At a time of extraordinary change,two women must harness their talents to take control of their own destiny.
Bristol,1896. Used to scraping a living as the young assistant to an ageing con artist,Cecily Marsden's life is turned upside down when her master suddenly dies. Believing herself to blame,could young Cec somehow have powers she little understands
Meanwhile Eadie Carleton,a pioneering early film-maker,struggles for her talent to be taken seriously in a male-dominated world,and a brilliant young magician,George Perris,begins to see the potential in moving pictures. George believes that if he can harness this new technology,it will revolutionise the world of magic forever - but in order to achieve his dreams,he must first win over Miss Carleton.
As a group of illusionists prepare for a grand spectacle,Cec,Eadie and George's worlds collide. But as Cec falls in love with the bustling realm of theatre and magic,she faces the fight of her life to save the performance from sabotage and harness the element of real magic held deep within her.
The Illusions is the captivating new novel from the much-lauded author of The Gifts. Inspired by real-life illusionists and early film pioneers,this astonishing story of women and talent,magic and power,sweeps you into a world where anything is possible and nothing is quite as it seems.
Publisher: Bonnier Books LtdISBN: 9781786581860Number of pages: 448Weight: 704 gDimensions: 240 x 162 x 41 mm
MEDIA REVIEWS
After her glorious first novel,The Gifts,Hyder has returned with another beautiful slice of historical fiction. The Illusions is charming and intriguing,sparkling with magic and romance.Spellbinding storytelling,wonderfully drawn characters and the thrill of the theatre make this book unputdownable. For a truly immersive,can't-put-it-down read,The Illusions will whisk you to the late Victorian age with this story of two young women,Cecily,a con artist's assistant and Eadie,a photographer and early film maker trying to make it in a man's world. Cecily and Eadie's paths will soon collide in a kaleidoscope of magic,theatrics,illusion and love.Filled with wonders in all forms,in real life and in the theatre,this is a story that will mesmerise and cast its spell. I loved it.Hyder is a wonderfully accomplished storyteller. The Illusions is a magical tale of innovation,darkness and delight. A book to disappear into - I devoured it greedily.With clever storytelling and a magpie's eye for shine and enchantment, Hyder takes us to a world where magic,moving pictures and illusion mix - and where all are made better by human kindness.Enchanting in every sense. A seductive,glimmering tale of magic and movies.Set in Victorian Bristol with a cast of characters that are a feast for the senses. It is in every way quite magical.Captivating and fascinating...A fabulous second novel (for adults),firmly cementing Liz Hyder as an author to watch. Beautifully crafted,The Illusions steps into a world of trickery and deception,while shining a light on the importance of friendship and love.An utter delight! The novel is an illusion in itself...it's such a page-turner and the building of the plot and the denouement is glorious. It is filled with light and optimism and joy and feels like a book we need right now.
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