The Ringmaster's Daughter (Paperback, New edition)

Petter is a strange and clever child, both blessed and cursed by his over-active imagination. From an early age he is overwhelmed and isolated by the swarm of thoughts, ideas and characters that constantly jostle for prominence in his brain. He is close to his eccentric and romantic mother and they share a love of theatre and classical music; but she is self-absorbed and too often leaves her sensitive young son alone. He has little rapport with his well-meaning but absent father and shuns other close relationships. When Petter grows up and falls in love with Maria he believes he has found his soulmate, but Maria is both captivated and terrified by his imagination and eventually his distance from reality and her need for freedom drive them apart, but not before Petter has impregnated her with a child he agrees not to have any relationship with. He sells his soul in order to be rid of his excess thoughts by brokering his synopses to would-be writers, claiming only financial reward with no interest in recognition. He becomes the ultimate ghostwriter, enjoying the power that he has over his dependent writers and their talent. Known anonymously as 'The Spider', Petter weaves an increasingly intricate and precarious web throughout the literary community. But as the web closes in, it threatens to destroy its creator. This is a highly original tale from the author of the international bestseller Sophie's World. The story is narrated by Petter and carried along by his whirlpool of creativity, which spawns a multitude of intricate stories within the main narrative. Haunting and enthralling, it's a remarkable read. (Kirkus UK)

From the author of SOPHIE'S WORLD, 'A masterful mixture of fantasy and reality...a simply wonderful read' SHE. Panina Manina, a trapeze artist, falls and breaks her neck. As the ringmaster bends over her, he notices an amulet of amber around her neck, the same trinket he had given his own lost child, who was swept away in a torrent some sixteen years earlier. This tale is narrated by Petter, a precocious child and fantasist, and perhaps Jostein Gaarder's most intriguing character since Sophie. As an adult, Petter makes his living selling stories and ideas to professionals suffering from writer's block. But as Petter sits spinning his tales, he finds himself in a trap of his own making.

General

Imprint:	Weidenfeld & Nicolson
Country of origin:	United Kingdom
Release date:	December 2003
First published:	September 2003
Authors:	Jostein Gaarder
Dimensions:	199 x 129 x 16mm (L x W x T)
Format:	Paperback
Pages:	215
Edition:	New edition
ISBN-13:	978-0-7538-1700-1
Categories:	Books > Fiction > General & literary fiction > Modern fiction Promotions
LSN:	0-7538-1700-4
Barcode:	9780753817001

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