Master of the Magicians

Master of the Magicians is a historical novel originally authored by Elizabeth Stuart Phelps and Herbert D. Ward, first published in 1895. The work was written during a period of significant fascination with biblical fiction and historical romance, aiming to provide a dramatic, imaginative retelling of the story of Daniel in the court of Nebuchadnezzar. The collaboration between Phelps, a noted American novelist known for her social advocacy and spiritualist themes, and her husband, Ward, allowed for a blend of meticulous descriptive detail and emotive character study that was characteristic of the popular literature of the late nineteenth century.

This 2009 edition, published by Read Books, represents a modern print-on-demand reproduction of the original text. Read Books specializes in reissuing obscure or out-of-print classic literature, making works like this accessible to contemporary readers interested in the evolution of nineteenth-century historical fiction. By preserving the original narrative, this edition serves as a repository for the authors' stylistic efforts to evoke the opulence and intrigue of ancient Babylon, a genre that received mixed but generally respectful attention from contemporary critics of the era who praised its atmospheric ambition.