Both men are driven to the extremes by the mystery of an amazing stage illusion they both perform. Two stage illusionists engage in a bitter and deadly feud - the effects are still being felt by their families a hundred years later. The film and the novel are broadly similar in outline but contain many differences, notably the ending, which many in the audience saw coming in the film, but never in the novel.Ī story of secrecy, curiosity and concealment, The Prestige is largely set in the smoke-and-mirrors world of Victorian music halls. It has been in print ever since its first release, and has been translated into 23 languages.

It reached #1 US box office, and was nominated for two Academy Awards.Īs a book, The Prestige is one of Priest’s most acclaimed novels, being winner of both the World Fantasy Award and the James Tait Black Memorial Prize for Fiction (and shortlisted for three other awards). It starred Christian Bale, Hugh Jackman and Scarlett Johannson. The Prestige was filmed in 2006 by Warner Bros, directed by Christopher Nolan. USA: Blackstone, 2006, unabridged, read by Simon Vance, 10 CDs, 12hrs30mins.Īwards: James Tait Black Memorial Prize for Fiction, 1995 World Fantasy Award, 1996 and others. Īudio book publications: UK: Orion, 2008, abridged, read by David Timpson, Jonathan Keeble, Peter Kenny, Clare Wille, 6 CDs, 6hrs20mins. First published by Touchstone (Simon & Schuster, 1995 hardback and paperback). Published: UK edition: Gollancz Masterworks, 2011 - new Introduction by Graham Sleight.

The Prestige by Christopher Priest