The Golem's Eye facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
The Golem's Eye

First US edition
Author	Jonathan Stroud
Cover artist	Melvyn Grant
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English
Series	The Bartimaeus Trilogy
Genre	Children's, fantasy novel
Publisher	Doubleday (UK) Miramax Books (US)
Publication date	1 January 2004
Media type	Print (paperback & hardback)
Pages	570 pp (first edition, hardcover)
ISBN	0-552-55273-9
OCLC	224065200
Preceded by	The Amulet of Samarkand
Followed by	Ptolemy's Gate

The Golem's Eye is an exciting fantasy novel for young readers. It's the second book in the Bartimaeus trilogy series. The book was written by British author Jonathan Stroud. Over 6 million copies have been sold in 36 countries. It was also a New York Times best-seller in 2004.

The story and the whole series are about power struggles. They take place in a magical world set in London, England. This world mixes modern life with ancient magic and myths. Some people say the series is like a darker, more political version of Harry Potter.

The book's title comes from the special eye of a golem. A golem is a magical creature. Its eye, along with a special scroll, brings it to life.

Story Overview

Like the other books in the Bartimaeus Trilogy, The Golem's Eye is set in a version of modern-day London. In this world, magic is very common. Magicians are a normal part of society. In fact, most magicians hold powerful government jobs. They make up the government, and regular people are treated as less important.

The main character is Nathaniel, a young magician. He works for the government in the Ministry of Internal Affairs. His partner is a witty spirit named Bartimaeus. Bartimaeus doesn't always want to help Nathaniel. Together, they try to find out why regular people are fighting against magic. They also investigate a mysterious creature. This creature is causing trouble in London. The creature turns out to be a very strong clay golem. Some magicians created it to cause problems for the government.

Main Characters

Many characters in the book have names from history or old stories. But they are not the same people. Most of them have become powerful magicians in the story.

Spirits

• Bartimaeus: A mid-level djinn, which is a type of spirit. He works for Nathaniel.
• Queezle: A female demon and friend of Bartimaeus.
• Honorius: A powerful afrit, another type of spirit. He lives inside the bones of a dead magician named Gladstone. He guards Gladstone's tomb.

Regular People

• Kathleen "Kitty" Jones: A key member of the Resistance group.
• Terence Pennyfeather: The leader of the Resistance.
• Jakob Hyrnek: A childhood friend of Kitty Jones.
• Verroq: A very strong mercenary, someone who fights for money.
• Clem Hopkins: A member of the Resistance who betrays the group.

Magicians

• Nathaniel (also known as John Mandrake): A young magician. He works for the government's Security Ministry. He is the main hero of the story.
• Henry Duvall: The chief of the Night Police. He is also in charge of the golem.
• Jane Farrar: An assistant to the chief of police.
• Rupert Devereaux: The Prime Minister of Britain.
• Gladstone: A very powerful British magician from the 1800s. He is now dead.
• Jessica Whitwell: The Minister of Security and Nathaniel's boss.
• Quentin Makepeace: A British magician who writes plays.
• Julius Tallow: The Minister of Internal Affairs.
• Harlequin: A British government spy working in Prague.
• Kavka: A master Czech magician from Prague. He created the golem.

Groups and Other Characters

• The benefactor (also Quentin Makepeace): Someone who helps the Resistance.
• The Resistance: A group trying to overthrow the magicians' government.
• Magician's Council: The main governing group in London.
• Night Police (werewolves): The main police force in the city. They are made up of werewolves.

Magical Items, Spells, and Places

• Seven planes: These are like different dimensions. The first plane is where humans live. Higher planes are for spirits only. More powerful spirits can live on higher planes. Magicians can see into the first few planes using special tools.
• Staff of Gladstone: A magical staff that shoots lightning. It can destroy even very strong spirits.
• Golem's eye: A clay eye. When put into a golem's forehead, it lets someone see through the golem's eyes and control it.
• Other place: A hidden dimension. Spirits usually live here when they are not controlled by a magician. Humans cannot see or go to this place.
• Animation parchment: A special scroll. It is placed in a golem's mouth. Along with the golem's eye, it brings the golem to life.
• Golem: A large creature made of clay. It is brought to life by magic using a parchment and a golem's eye. Golems are immune to magic attacks. Trying to attack a golem with magic can hurt the attacker.
• Amulet of Samarkand: A magical necklace named after an old city. It makes the person wearing it safe from magic attacks.
• Vigilance spheres: These are like flying eyes. They are used for tracking and spying. It's not clear if they are magical or mechanical.
• Black Tumbler: A spell that covers a person in smoke and flames. It can leave them badly hurt.
• Seven-League Boots: Boots that let the wearer take very long steps. This makes them move incredibly fast.

Plot Summary

Two years after the first book, Nathaniel works in London's Ministry of Internal Affairs. He is trying to stop the anti-magician Resistance group. His bosses put pressure on him. So, he calls his old spirit servant, Bartimaeus. Bartimaeus is very angry. Nathaniel had promised never to summon him again. In return, Bartimaeus promised not to tell Nathaniel's real name. But Bartimaeus agrees to serve for six weeks. He just asks not to be sent to a war in North America.

Meanwhile, two regular people, Kitty Jones and Jakob Hyrnek, are attacked by a magician. Jakob gets badly burned. But Kitty is not hurt, showing she has a natural resistance to magic. They don't get justice for the attack. Then, Mr. Pennyfeather approaches Kitty. His wife was harmed by a magician. Kitty agrees to help fight against the unfair rule of magicians. She joins the Resistance. They carry out small attacks and thefts.

One night, during a theft, Kitty sees a huge creature. It walks through a street of magician-owned shops. It causes a lot of damage. Several Night Police officers are killed. The police think the Resistance is responsible. They start cracking down on the city.

Bartimaeus investigates the attack. He meets his spirit friend, Queezle. Queezle has learned that the creature can destroy spirits. The creature appears again, and Queezle is killed. Bartimaeus fights the creature at the British Museum. But he is knocked out, and the creature escapes. At a meeting of powerful magicians, Bartimaeus reveals the creature is a golem. Henry Duvall, the chief of police, insists the Resistance is to blame. He asks the Prime Minister for more power for the police.

Mr. Pennyfeather plans a risky raid on the tomb of William Gladstone. But they accidentally release Honorius, a powerful afrit. Honorius is trapped inside Gladstone's bones and has gone mad. He kills the people robbing the tomb. Kitty escapes with Gladstone's staff. Honorius promises to hunt her down.

Nathaniel and Bartimaeus are sent to Prague. The last known golem appeared there over a century ago. They find Kavka, the magician who created the golem. Kavka had help from a high-ranking spy in the British government. Nathaniel promises Kavka that his family will be freed from a British prison. This is if Kavka helps find the spy. A mercenary, a strong fighter, arrives. Nathaniel and Bartimaeus have met him before. He demands the enchanted parchment that brings the golem to life. During the fight, the parchment is destroyed. This means there is no proof of the golem.

Nathaniel returns to London. The city is in a panic because Honorius is causing chaos. Nathaniel finds out Kitty is involved. But she gets away from him. Bartimaeus forces Honorius into the Thames River, seeming to defeat him. The magician Quentin Makepeace secretly meets Nathaniel. He gives Nathaniel information about the Resistance. Bartimaeus captures Jakob to trap Kitty. But the Night Police werewolves attack Kitty. Nathaniel sends Bartimaeus to rescue Kitty. Then Nathaniel is arrested. His bosses abandon him. He makes a desperate plea to the Prime Minister.

Bartimaeus and Kitty hide. They talk about how magicians treat them both unfairly. Bartimaeus, looking like his favorite master Ptolemy, explains how magical empires rise and fall. He says spirits are always enslaved to magicians. Kitty sees how similar this is to how magicians treat regular people.

The Prime Minister releases Nathaniel. Nathaniel brings Jakob to Kitty. He offers them freedom if Kitty gives him Gladstone's staff. Honorius reappears. But the golem arrives and distracts him. Honorius is destroyed. Nathaniel manages to use the staff's power but is knocked unconscious. Kitty risks her life to remove the animating parchment. This stops the golem. Bartimaeus lets Kitty and Jakob escape. He tells Nathaniel that Kitty was burned by the golem. He says she sacrificed herself to save Nathaniel. As its magic fades, the crumbling golem returns to its master, Duvall. Duvall is then arrested.

Nathaniel doubts Duvall acted alone. But his investigation is over. Before he releases Bartimaeus, the djinn calls him "John Mandrake." Nathaniel takes this as a sign of respect. But Bartimaeus meant it to show that the kind Nathaniel has now become a ruthless magician. Jakob leaves the country. But Kitty stays to study magic history. She hopes to find a way to end the cycle of unfair rule.

See also

In Spanish: El ojo del Golem para niños