The Illusionists - Softcover

“Beneath this buoyant tale of down-market entertainers in Victorian London rumbles a heavyweight novel . . . As intricate and thrilling as any accomplished bit of conjuring.” —The New York Times

“Gripping . . . Rosie Thomas ably captures the magic of Victorian London—including its spectacular advancements in technology, such as the phonograph, electric lighting and automata—yet she does not neglect the seamy, hardscrabble life so prevalent among theatrical performers.” —Shelf Awareness

“Thomas’s sprawling follow-up to The Kashmir Shawl combines several elements: a story of a theater company, a thriller, and, most successfully, a portrait of a woman trying to create an equal partnership with a man . . . The heart of the book is Eliza’s long, slow attempt to not only marry Devil but to live in parity with him. Since she has no models for the relationship she wants, Thomas shows Eliza working to invent a new kind of life; a creation as novel for her time as the mechanical illusions at the Palmyra.” —Publishers Weekly

“This character driven novel is filled with odd and unusual characters whose personalities and quirks are revealed as the story progresses. . . . The story-line is compelling for its vivid descriptions and fascinating characters who are anything but normal and predictable . . . Definitely, an entertaining read that stands out for its unique qualities.” —Historical Novels Review

“Thomas enthusiastically explores a unique subject and skillfully creates the sights, atmosphere and sensations of British theater during this era . . . An excellent premise.” —Kirkus Reviews

“While the background details on stage magic and thetheater business are captivating, Devil and Eliza’s ardent love story is the book’s emotional heart, and theever-changing connections among all its intriguing performers fill it with genuine life and vitality.” —Booklist 

Praise for the work of Rosie Thomas:
 
“Rosie Thomas has the rare and wonderful ability to create stories and characters that take you instantly into another world.”—Penny Vincenzi
  
“Thomas writes with a sharp nib, not a dull computer key. She is neither mawkish nor squeamish, but full of fresh images.”  —Washington Post Book World
 
“A master storyteller.” —Cosmopolitan
 
“Thomas’s novels are beautifully written.” —Marie Claire
 
“Thomas can write with ravishing sensuality.” —The Times

"Utterly engrosing and beautifully written . . . [Thomas's] character's are so interesting and realistic that readers will be reluctant to let them go." —Library Journal

“Love, seduction, magic and illusion collide as Rosie Thomas takes us on a spellbinding journey through an extremely shadowy world.” —Daily Express

An enchanting,  Dickensian tale of desire, magic, and the Victorian theatre, perfect for fans of Sarah Waters, The Night Circus, and Water for Elephants—from the beloved and bestselling author of The Kashmir Shawl.

London, 1885—a challenging place for a young, beautiful woman of limited means. But Eliza is modern before her time. She longs for more than the stifling, if respectable, conventionality of marriage, children, domestic drudgery. Through her work as an artist’s model, she meets the magnetic and irascible Devil Wix—a born showman whose dream is to run his own theatre company.

Devil’s right-hand man is Carlo Bonomi, an ill-tempered dwarf who is a talented magician and illusionist. Carlo and Devil clash at every turn and it falls to Eliza to broker an uneasy peace between them. Jasper Button, a mild-mannered family man at heart, is a gifted artist and the unlikely final member of the motley crew. With self-styled impresario Devil at the helm of the Palmyra Theatre, acrobats and illusionists astonish audiences with their death-defying stunts and the magic of mysterious new inventions—like electricity. Backstage, secret romances, box-office dramas, and power struggles inevitably simmer, and intermittently boil over.

Framed by Rosie Thomas’s rich portrayal of the rapidly changing world of late-Victorian England, The Illusionists takes readers on an unforgettable journey with a cast of passionate, larger-than-life figures who are inextricably linked through their shared love of the stage and the theatre, and who will make you laugh and break your heart. And as Eliza is drawn into their seductive, precarious, and exciting bohemian world, she risks not only her heart, but also her life…