'One of those books that straddles fantastic and modernist literature in that it seems to be
set in our world seems to be set maybe 100 years ago . . . And it's as magical as it is
political and beautifully crafted' - Neil Gaiman Half fairy tale and half historical account of
a revolution that never was Owen King's The Curator is full of sly humor sensuality and
strangeness - Holly Black From Sunday Times bestselling author Owen King comes a Dickensian
fantasy of illusion and charm where cats are revered as religious figures thieves are noble
scholars are revolutionaries and conjurers the most wonderful criminals. At first glance the
world has not changed: the trams on the boulevards the grand hotels the cafes abuzz with
conversation. The street kids still play on the two great bridges that divide the city and the
smart set still venture down to the Morgue Ship for an evening's entertainment. Yet it only
takes a spark to ignite a revolution. For young Dora a maid at the university the moment
brings liberation. She finds herself walking out with one of the student radicals Robert free
to investigate what her brother Ambrose may have seen at the Institute for Psykical Research
before he died. But it is another establishment that Dora is given to look after The Museum of
the Worker. This strange forgotten edifice is occupied by waxwork tableaux of miners nurses
shopkeepers and other disturbingly lifelike figures. As the revolution and counter-revolution
outside unleash forces of love betrayal magic and terrifying darkness Dora's search for the
truth behind a mystery that she has long concealed will unravel a monstrous conspiracy and
bring her to the very edge of worlds. In The Curator Owen King has created an extraordinary
time and place - historical fantastical yet compellingly real and a heroine who is
courageous curious and utterly memorable. 'The Curator feels a little like Owen King somehow
brought a curiosity cabinet to life. There are terrors here but also marvels and delights and
a set of the most interesting characters I've met in some time. Put The Curator on the same
shelf as other classics of the uncanny and uncategorisable like Susanna Clarke's Piranesi and
Mervyn Peake's Gormenghast. I loved it' - Kelly Link 'Owen King's The Curator is a rich read.
Language characters and a fascinating world combine to create an intensely satisfying
experience' - Charlaine Harris
