Magic, mischief and multiverses! In the fourth ‘Chrestomanci’ adventure, Christopher discovers his extraordinary powers and tangled destiny. Illustrated with playful wonder by series artist Alison Bryant, this Folio edition brings Diana Wynne Jones’s beloved fantasy world gloriously to life.
US$70.00
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Magic, mischief and mayhem abound in this latest Chrestomanci instalment. We meet Christopher Chant, an adolescent enchanter with nine lives, destined to become the powerful Chrestomanci. Christopher's capering adventures – during which he encounters a powerful young goddess and a fearsome ginger cat named Throgmorten – are charmingly illustrated by series artist Alison Bryant.
This wonderful edition of the children's classic is chockful of colourful artwork and decorative motifs. It is a delightful gift for nostalgic adults and the perfect book to hand down to keen young readers craving their next magical fix.
Bound in printed and blocked textured paper
Set in Legacy Serif with Wonder Night as display
272 pages
6 colour illustrations
Black-and-white illustrated title page and chapter heads
Silver printed endpapers and slipcase
9˝ x 6¼˝
‘Illustrating Christopher’s magical journey was a fun challenge – blending the fantastical with the everyday. His encounters with eccentric characters and dreamlike worlds were a joy to bring to life. Throgmorten, the sarcastic magical cat, was definitely the highlight.’
Alison Bryant, Illustrator
Christopher Chant is an ordinary boy, who turns extraordinary when he starts to travel between worlds in his dreams. As he leaps from realm to realm, he’s drawn into a battle of powerful enchanters, where destiny has already chosen him as the next Chrestomanci, a magician tasked with keeping magic in balance. But Christopher isn’t ready for heroism – he’s more interested in cricket than conjuring. With danger creeping ever closer, he must decide … accept his fate or let chaos unravel the very fabric of existence.
About Diana Wynne Jones
Diana Wynne Jones had an unsettled childhood against the background of the Second World War. Her family moved frequently, finally settling in rural Essex. She and her two sisters were deprived of books but, armed with a vivid imagination and an insatiable appetite for stories, Jones wrote them herself to read to her sisters. She never ceased writing, and from 1973 onwards published many titles, which have been released worldwide in 30 languages. Her magical adventures have enthralled children and adults ever since. Among Jones’s best-loved books are the ‘Chrestomanci’ series and Howl’s Moving Castle (1986, Folio 2019) and its two sequels. In 2004 Howl’s Moving Castle was made into an animated film by Hayao Miyazaki for Studio Ghibli, Japan. It broke all box-office records in Japan at the time and was nominated for an Oscar. Jones’s numerous awards include the Guardian Award for Children’s Fiction, two Mythopoeic Fantasy Awards and a Life Achievement Award at the World Fantasy Convention 2007.
About Alison Bryant
Alison Bryant is a Devon-based illustrator who studied at Harrow Art School before completing a postgraduate course in publishing. After graduating she spent two years in Zambia, teaching drawing at the Africa Literature Centre. She works with a range of media and uses digital techniques to combine her drawings and prints. Her clients include Notion, Hodder Wayland, Macmillan and Barefoot Books. For Folio, Alison has illustrated Diana Wynne Jones’s ‘Chrestomanci’ series: Charmed Life(1977, Folio 2023),The Magicians of Caprona(1980, Folio 2024),Witch Week (1982, Folio 2024) and The Lives of Christopher Chant (1988, Folio 2025).
Explore The Folio Society's Howl's Moving Castle collection, where Diana Wynne Jones’s beloved fantasy series is beautifully reimagined by illustrator Marie-Alice Harel. Now available as a complete trilogy, this edition brings the magic of the series to life like never before.
The first adventure in the Folio Society editions of ‘The Magic Faraway Tree’ series, Enid Blyton’s The Enchanted Wood features Jonathan Burton’s enchanting illustrations and a new introduction by Michael Morpurgo.
Get ready to dive into the magical world of ‘Chrestomanci’ with Folio’s spellbinding set. The first three books of the series Charmed Life, The Magicians of Caprona, and Witch Week, have been brought to life with Alison Bryant's enchanting illustrations. The full series will be complete by 2027. Whether you’ve loved Diana Wynne Jones for years or you’re just discovering her, this set is a must-have for any fan of whimsical fantasy!
In this Folio edition of Enid Blyton’s The Magic Faraway Tree, Jonathan Burton’s charming artwork brings fizzing imagination to a childhood favourite. This is the sequel to The Enchanted Wood.