Book : The Night Circus
Author : Erin Morgenstern
Genre : Magical Realism, Fantasy Fiction
Pages : 630
Publication : 2011, Vintage
Format : Paperback

4.7🌟/5

Blogpost by Dhanu

We have all visited to circus as a kid, perhaps even now, eagerly anticipating to witness the marvelous acts performed by the artists and magicians. The performance of the animals and birds awestruck us with their well-trained behaviour and obedience to the artist’s commands. The circus depicted in this story narrates the uniqueness and unexplainable occurrences through the art of realistic magic in the hands of the illusionist. Let’s become hypnotized by the dust of the sparkles in this review.

The novel is set in the 1870s, precisely in London with the introduction of a little girl, Celia Bowen at the age of 6. Her presence and innate magical talent catalyzes to the blooming of Le Cirque des Rêves (The Circus of Dreams), the circus in 1886. The circus becomes the stage to orchestrate the artistic rivalry of producing the formidable magician. The dual was planned by her father, Prospero the Encanter who is the magic maestro of the time and Alexander, the man in grey suit (Mr. A.H) to prove their mastery.

Celia, the offspring of Prospero and Marco Alisdair, the orphan boy chosen by Alexander had been magically entwined for the deadly competition accordingly and are trained respectively. The kids grow under the rigorous tutelage to become a skillful illusionist, unaware of what future unfolds for them or who their opponent will be.

The story is structured into five parts: Primordium, Illumination, Intersection, Incendiary and Divination. Each part begins with Herr Friedrick Thiessen, the founder of réveurs, praising the greatness of the circus. The storyline intricately weaves together the childhoods of Celia, Marco and the Murray twins, Poppet and Widget, who were born on the day of Circus’s inauguration. Because of one, the circus begins whereas the other helps the circus to be carried out to the future.

The Murray twins were born when Celia and Marco are in their early twenties. The first childhood portrays about the new hope of discovery and livelihood for many artisans whereas Murray twins’ childhood shows the growth and future of the circus. Moreover, the inexplictable plot reversal lift up the story in fortuitous time.

The setting of the novel goes back and froth to all over the places as the Circus moves around the world without letting the audience know about its next destination. But, in the end, the story stationed at where the fates of illusionists unfolded, London.

The characters are minimal yet genuinely fitted in each plot segment. Some remarkable characters include Prospero (Hector Bowen) of whom the story would not have risen, Alexander the rival coach often known as Mr. A.H or the man in grey suit, Celia Bowen, Marco Alisdair, Chandrashekhar Christophe Lefèvre, Isobel Martin, Windson Aidan Murray (Widget), Penelope Aislin Murray (Poppet) and Bailey Clarke.

The novel employs multiple perspectives. This compliments the vivid imagery and apt technique for such narrative. The language used in this novel is lucid and beginner-friendly with Erin Morgenstern’s accessible writing style. Although the excessive description of each other thing slow down the reading pace. Other than that, the novel has distinctive pull to read it further.

The visual representation falls short for its magnificent exploration. The monochromatic palette mirrors the theme of the circus. Yet, the symbolic use of red scarf by the réveurs, the unofficial society, adds the significant strength to its growth. It underscores their role in the success of the circus by spreading the word to the all corner of the world. The réveurs is an unofficial society began by Herr Friedrick Thiessen, the craftsman who build the cuckoo clock for the circus.

The cover of this novel provides the glimpse of the plot through detailing. The black and white cover theme predominantly denotes the aesthetic of the circus and the story it holds. Whereas the red spine specifies the influence of réveurs. The detailing of the key moments from the story such as the clock, the circus opening ceremony, bonfire and the rivals is conspicuous.

Overall, The Night Circus surely lured me throughout its plot and kept us enchanted under the spell of illusion. To get the similar hypnotized state, I would like to suggest this book for every fantasy fiction lover.

Happy reading! 🪄

“Is it not that bad to be trapped somewhere, then? Depending on where you’re trapped?”

“I suppose it depends on how much you like the place you’re trapped in,” Widget says.

p. 280