Summary

Erin Morgenstern's debut novel, The Night Circus is a mesmerizing tale of magic, romance, rivalry, and danger. Set in the fantastical world of Le Cirque des Rêves, a mysterious traveling circus that opens only at night, the story centers on the fierce competition between two magicians, Celia and Marco, who become pawns in a deadly game. 

Published in 2011, The Night Circus garnered praise for its lush prose and imaginative storytelling, winning the Locus Award for Best First Novel and an Alex Award from the American Library Association. The novel spent seven weeks on The New York Times bestseller list. The film rights have been optioned by Summit Entertainment. 

Plot

The Night Circus tells the story of Le Cirque des Rêves, a mysterious traveling circus that appears without warning and only opens at night. Behind its enchanting performances lies a fierce competition between two young magicians, Celia and Marco, who have been trained since childhood for this purpose by their enigmatic mentors.

Unbeknownst to Celia and Marco, they are pawns in a dangerous game where only one can survive. As they create increasingly spectacular exhibitions for the circus, they begin to fall in love, despite the knowledge that their feelings could jeopardize the competition. Their romance causes magical disturbances within the circus, affecting the lights and atmosphere whenever they interact.

As the competition intensifies, the circus performers and patrons become unwittingly entangled in the high-stakes duel. The fate of everyone involved hangs in a precarious balance, mirroring the daring feats of the acrobats above. Tensions rise when mysterious events occur, including the death of a circus investor and a near-fatal accident during a performance. 

Will Celia and Marcus find a way to end the game without destroying the circus or sacrificing their love? The culmination of their struggle is truly out of this world.

Themes

• Love and fate versus free will

• Magic and illusion in everyday life

• Duality and contrast between light and dark

• Competition and collaboration

• Sacrifice and dedication to one's craft

• The power of imagination and dreams

• Time and its fluid nature in storytelling

Setting

Set primarily in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, The Night Circus unfolds across a vast geographical canvas. The titular circus, known as Le Cirque des Rêves, travels to various cities and towns without warning, appearing and disappearing mysteriously. While the specific locations are often left ambiguous, the story's atmosphere evokes a sense of Victorian-era Europe and America.

At the heart of the narrative is the circus itself, a black-and-white striped wonderland that operates exclusively from sunset to sunrise. This enchanting venue serves as the primary setting for much of the novel's action, hosting magical exhibitions and illusionary feats that defy reality. The circus's interior is a labyrinth of tents and attractions, each more fantastical than the last, creating a dreamlike environment for the characters as well as readers.

Beyond the circus, the story touches on other locales, including London, where some characters reside and train. However, the true magic of the setting lies in its fluidity and mystery. Erin Morgenstern crafts a world where time and place become malleable, blurring the lines between reality and illusion, and inviting readers into a realm where the impossible becomes possible under the cover of night.

Characters

• Celia Bowen: One of the main protagonists. The daughter of Prospero the Enchanter, Celia is a powerful illusionist who can manipulate reality. She works as a performer in Le Cirque des Rêves, creating breathtaking illusions. Celia falls in love with Marco, despite their roles as opponents in a magical contest.

• Marco Alisdair: The other main protagonist. An orphan trained by the mysterious Mr. A.H.,  Marco is skilled in binding magic and creating dreamlike worlds. He works behind the scenes of the circus as the assistant to the proprietor. Marco develops feelings for Celia as they compete in their magical duel.

• Prospero the Enchanter: Celia's father and a renowned magician. He initiates the contest with Mr. A.H. and trains Celia through often cruel methods. Prospero is arrogant and sees the competition as a game to prove his magical superiority.

• Mr. A.H.: The enigmatic opponent of Prospero who trains Marco. He is a mysterious figure who rarely appears in person, communicating mostly through letters. Mr. A.H. takes a clinical approach to magic and views the contest as an experiment.

• Bailey Clarke: A young farm boy who becomes enchanted with the circus. He forms a close bond with the twins Poppet and Widget. Bailey eventually plays a crucial role in preserving the circus.

• Poppet and Widget: Twin performers born on the circus's opening night. Poppet can see the future while Widget can read people's pasts. They befriend Bailey and help tie the circus's fate to him.

• Chandresh Christophe Lefèvre: The eccentric proprietor of Le Cirque des Rêves. He organizes the circus but is unaware of the magical contest taking place within it.

• Tsukiko: The circus's contortionist and a previous winner of a similar magical contest. She recognizes the competition between Celia and Marco.

Quick facts

• Erin Morgenstern originally wrote The Night Circus, her debut novel, for the National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) competition over three separate years.

• Morgenstern has a degree in theater and studio art, which influenced the visual and performative aspects of the novel.

• The author wrote much of The Night Circus while working as a waitress and painter.

• Morgenstern cites Steven Millhauser's short story “The Barnum Museum” as an inspiration for the circus setting.

• The novel’s nonlinear structure was influenced by the Choose Your Own Adventure books Morgenstern enjoyed as a child.

• The short, self-contained chapters reflect the myriad tents of the circus described in the story.

• The Night Circus spent seven weeks on The New York Times bestseller list.

• The novel won the Locus Award for Best First Novel in 2011 and an Alex Award from the American Library Association in 2012.

• The audiobook version is narrated by Jim Dale, famous for his work on the Harry Potter audiobooks.

• A puzzle game was created by Failbetter Games to accompany the book's release in the UK.

• The film rights were optioned by Summit Entertainment, with David Heyman, producer of the Harry Potter films, attached to produce.

About the Author

Erin Morgenstern (1978-) is an American author and multimedia artist best known for her debut novel, The Night Circus. Published in 2011, this phantasmagorical tale of magic and romance won  the Locus Award for Best First Novel and an Alex Award from the American Library Association. The novel went on to become a New York Times bestseller and has been translated into 37 languages. 

Morgenstern's journey to publication was not without challenges. She faced rejection from 30 literary agents before signing with Inkwell Management in May 2010. Her persistence paid off when Doubleday acquired The Night Circus in September of the same year. In 2019, Morgenstern released her second novel, The Starless Sea. This sweeping work interweaves romantic and fantastical elements, further establishing her reputation as a skilled storyteller in the fantasy genre. 

Morgenstern holds a degree in theater from Smith College and resides in Massachusetts. In addition to writing, she paints in acrylics and has created the Phantomwise tarot deck. She maintains an active online presence, engaging with readers through her website and social media platforms.