The Marvels is the latest novel from Brian Selznick. The story is told through Selznick’s unique two-part method which includes a 400 hundred page story told through illustrations and a second story told in prose.
The Marvels is Selznick’s third novel. The journey begins on a ship at sea in 1766, with a boy named Billy Marvel. After surviving a shipwreck, he finds work in a London theatre. There, his family flourishes for generations as brilliant actors until 1900, when young Leontes Marvel is banished from the stage.
Nearly a century later, Joseph Jervis runs away from school and seeks refuge with an uncle in London. Albert Nightingale’s strange, beautiful house, with its mysterious portraits and ghostly presences, captivates Joseph and leads him on a search for clues about the house, his family, and the past.
A gripping adventure and an intriguing invitation to decipher how the two narratives connect, The Marvels is a loving tribute to the power of story from an artist at the vanguard of creative innovation.
Here are some clues from The Marvels to give you an inside look at Brian Selznick’s latest novel.
Clue #1:
The illustration shows a man opening a basket by candlelight. We can assume that the man is part of the Marvel family but what is in the basket? The man seems genuinely surprised by what he sees but is it a good surprise or a bad surprise? The only other item in the picture is a some sort of ad in the background with a dog or possibly a horse on it. If it is a dog perhaps that is a clue as to what is in the basket.
What do you think is in the basket?
Clue #2:
This audio clip is read by the author, Brian Selznick. The writing conjures images of a boy’s dream and how easy it is for someone to destroy that dream. The passage makes you wonder who the boy is talking to and what his dream could be. The lyrical prose are intriguing and make us want to know more about the story.
Clue #3:
The image above is the pendant worn by a young girl in the novel. The pendant is made of silver and on a delicate chain. In the middle of the silver disc is a bird that looks like a dove. Dove’s are typically seen as a symbol of peace. They are also used in the Bible as part of Noah’s biblical story. It is said that a dove was released by Noah after the flood and he returned with an olive branch indicating there was land. Given that this story includes a shipwreck it is possible the dove has some symbolism in regards to that.
To learn more about The Marvels follow the teaser tour and visit the website.
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