Charmed Life

Every saga has a beginning. Every journey has a first step...And so it is with the magical "Worlds of Chrestomanci" which English fantasy author Diana Wynne Jones began so many years ago with her own episode one--Charmed Life.

Winner of the Guardian Award for Children's Books, Charmed Life has been a favourite escape to parallel fantastical worlds since 1977, and remains refreshingly captivating and reassuringly addictive in its latest paperback edition with a wonderful new jacket illustration.

The adventure begins in a strange and not-quite contemporary England that is still peppered with paddle steamers, horse-drawn carriages and girls wearing petticoats. Orphans Eric Chant (nicknamed Cat) and his sister Gwendolen, a gifted witch, are whisked away to live in a castle with Chrestromanci, a much-revered man of magic, wealth and mysterious ways. Their new life is full of the surreal and unexpected, and there are several crazy new rules to master--not least by Gwendolen who must learn to channel her astonishing powers for good instead of mischief as she forever seems determined to do!

Chrestomanci is a truly original creation, and Charmed Life introduces this dandy nine-lived enchanter--the king of the regal dressing gown--and his associated colourful characters in a story of pace and substance, twists and turns, treachery and bravado. There's also humour amid the author's very immediate writing, and enough puzzles and mystery to keep an inquisitive mind captivated until the very end.

Charmed Life is followed by three more full-length Chrestromanci novels--The Magicians of Caprona, Witch Week, The Lives of Christopher Chant and by a collection of short stories, Mixed Magics. All are equally inventive. (Ages 10 and over) --John McLay

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View books by Diana Wynne Jones.

Charmed Life - what a great book !! - Rated
hey y'all- CHarmed life is a reeeaaallly good book. I like it alot cause it kinda welcomes me into the world of magic myself. Because Ive read the harry potter series, i find alot of books hard to compare to, but NOT this one! It was great. I really liked how Diana Wynne Jones started her own new world, where everyone is classified as someone, I loved all the characters and I'll definately be reading this book again !!
alexa

a wonderful read - Rated
some books just have magic. I loved this one- far more exciting than Harry Potter which just seems repetitive! I love the insects that are made large and ooe through doorways gathering up their giant legs.
Cat and his sister Gwendoline are the main characters in this wonderful novel about Chrestomanci- ( a civil servant in magic)
Gwendoline is not what you would desire in a sister, but she gets sent elsewhere and a nice character from a different parallell world replaces her. Cat has nine lives - already his horrible sister has stolen some of them.A magical story from a great imagination, this is a must for children who love fantasy and magic.
As an adult, it appeals to me very much too. Read, enjoy and delight in a fantastic world of DWJ- a far more gifted writer of unique stories than the creator of Harry potter.

Charmed Life by Diana Wynne Jones - Rated
This book has to be my faviourite of all time! I read it as a child, and although i had a rough idea of what was going to happen, Diana kept me guessing right up to the end! All the characters are brilliantly described, especially Chrestomanci, who is, i think, Diana's best creation! If you are into magic, wizards and witches etc. then you will love this book. If you aren't then you will appreciate how well written this book is, and how it makes you feel part of the story! It kept me guessing right up to the end, and although Cat (Eric) was a rather weak, disappointing hero, Chrestomanci and his family made up for him 10 times over!
I hope this has helped you with your decision to buy the book, and i HIGHLY reccomend it! ENJOY!! (though you'll have a job enjoying it more than i did)!!
happy reading xxx

Brilliant addictive book!!! - Rated
I first started reading this book because I had read 'Witch Week' and started to get addicted to it. When I got 'Charmed Life' I couldn't put it down it is brilliant!
I've read it so much the pages are going black and falling out!
Great book for Harry Potter, Hobbit and magical-fanasty fans!!
I got sort of stumped when there weren't any more books in the 'Chrestomanci Chronicles'!
But don't stop (I didn't) I read others by Diana there just as good and addictive.

Diana I think is better then J.K. Rowling who's books only keep you reading because you want to know the answers and the end though Diana Wynne jones's keep you reading because of the brilliance of it and make you wish there is more of it when you get to the end.

This book is my fav of the lot I've read (and I've read alot)!!!
So BUY IT NOW!!!

Brilliant addictive book!!! - Rated
I first started reading this book because I had read 'Witch Week' and started to get addicted to it. When I got 'Charmed Life' I couldn't put it down it is brilliant!
I've read it so much the pages are going black and falling out!
Great book for Harry Potter, Hobbit and magical-fanasty fans!!
I got sort of stumped when there weren't any more books in the 'Chrestomanci Chronicles'!
But don't stop (I didn't) I read others by Diana there just as good and addictive.

Diana's books keep you reading because of the brilliance of it and make you wish there is more of it when you get to the end.

This book is my fav of the lot I've read (and I've read alot)!!!
So BUY IT NOW!!!