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Sep 17, 2014
Despite mutual antipathy, self-made men Devil Wix, an aspiring impresario, and Carlo Boldoni, a dwarf contortionist-turned-illusionist, join forces to turn London's run-down Palmyra theater into a destination for world-class stage magic. To this end, they recruit Heinrich Bayer, a Swiss craftsman specializing in lifelike automata, as well as Devil's childhood friend, artist Jasper Button. Into their orbit comes aspiring actress Eliza Dunlop, whose combination of intelligence, beauty, and feminist ideals proves life-changing for all parties involved. Leisurely paced and character-driven, this dramatic, highly atmospheric exploration of Victorian England's street grit and stage glamour may appeal to fans of Sarah Waters' Tipping the Velvet or Michel Faber's The Crimson Petal and the White. Historical Fiction September 2014 Newsletter.