The Luminaries

Author: Eleanor Catton

The dream of quick riches has enticed human imagination since ancient times. When early explorers of the New World continents discovered gold in their virgin lands, the dream of men finding buried treasure became closer than ever. Prospectors sailed the seas in pursuit of treasure. In New Zealand, the rugged coastal terrain failed to protect the treasures of its land, and ambitious individuals succeeded in reaching the shore over a bridge of wrecked ships and lost souls. In that new land, they wrote another chapter of their lives. "The Luminaries" is a historical fiction novel set during the New Zealand gold rush of 1866. It is a vivid and richly detailed portrait of life in that era, filled with incredible twists of fate. The novel incorporates astrological elements, with the lives of twelve main characters linked to the twelve zodiac signs. These astrological influences skillfully shape their personalities and destinies. The novel has won numerous awards, including the Booker Prize in 2013, making its author the youngest writer in the prize's history; Best Books of 2013; and the list of