The Somnambulist: A Novel

by Jonathan Barnes

Overview

Once the toast of good society in Victoria's England, the extraordinary conjurer Edward Moon no longer commands the respect that he did in earlier times. Still, each night he returns to the stage of his theater to amaze his devoted, albeit dwindling, audience, aided by his partner, the Somnambulist—a silent, hairless, hulking giant who, when stabbed, does not bleed. But these are strange, strange times in England, with the oddest of sorts prowling London's dank underbelly. And the very bizarre death of a disreputable actor has compelled a baffled police constabulary to turn once again to Edward Moon for help—inevitably setting in motion events that will shatter his increasingly tenuous grasp on reality.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780061375392
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	01/06/2009
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	384
Product dimensions:	5.32(w) x 7.94(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

Jonathan Barnes, author of the critically acclaimed novel The Somnambulist, graduated from Oxford University with a first in English literature. He reviews for the Times Literary Supplement and lives in London.

Read an Excerpt

The Somnambulist
A Novel

Chapter One

Be warned. This book has no literary merit whatsoever. It is a lurid piece of nonsense, convoluted, implausible, peopled by unconvincing characters, written in drearily pedestrian prose, frequently ridiculous and wilfully bizarre. Needless to say, I doubt you'll believe a word of it.

Yet I cannot be held wholly accountable for its failings. I have good reason for presenting you with so sensational and unlikely an account.

It is all true. Every word of what follows actually happened, and I am merely the journalist, the humble Boswell, who has set it down. You'll have realised by now that I am new to this business of storytelling, that I lack the skill of an expert, that I am without any ability to enthral the reader, to beguile with narrative tricks or charm with sleight of hand.

But I can promise you three things: to relate events in their neatest and most appropriate order; to omit nothing I consider significant; and to be as frank and free with you as I am able.

I must ask you in return to show some little understanding for a man come late in life to tale-telling, an artless dilettante who, on dipping his toes into the shallows of story, hopes only that he will not needlessly embarrass himself.

One final thing, one final warning: in the spirit of fair play, I ought to admit that I shall have reason to tell you more than one direct lie.

What, then, should you believe? How will you distinguish truth from fiction?

Naturally, I leave that to your discretion.

The Somnambulist
A Novel. Copyright © by Jonathan Barnes. Reprinted bypermission of HarperCollins Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved. Available now wherever books are sold.

What People are Saying About This

Jeff Vandermeer

“Sneaky, cheeky, and dark in the best possible way, Jonathan Barnes’ massively entertaining THE SOMNAMBULIST manages to make the familiar daringly unfamiliar. I enjoyed the heck out of this novel.”

Christopher Bram

“A comic extravaganza, deftly plotted, fiendishly clever, and wonderfully funny. . . . One of the classiest entertainments I’ve read.”

James Morrow

“Macabre wit and stylistic panache. Parliament should immediately pass a law requiring Barnes to write a sequel.”

Michael Marshall

“Magical, dark, beautifully oddand utterly compellingthis is an astonishing debut.”

Editorial Reviews

This superb debut from British author Barnes raises the bar for historical thrillers.” — Publishers Weekly

“Strange, outrageous, and wonderful … There is much that is strange, magical, and darkly hilarious about this book … An original and monumentally inventive piece of work by a writer still in his 20s. Barnes seems to leave himself room for a sequel—a consummation devoutly to be wished.” — Washington Post

“Old school entertainment in the penny-dreadful tradition that almost succeeds in being as sublime as it is ridiculous.” — Entertainment Weekly

“Magical, dark, beautifully odd–and utterly compelling–this is an astonishing debut.” — Michael Marshall, author of The Intruders

“Sneaky, cheeky, and dark in the best possible way, Jonathan Barnes’ massively entertaining THE SOMNAMBULIST manages to make the familiar daringly unfamiliar. I enjoyed the heck out of this novel.” — Jeff Vandermeer

“Macabre wit and stylistic panache. Parliament should immediately pass a law requiring Barnes to write a sequel.” — James Morrow, author of The Last Witchfinder and The Philosopher’s Apprentice

“A comic extravaganza, deftly plotted, fiendishly clever, and wonderfully funny. . . . One of the classiest entertainments I’ve read.” — Christopher Bram, author of Exiles in America

“[B]rilliant...Barnes crafts one of the finest first novels of the young century...Truly surprising plot twists and red herrings abound.” — Austin Chronicle

“A cheeky tale...salvaged from the sensationalist novels of the past three centuries....it doesn’t take an English-lit wonk to appreciate the antic mind that would name two of the grotesquely deformed prostitutes in Mrs. Puggsley’s brothel after virginal victims of Count Dracula.” — New York Times

“A first novel that shows all the polish and poise of a master storyteller….By turns disquieting, funny, and taunting.” — St. Louis Post-Dispatch

“Anyone who loves a good, kind of creepy thriller most likely will find something to love in [these] pages…. Thoroughly enjoyable.” — Kansas City Star

“The Somnambulist is not your great-grandfather’s mystery yarn.” — Richmond Times-Dispatch

From the Publisher

Strange, outrageous, and wonderful … There is much that is strange, magical, and darkly hilarious about this book … An original and monumentally inventive piece of work by a writer still in his 20s. Barnes seems to leave himself room for a sequel—a consummation devoutly to be wished.

Washington Post

[B]rilliant...Barnes crafts one of the finest first novels of the young century...Truly surprising plot twists and red herrings abound.

Austin Chronicle

Magical, dark, beautifully odd–and utterly compelling–this is an astonishing debut.

Michael Marshall

A first novel that shows all the polish and poise of a master storyteller….By turns disquieting, funny, and taunting.

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

A comic extravaganza, deftly plotted, fiendishly clever, and wonderfully funny. . . . One of the classiest entertainments I’ve read.

Christopher Bram

Macabre wit and stylistic panache. Parliament should immediately pass a law requiring Barnes to write a sequel.

James Morrow

Old school entertainment in the penny-dreadful tradition that almost succeeds in being as sublime as it is ridiculous.

Entertainment Weekly

Sneaky, cheeky, and dark in the best possible way, Jonathan Barnes’ massively entertaining THE SOMNAMBULIST manages to make the familiar daringly unfamiliar. I enjoyed the heck out of this novel.

Jeff Vandermeer

A cheeky tale...salvaged from the sensationalist novels of the past three centuries....it doesn’t take an English-lit wonk to appreciate the antic mind that would name two of the grotesquely deformed prostitutes in Mrs. Puggsley’s brothel after virginal victims of Count Dracula.

New York Times

The Somnambulist is not your great-grandfather’s mystery yarn.

Richmond Times-Dispatch

Anyone who loves a good, kind of creepy thriller most likely will find something to love in [these] pages…. Thoroughly enjoyable.

Kansas City Star

Strange, outrageous, and wonderful … There is much that is strange, magical, and darkly hilarious about this book … An original and monumentally inventive piece of work by a writer still in his 20s. Barnes seems to leave himself room for a sequel—a consummation devoutly to be wished.

Washington Post

Anyone who loves a good, kind of creepy thriller most likely will find something to love in [these] pages…. Thoroughly enjoyable.

Kansas City Star