The Night Circus

A Novel

By: Erin Morgenstern

Narrated by: Jim Dale

Length: 13 hrs and 40 mins

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

Critic reviews

" 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)

a story for those who dream and love

This story is completely captivating for young audiences and old alike. It's whimsical with a touch of romance that grounds all the wonderful details of the circus. the narration is lovely; it may be striking at first for new audio book listeners but you easily forget about the voice and get lost in this world.

A magically beautiful tale.

I’ve read this story myself and have always loved it. The readers performance is very well done and goes with the tone of the story perfectly. It’s a captivating story, that to me is moving as it sits with you the possibility of magic all around us is a wonderful thought . The romance is enduring and feels so pure between the characters that in itself is also magical.

Spellbinding!

I have nothing more to say. There is nothing more to say. Nothing at all . . .

Most intriguing book.

Read this book many years ago and loved it. Enjoyed it equally on audible. My one recommendation is that I wished there had been more variation among the narrator voices. Particularly Bailey, who is American but voiced with an English accent.

magic and visual splender

I was recommended this book by a good friend and what I did love about it was how it really created this night circus the way it's explained. you can truly see it in your mind. you can smell the food. hear the cheers just for that alone and it's a very good read The story while I did enjoy it. I did get wrapped up. It does have a lot of characters and I felt like I wanted to know more but still I would highly recommend

You can smell the popcorn and feel the magic

Jim Dale is incredibly talented with his character voices and how he makes them come to life - he's my favorite narrator.
That said - this book is one of my favorites - I've read it several times because I just love how the story unfolds, the beautiful imagery, the mysterious characters, the twists and turns in the plot, and most of all - I love the Night Circus.
If you loved books like Harry Potter - this is another one you should read. It's truly magical!

A deliciously dreamy story

I love how dreamy and magical this story is. It’s so descriptive that I felt like I was right there with the characters. I immediately listened to it a second time to soak everything up that I missed the first time.

As always Jim Dale did a superb job.

Truly an amazing story! Do Not Hesitate!

This is one of those rare books that literally transport you into a different world. It's odd I've never heard of this book until now. I'm just thankful I found it. The writing is superb, the story is unforgettable. It's worth more than one credit, but that's all it cost me to enter The Night Circus. 🎪

1st long book to keep my attention!!!!

This book is the longest book I've listened to, as of right now, and it kept my attention the entire time. I don't even like fictional, fantasy stories, so I had low expectations, but this audiobook kept my complete attention! It's a messed up, mystical world, filled with magic, illusions, deception, fear, hope, love, and a travelling carnival. I love this book, I will definitely recommend this book to everyone. Try the sample of the book if your doubtful. I'm so glad I jumped into it, definitely worth listening to!!!!

Magical

Rarely does a book capture me so completely. I loved every moment. It was Harry Potter meets Shakespeare, with a dash of Tim Burton. Jim Dale's narration was superb. I could not stop listening. Superb.