The Luminaries: A - Novel
: Twelve local men represent the 12 signs of the zodiac. Their actions and interactions are influenced by their "sign's" traits.
: The narrative explores themes of fate vs. fortune, the corruptive nature of gold, and the difficulty of truly understanding another person's perspective. The Luminaries: A Novel
: Catton employs a "Dickensian" style with sprawling backstories and omniscient narration, typical of 19th-century literature. : Twelve local men represent the 12 signs of the zodiac
: Seven additional characters represent the planets (the "Luminaries"), including the sun and moon. fortune, the corruptive nature of gold, and the
: The book is divided into 12 parts. Each part is exactly half the length of the one preceding it, mimicking a waning moon. Part One is 360 pages long, while the final part is just a few paragraphs. Literary Style and Themes
The novel's most unique informative feature is its structural adherence to Western astrology: