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The Amulet of Samarkand
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 First edition cover |
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| Author | Jonathan Stroud |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Series | Bartimaeus Trilogy |
| Genre(s) | Children's, Fantasy novel |
| Publisher | Hyperion Books |
| Released | 2003 |
| Media type | Print (Paperback & Hardback) |
| Pages | 462 pp (first edition, paperback) |
| ISBN | ISBN 078681859X (first edition, paperback) |
| Followed by | The Golem's Eye |
The Amulet of Samarkand is the first book in the Bartimaeus Trilogy written by Jonathan Stroud.
A young magician's apprentice, Nathaniel, secretly summons the irascible 5,000 year old djinni, Bartimaeus, to do his bidding. The task for Bartimaeus is not an easy one- he must steal the powerful Amulet of Samarkand from Simon Lovelace, a master magician of unrivalled ruthlessness and ambition. Before long, Bartimaeus and Nathaniel are caught up in a terrifying flood of magical intrigue, rebellion and murder.
Nathaniel, abandoned by his family, is to become a magician. Under his unnoteworthy master, Arthur Underwood, he wishes to become one of the greatest magicians of all time. At the age of twelve he summons the djinni Bartimaeus, a cocky spirit with a grudge against his slavers --- the magicians. Bartimaeus, expecting a ridiculous charge, is instead sent off to steal a potent artifact called the Amulet of Samarkand from Simon Lovelace. Nathaniel, seeking revenge for a humiliation suffered at Lovelace's hands, obtains the Amulet and has Bartimaeus hide it. Though Nathaniel is unaware of its power, Lovelace quickly comes to claim it. A struggle ensues, leading to the death of his master, Mr. Underwood, and his venerable wife.
With the assistance of Bartimaeus, Nathaniel manages to escape. He is unknowningly launched into a plot in which Lovelace intends to summon a powerful demon and, protected by the Amulet of Samarkand, use it to kill the Prime Minister and all the government, thus elevating him to a top position overnight. In the end, Nathaniel reverses the spell and unsummons the demon. He hands the Prime Minister the Amulet of Samarkand, making a grand show of it all. The book ends with Bartimaeus being freed from captivity.
Details about the adaptation to The Amulet of Samarkand have been released. Miramax will finance the film.
| Bartimaeus Trilogy | |
|---|---|
| Books | The Amulet of Samarkand | The Golem's Eye | Ptolemy's Gate |
| Main characters | Nathaniel | Bartimaeus | Kitty Jones |
| Other topics | Magic in the Bartimaeus trilogy | Characters of the Bartimaeus trilogy |