The Amulet of Samarkand

The Amulet of Samarkand by Jonathan Stroud is the first installment in the Bartimaeus trilogy, a series of young adult novels of alternate history, fantasy, and magic. The novel details the initial encounter between Nathaniel, a young and ambitious apprentice magician, and Bartimaeus, a 5,010-year-old spirit called a djinni, as they are grudgingly forced to work together to thwart a conspiracy to overthrow the British government. Published in 2003, the book received numerous accolades, including a Booklist starred review (2003), the American Library Association Notable Book Award (2004), and being named one of the Booklist Top 10 Fantasy Books for Youth (2004). The Bartimaeus series also received the Grand Prix de l’Imaginaire and the Mythopoeic Fantasy Awards. A former editor, Stroud has published many works of children and young adult fiction since the 1990s. Fusing lighthearted banter with deeper moral dilemmas, The Amulet of Samarkand challenges assumptions of power and the sanctity of bloody histories and underscores the need for bridging social and political divides.

This guide refers to the 2011 e-book edition published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers.

Plot Summary

When Bartimaeus of Uruk, a 5,010-year-old spirit called a djinni, is summoned by and bound to a 12-year-old apprentice magician, he is displeased and unimpressed.