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  • The Night Circus

  • A Novel
  • Written by: Erin Morgenstern
  • Narrated by: Jim Dale
  • Length: 13 hrs and 40 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (581 ratings)

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The Night Circus cover art

The Night Circus

Written by: Erin Morgenstern
Narrated by: Jim Dale
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Publisher's Summary

The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. Within the black-and-white striped canvas tents is an utterly unique experience full of breathtaking amazements. It is called Le Cirque des Rêves, and it is only open at night.

But behind the scenes, a fierce competition is underway - a duel between two young magicians, Celia and Marco, who have been trained since childhood expressly for this purpose by their mercurial instructors. Unbeknownst to them, this is a game in which only one can be left standing, and the circus is but the stage for a remarkable battle of imagination and will. Despite themselves, however, Celia and Marco tumble headfirst into love - a deep, magical love that makes the lights flicker and the room grow warm whenever they so much as brush hands.

True love or not, the game must play out, and the fates of everyone involved, from the cast of extraordinary circus per­formers to the patrons, hang in the balance, suspended as precariously as the daring acrobats overhead.

Written in rich, seductive prose, this spell-casting novel is a feast for the senses and the heart.

©2011 Erin Morgenstern (P)2011 Random House

What the critics say

" The Night Circus made me happy. Playful and intensely imaginative, Erin Morgenstern has created the circus I have always longed for, and she has populated it with dueling love-struck magicians, precocious kittens, hyper-elegant displays of beauty, and complicated clocks. This is a marvelous book." (Audrey Niffenegger, author of The Time Traveler's Wife)
"Self-assured, entertaining debut that blends genres and crosses continents in quest of magic…. Generous in its vision and fun to read. Likely to be a big book—and, soon, a big movie, with all the franchise trimmings." ( Kirkus Reviews)
"Debut author Morgenstern doesn't miss a beat in this smashing tale of greed, fate, and love... a giant, magical story destined for bestsellerdom. This is an electric debut on par with Special Topics in Calamity Physics." ( Publishers Weekly)

Editorial Review

The Night Circus arrives. Black and white, open from dusk until dawn, and inexhaustible in its magic, it brings with it a nightly wonder and a dark and dangerous secret that lurks behind the dazzling lights and astonishing illusions.

Author Erin Morgenstern suspends reality as she weaves a tapestry of magic, mystery, and masquerade in this fantasy release. With prose as overflowing with wonder and enchantment as the setting itself, her dream-like carnival offers listeners a chance to escape to The Night Circus. Yet behind the black and white tents and their implausible spectacles, two students of magic battle in an undefined competition, outdoing one another in increasingly complex and impressive feats. Marco and Celia may be fated to feud against the bedazzling backdrop of the circus, but there’s an even greater magic at work that neither of them can overcome: love.

Accomplished singer, actor, and narrator Jim Dale lends his polished voice to this audiobook. At times tense, at times romantic, at times breathless, he builds a world of mystery and awe, leaving the listener hooked on every word. Widely known for his narration of the Harry Potter series, Dale has won no fewer than 10 Audie Awards and 23 AudioFile Earphone Awards.

The Night Circus spent almost two months on the New York Times best seller list, and has spurred countless themed events and gatherings, creating a real-life following as whimsical and fantastic as the audiobook itself.

What listeners say about The Night Circus

Average Customer Ratings
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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

An absolute Dream!

Highly recommended for fans of the unexplainable. It’s a wonderful love story surrounded with rich characters all wrapped up in a little magic.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Captivating

A marvelous story with diverse characters. Intrigue, philosophy, lust, and multiple reversals of gender norms, to name some highlights.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

dreamlike and insubstantial

I enjoyed the dreamlike atmosphere developed with graceful prose. I didn't find the characters engrossing however. it was like knowing your neighbours. You knew what they were up to in snippets, but you didn't really want to involve yourself in their lives. I never spent enough time with any one of them to care much. the interlacing back and forth timeline lost me more than once
The narrator did an excellent job.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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First Audio Book Ever

The book itself is magical, creative and adventurous and is my favourite novel of all time.

I have read the night circus at least three times before having this opportunity of listening to the audio book.

I will be honest it has been 2 years since I have last read it and being able to relive the book through audio is an amazing experience.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Mesmerizing!

This book is read like poetry! Incredible narrorator and magical tale with wondrous wording leaving you seeing everything described! Loved it

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Love it

I was so hesitant to start this book but I was entranced within minutes listening to the narrator and became invested in the characters and timeline so fast. This is an amazing listen. I’m already thinking of reading/listening again.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Beautiful, exciting, story.

such a beautifully descriptive story, loved it right to the end. Each character held so much intrigue, never really sure where the tale would twist or who knew what.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Astounding

This story is unlike any I've ever read and was so refreshing. The slow reveal of the truth, the unexpected surprises, the characters - I enjoyed it all!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Beat seller for a reason!

Jim dale always brings stories to life amd this is no exception! Great story and even more impressive for the writers first book!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Entertaining

I got this book for my book club and it was so lovely! I would recommend this to anyone.

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