The Magician's Wife

by Brian Moore

Book Overview

Set in the 1850s and based on an actual historical incident, The Magician's Wife is a rare glimpse at the beginnings of 100 years of French rule in Algeria and a bold exploration of one woman's desires and convictions. Summoned to the grand country estate of Napoleon III, the famed illusionist Henri Lambert and his wife, Emmeline, are drawn into an elaborate plot to further the French imperialist drive into North Africa and subdue the rebellious Arab...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0525944001
• ISBN13: 9780525944003
• Release Date: January 1998
• Publisher: Dutton Books
• Length: 228 Pages
• Weight: 0.90 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.8" x 8.9"

Customer Reviews

Unforgettable and clearly should be a film

This book is compelling, has well drawn characters, and has such a powerful ending that it's easy to picture it as a wonderful film. We see the story through the eyes of the protagonist, Emmeline, as she watches and is affected by the shady motivations of the characters that surround her. The reader's suspense builds with hers and the wonderful ending will not disappoint anyone. Well worth your time.

A very pleasant surprise

I read this book only because it was the assigned book for my book club. I did not expect to like it. Was I ever surprised. I loved it! The vivid descriptions of everything, the landscape, the people, the food, the events as well as the author's ability to let the reader into Emmeline's head made me feel as though I were part of the story. And what suspense!! Now I want to read Mr. Moore's "The Statement." Also, the cover art is really pretty!

a truly great novel

Although I was apprenhensive at first about reading the story of a 19th century French Magician and his wife, my fears were quickly calmed. the flow of the novel is incredible. i found the novel very difficult to put down. deniau is the perfect villain for the story as he, like most every thing else is an illusion. i actually found myself caring about the characters, particularly bou-aziz and emmeline. a true masterpice.

A beautifully understated tale of inner strife.

More fabulous storytelling from Brian Moore. An intelligent and sensitive woman, married to a controlled and remote, but fascinating man, Emmeline is bored, self-indulgent, contemplative, and aware of all of these. Thrust into an episode in high society, she is seduced by its glitter and facade of importance, and repelled by its cruelty and pettiness. Her husband is recruited by the Emperor himself to use his magician's illusions to overawe the superstitious and religious people of Algiers. Reluctantly impressed with the beauty and simplicity of the Algerians way of life, and humbled by their religious sincerity, Emmeline finds her already strained loyalty to her husband tested further by her sympathies for the people he intends to dupe. Moore does a wonderful job of carrying us along in Emmeline's inner struggles with her best and worst selves. She faces her own petty fascinations with social foolery and meaningless connections, and struggles to act on her inner sense of rightness. At the same time, she does not spare herself the knowledge of her own weaknesses. Wonderfully crafted and absorbing - as have been all the Moore novels I have read so far.

a great read

I enjoyed this book immensely. It put the reader into the mind of its main character, and drew us into a long ago time and place. I've not read Moore's other books, but I plan to start!