Vintage-14.11.221534

Reading lists

Powerful stories that make great gifts

YRD_2_Hero-Desktop_Penguin

Interviews

Emily Henry and Erin Morgenstern: How TikTok changes authors’ careers

A flatlay of the most popular books on TikTok on a white background.

tiktok-flatlay-main-image-1800×1200.jpg

The books blowing up on TikTok

Morgenstern-Erin-c-Kelly-Davidson-HIGH-RES.jpg

Features

Author Erin Morgenstern on The Night Circus

The Starless Sea

The spellbinding Sunday Times bestseller

THE TIKTOK SENSATION 
 
Discover the enchanting, magical bestseller from the author of The Night Circus, now in a stunning new edition. 
 
We are all stardust and stories... 
 
When Zachary Rawlins stumbles across a mysterious book containing details from his own life among its pages, it leads him on a quest unlike any other. 
 
Following the clues inside, he is guided to a masquerade ball, a dangerous secret club, and finally to an ancient library hidden far beneath the surface of the earth. What Zachary finds in this curious place is more than just a buried home for books and their guardians - it is a place of lost cities and seas, lovers who pass notes across time, and of stories whispered by the dead. 
 
But when the library is threatened, Zachary must race through its twisting tunnels and sweetly soaked shores, searching for the end of his story. 
 
PRAISE FOR THE STARLESS SEA: 
'Enchanting read... an ode to stories and storytelling itself, and the joy of reading' Guardian 
'Spellbinding' Daily Mirror 
'A magical mix of quests and fables...beautifully written' Heat

The Starless Sea rejects older stories: it makes its own... Rather than a traditional fantasy novel, this is an artificial myth in its own right... the novel's scope and ambition are undeniable

A magical mix of quests and fables, it's set in a secret world full of bees, keys, swords and secrets... beautifully written

Enchanting...Myths and fairytales entwine with Zachary's quest to discover his life's purpose. Spellbinding.

[Mogenstern's] second novel is just as enchanting, a lovely, lush voyage through vividly detailed worlds where lost libraries, elegant ballrooms, subterranean seas and covert cities are all beautifully described... The writing is whimsically gorgeous. On every page there’s an image to savour...as Erin Morgenstern celebrates the wonders of imagination and the lure of stories in this spellbinding book. *****

Erin Morgenstern is the author of The Night Circus, a bestseller that has enchanted readers around the world and has been translated into thirty-seven languages. She has a degree in Theatre from Smith College, an ever-growing collection of jewellery made from skeleton keys, and a cat on her lap. She lives in Massachusetts. 
 
 
www.erinmorgenstern.com

THE TIKTOK SENSATION 
 
Discover the enchanting, magical bestseller from the author of The Night Circus, now in a stunning new edition. 
 
We are all stardust and stories... 
 
When Zachary Rawlins stumbles across a mysterious book containing details from his own life among its pages, it leads him on a quest unlike any other. 
 
Following the clues inside, he is guided to a masquerade ball, a dangerous secret club, and finally to an ancient library hidden far beneath the surface of the earth. What Zachary finds in this curious place is more than just a buried home for books and their guardians - it is a place of lost cities and seas, lovers who pass notes across time, and of stories whispered by the dead. 
 
But when the library is threatened, Zachary must race through its twisting tunnels and sweetly soaked shores, searching for the end of his story. 
 
 
PRAISE FOR THE STARLESS SEA: 
'Enchanting read... an ode to stories and storytelling itself, and the joy of reading' Guardian 
'Spellbinding' Daily Mirror 
'A magical mix of quests and fables...beautifully written' Heat

The Night Circus

Run away and join the night circus - magical performances, inexplicable marvels, rivalry and love. 
What would be your act?

This is a marvellous book. Playful and intensely imaginative, Erin Morgenstern has created the circus I have always longed for

The only response to this novel is simply: wow. It is a breathtaking feat of imagination, a flight of fancy that pulls you in and wraps you up in its spell

Enchanting ... I was compelled by the world itself - by its saturated colours and textures, its unexpected smells and tastes. It is - a surprisingly rare thing in fiction - a strikingly beautiful world, in spite of its darkness

A riveting debut. The Night Circus pulls you into a world as dark as it is dazzling, fully-realized but still something out of a dream. You will not want to leave it

Téa Obreht, author of The Tiger’s Wife

Dark and dreamy; a captivating love story

Lushly imagined, extremely charming and very, very readable

One of the most beautiful novels of the year

Deliciously inventive... Don't imagine this is a light, frothy tale. For all her humorous touches, Morgernstern ... has produced something darker than night

Lush, evocative, dreamlike... a magical, coming-of-age story

Pure pleasure... Erin Morgenstern is a gifted, classic storyteller, a tale-teller, a spinner of the charmed and mesmerizing - I had many other things I was supposed to be doing, but the book kept drawing me back in and I tore through it. You can be certain this riveting debut will create a group of rêveurs all its own.

Aimee Bender, author of The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake

Morgenstern displays a conjurer's dexterity as she develops her tale, and you'd need a heart of stone not to melt at the melodramatic denouement

The narrative is deft and satisfying, and the author's talent is intriguing

This week's hot read... I loved this book and didn't want it to end... Totally absorbing and beautifully descriptive, it created a whole world I couldn't help but get lost it, especially the slow-burning love story between the two main characters, who are both sorcerers

Every once in awhile you find a novel so magical that there is no escaping its spell. The Night Circus is one of these rarities - engrossing, beautifully written and utterly enchanting. If you choose to read just one novel this year, this is it

Danielle Trussoni, author of 'Angelology'

'Dark as soot and bright as sparks,' The Night Circus still holds me willingly captive in a world of almost unbearable beauty. This is a love story on a grand scale: it creates, it destroys, it ultimately transcends. Take a bow, Erin Morgenstern. This is one of the best books I have ever read

Brunonia Barry, author of 'The Lace Reader'

The Night Circus is a gorgeously imagined fable poised in the high latitudes of Hans Christian Anderson and Oscar Wilde, with a few degrees toward Hesse's Steppenwolf for dangerous spice. The tale is masterfully written and invites allegorical interpretations even as its leisurely but persistent suspense gives it compelling charm. An enchanting read

Erin Morgenstern's astonishingly vivid imagination made the unbelievable believable...in other words I fell for it all... There is illusion and delusion, shape-shifting, manipulation and deceit, misdirection and more often than not all is definitely not what it seems as the story unfolds, and if you are as unforgiving as I am of entire books written in the present tense, in this case, as you read you will see why it is necessary. The present tense embraces shifting time whether past or future, it is actually always the present ...see I can hardly make sense of it myself, you need to read it to see how well it works.  And yes I was enchanted, and I did run away with the circus as young Bailey does, and as I closed the book of course I came back to reality gently wondering whether I was supposed to be thinking, how long before Bailey meets Mr Barnum

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

I'm not often lost for words, but I'm struggling to find the words to describe just how good this book is and how it made me feel, so I'll just say this: if you are only able to read one book for the rest of your life, make sure it is The Night Circus. You won't regret it

A phantasmagorical world inhabited by compelling characters. Grown-up fans of Harry Potter, take note

Morgenstern paints precise, evocative and visually lush scenes within the tents of her fictional circus… a genuine pleasure to read. Like any successful illusion, it could be carefully unraveled but surely it should simply be enjoyed

For all its whimsy, the author’s lush, evocative, dreamlike prose is not as sugar-coated as it sounds. Her writing is delectable, addictive stuff, and this is an accomplished, refreshingly unusual debut

Within the black-and-white striped canvas tents, Le Cirque des Reves is an utterly unique experience full of breathtaking amazement

A phantasmagorical fairytale for grown-ups

Absolutely spellbinding! A wonderful mix of history and magic that will keep you captivated. We love this magical debut!

Enough here to satisfy fans of JK Rowling or even Suzanna Clarke

For ultimate holiday escapism delve into Morgenstern’s tale… Expect some unfamiliar acts and a good old love story in there too

Enchanting and whimsical historical fantasy, this is a delight for the imagination with its breathtaking imagery, intriguing plot, and beautiful writing

Lush, evocative, dreamlike...a magical, coming-of-age story

Dark and dreamy; a captivating love story

Deliciously inventive... Don't imagine this is a light, frothy tale. For all her humorous touches, Morgernstern...has produced something darker than night

The only response to this novel is simply: wow. It is a breathtaking feat of imagination, a flight of fancy that pulls you in and wraps you up in its spell

An extraordinary blend of dream and nightmare will take you on a magical journey

Charming, magical, mysterious, enthralling

Lushly imagined, extremely charming and very, very readable

The Night Circus made me happy. Playful and intensely imaginative, Erin Morgenstern has created the circus I have always longed for. This is a marvelous book

Audrey Niffenegger, author of The Time Traveler's Wife

The Night Circus pulls you into a world as dark as it is dazzling, fully-realized but still something out of a dream. You will not want to leave it

Pure pleasure... Erin Morgenstern is a gifted, classic storyteller, a tale-teller, a spinner of the charmed and mesmerizing - I had many other things I was supposed to be doing, but the book kept drawing me back in and I tore through it. You can be certain this riveting debut will create a group of rêveurs all its own

This 19th-Century Anglo-American costume drama about two star-crossed lovers in a fantastical travelling circus is as dreamlike and magical as its setting

I'm not often lost for words, but I'm struggling to find the words to describe just how good this book is and how it made me feel, so I'll just say this: if you are only able to read one book for the rest of your life, make sure it is The Night Circus. You won't regret it

This must be one of the most beautiful novels of the year. Its die-cut cover, black-edged pages and intricate endpapers attest to the publisher's hopes that Erin Morgenstern's magically minded debut will secure the vast audience left bereft by the conclusion of the Harry Potter chronicles

The narrative is deft and satisfying, and the author's talent is intriguing

Enchanting, and affecting... I was compelled by the world itself - by its saturated colours and textures, its unexpected smells and tastes. It is a surprisingly rare thing in fiction - a strikingly beautiful world, in spite of its darkness

Morgenstern's writing, when it comes to magical creations, is delectable, addictive stuff...[it] leaves a tang of smoky caramel in the air as it ends, and an undeniable urge to go to the circus

A beguiling, gripping read... Morgenstern has crafted a thrilling and transporting tale

Extraordinary, atmospheric, a mind-spinning story

This week's hot read...I loved this book and didn't want it to end... Totally absorbing and beautifully descriptive, it created a whole world I couldn't help but get lost in, especially the slow-burning love story between the two main characters, who are both sorcerers

Enter the magical world of a mysterious travelling circus

The new One Day... Erin Morgenstern is the talk of the literary world and we hear The Night Circus will be the next big thing. Set in a mysterious, monochrome circus the book centres on two young magicians who begin to fall in love

Fantasy blends seamlessly with reality and I ended up having to use words like this: enchanting

Erin Morgenstern's astonishingly vivid imagination made the unbelievable believable...in other words I fell for it all... There is illusion and delusion, shape-shifting, manipulation and deceit, misdirection and more often than not all is definitely not what it seems as the story unfolds, and if you are as unforgiving as I am of entire books written in the present tense, in this case, as you read you will see why it is necessary. The present tense embraces shifting time whether past or future, it is actually always the present ..see I can hardly make sense of it myself, you need to read it to see how well it works. And yes, I was enchanted, and I did run away with the circus as young Bailey does, and as I closed the book of course I came back to reality gently wondering whether I was supposed to be thinking, how long before Bailey meets Mr Barnum

An enchanting tale of forbidden love, set against the spectacular backdrop of the circus

A recommendation by Audrey Niffenegger...should ensure this amazing debut novel gets the attention it deserves

Fantasy lovers, here comes Harry Potter for grown-ups... The story is already en-route to Hollywoood so snap up the original tale first

It is rich, evocative, compelling, enchanting, whimsical, breath-taking, playful, imaginative, marvellous, and quite simply beautiful in every single way. I love it

Erin Morgenstern is a writer and artist, who describes all her work as 'fairy tales in one way or another'. She lives in Boston, Massachusetts 
 
 
www.erinmorgenstern.com

The circus arrives without warning. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. Against the grey sky the towering tents are striped black and white. A sign hanging upon iron gates reads: 
 
Opens at Nightfall 
Closes at Dawn 
 
As dusk shifts to twilight, tiny lights begin to flicker all over the tents, as though the whole circus is covered in fireflies. When the tents are aglow, sparkling against the night sky, the sign lights up: 
 
Le Cirque des Rêves 
The Circus of Dreams 
 
The gates shudder and unlock, seemingly by their own volition. 
They swing outward, inviting the crowd inside. 
 
Now the circus is open. 
Now you may enter. 
 
Discover this amazing fantasy read with a different kind of magic. 
 
The Starless Sea, the second novel from the author of the The Night Circus, is available for pre-order now.

Erin Morgenstern

Vintage Quarterbound Classics

A beautiful hardback edition of the modern fantasy classic, from the bestselling author of The Starless Sea. 
 
'The only response to this novel is simply: wow. It is a breathtaking feat of imagination, a flight of fancy that pulls you in and wraps you up in its spell' The Times 
 
The circus arrives without warning. 
 
It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. Against the grey sky the towering tents are striped black and white. A sign hanging upon an iron gates reads: 
 
Opens at Nightfall 
Closes at Dawn 
 
Full of breath-taking amazements, Le Cirque des Rêves seems to cast a spell over all who wander its circular paths. But behind the glittering acrobats, fortune-tellers and contortionists a fierce competition is underway. 
 
Celia and Marco are two young magicians in the Circus, who have been trained since childhood for a deadly duel. With the lives of everyone at the Circus of Dreams at stake, they must test the very limits of the imagination, and of their love. 
 
The circus is open. 
Get ready to enter the fantastical world of the Night Circus. 
 
'Lush, evocative, dreamlike...a magical, coming-of-age story' Sunday Times 
 
'A beguiling, gripping read... Morgenstern has crafted a thrilling and transporting tale' Economist 
 
Vintage Quarterbound Classics: Bound to be beautiful

About us

About Us (Header 4)

Kate-Atkinson

James-Baldwin

Marian-Keyes

haruki-murakami-320×320-1

Richard-Osman

Malorie Blackman

Lisa-Jewell

Charlie-Mackesy

Authors (Header 3)

Children&#039;s

Company

Discover

Fiction

Non-fiction

Penguin Classics

Penguin Shop (Header 5)

Useful links

Work with us

prhuk-authors

author-menu

By signing up, I confirm that I'm over 16. To find out what personal data we collect and how we use it, please visit our&nbsp;<a href="https://www.penguin.co.uk/company/about-us/notices/privacy-policy/">Privacy Policy</a>

Discover the Penguin books that shaped us

Erin Morgenstern

Books by Erin Morgenstern

Articles featuring Erin Morgenstern

Powerful stories that make great gifts

Emily Henry and Erin Morgenstern: How TikTok changes authors’ careers

The books blowing up on TikTok

Author Erin Morgenstern on The Night Circus

Follow penguin

Follow ladybird

Follow puffin

Sign up to the Penguin newsletter