gollancz

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 28.0mm

Width: 130.0mm

Height: 196.0mm

Weight: 269g

Pages: 384

About the Author

Christopher Priest's novels have built him an inimitable dual reputation as a contemporary novelist and a leading figure in modern SF and fantasy. His novel THE PRESTIGE won both a prestigious literary award and a major genre prize; THE SEPARATION won Britain's two major SF awards.

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