The Night Circus
Authors: Erin Morgenstern
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses,
organizations, places, events, and incidents either are the product of the
author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual
persons, living or dead, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
Copyright © 2011 by Night Circus, LLC
All rights reserved. Published in the United States by Doubleday,
a division of Random House, Inc., New York.
DOUBLEDAY
and the portrayal of an anchor with a dolphin
are registered trademarks of Random House, Inc.
Jacket design by John Fontana
Jacket illustration by Helen Musselwhite
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CATALOGING-IN-PUBLICATION DATA
Morgenstern, Erin.
The night circus : a novel / by Erin Morgenstern. — 1st ed.
p. cm.
1. Magicians—Fiction. 2. Circus—Fiction. 3. Games—Fiction.
4. Circus performers—Fiction. I. Title.
PS3613.O74875N54 2010
813′.6—dc22
2010050546
eISBN: 978-0-385-53464-2
v3.1
Contents
Anticipation
Unexpected Post: New York, February 1873
A Gentlemen’s Wager: London, October 1873
Shades of Grey: London, January 1874
Magic Lessons: 1875–1880
Le Bateleur: London, May–June 1884
False Pretenses: July–November 1884
Target Practice: London, December 1884
Darkness and Stars
Truth or Dare: Concord, Massachusetts, September 1897
Associates and Conspirators: London, February 1885
Condolences: New York, March 1885
The Contortionist’s Tattoo: London, September 1885
Horology: Munich, 1885
Auditory: London, April 1886
Stratagem: London, April 1886
Fire and Light
Hidden Things: Concord, Massachusetts, October 1902
Opening Night I: Inception: London, October 13 and 14, 1886
Opening Night II: Sparks: London, October 13 and 14, 1886
Opening Night III: Smoke and Mirrors: London, October 13 and 14, 1886
The Hanged Man
Oneiromancy: Concord, Massachusetts, October 1902
Rules of the Game: 1887–1889
Tasting: Lyon, September 1889
Chaperoned: Cairo, November 1890
Wishes and Desires: Paris, May 1891
Atmosphere: London, September 1891
Rêveurs: 1891–1892
Collaborations: September–December 1893
The Ticking of the Clock: Vienna, January 1894
The Magician’s Umbrella: Prague, March 1894
Reflections and Distortions
Cartomancy: Concord, Massachusetts, October 1902
The Wizard in the Tree: Barcelona, November 1894
Temporary Places: London, April 1895
Movement: Munich, April 1895
In Loving Memory of Tara Burgess: Glasgow, April 1895
Labyrinth
Ailuromancy: Concord, Massachusetts, October 1902
Tête-à-Tête: London, August 1896
The Lovers
Thirteen: London, Friday, October 13, 1899
Bedtime Stories: Concord, Massachusetts, October 1902
Bookkeeping: London, March 1900
Three Cups of Tea with Lainie Burgess: London, Basel, and Constantinople, 1900
Stormy Seas: Dublin, June 1901
An Entreaty: Concord, Massachusetts, October 30, 1902
Invitation: London, October 30, 1901
Intersections I: The Drop of a Hat: London, October 31–November 1, 1901
Darkest Before the Dawn: Concord, Massachusetts, October 31, 1902
Intersections II: Scarlet Furies and Red Destinies: London, October 31–November 1, 1901
The Pool of Tears
Farewell: Concord, Massachusetts, October 30 and 31, 1902
Retrospect: London, November 1, 1901
Beautiful Pain: London, November 1, 1901
Technicalities: London, November 1, 1901
Playing with Fire
Tsukiko: En Route from London to Munich, November 1, 1901
Escapement: Concord and Boston, October 31, 1902
Impasse: Montréal, August 1902
Visitations: September 1902
Charming but Deadly
Precognition: En Route from Boston to New York, October 31, 1902
Pursuit: En Route from Boston to New York, November 1, 1902
Old Ghosts: London, October 31, 1902
Aftermath: New York, November 1, 1902
Incendiary: New York, October 31, 1902
Transmutation: New York, November 1, 1902
Suspended: New York, November 1, 1902
The Second Lighting of the Bonfire: New York, November 1, 1902
Fates Foretold
