The Luminaries: A — Novel

: Beyond the Man Booker Prize , it won the Governor General’s Literary Award for Fiction. The Luminaries: A Novel (Man Booker Prize) - Amazon.com

The discovery of a hidden fortune in the home of a local drunk. The Luminaries: A Novel

: Catton employs a "Dickensian" style with sprawling backstories and omniscient narration, typical of 19th-century literature. : Beyond the Man Booker Prize , it

The story begins with Walter Moody, a young prospector who arrives in the settlement of Hokitika to seek his fortune. Upon arrival, he stumbles into a secret meeting of 12 men who are investigating three intertwined mysteries: The disappearance of a wealthy man. The attempted suicide of a prostitute. The story begins with Walter Moody, a young

: Twelve local men represent the 12 signs of the zodiac. Their actions and interactions are influenced by their "sign's" traits.

: Seven additional characters represent the planets (the "Luminaries"), including the sun and moon.

The novel's most unique informative feature is its structural adherence to Western astrology: