The Luminaries

By Eleanor Catton,

Book cover of The Luminaries

Book description

WINNER OF THE BOOKER PRIZE

'A breathtakingly ambitious mystery ... as beautiful as it is triumphant.' Daily Mail

An astonishing, epic story of promise, deceit and desperation in New Zealand's gold rush.

'What brings a fellow down here, you know, to the ends of the earth - what sparks a…

When you buy books, we may earn a commission that helps keep our lights on (or join the rebellion as a member).

Why read it?

1 author picked The Luminaries as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

I’ve always wanted to go to New Zealand, and I picked this up mostly because of that desire. (Also, TBH, because a reviewer said this was a book people would either be too scared to start or would never put down, and I took that as a challenge.)

Despite these pretty simple reasons for starting—and finishing—the book, The Luminaries has become one of my all-time favorite novels.

Set in the mid-1860s, Catton tells the story of Scotsman Walter Moody. He travels to New Zealand’s southern island and finds himself immediately intertwined in more than one mystery. He serves as the…

Want books like The Luminaries?

Our community of 12,000+ authors has personally recommended 100 books like The Luminaries.

Browse books like The Luminaries

Book cover of Kindred
Book cover of The Bedlam Stacks
Book cover of The Confessions of Frannie Langton

Share your top 3 reads of 2024!

And get a beautiful page showing off your 3 favorite reads.

1,355

readers submitted
so far, will you?

5 book lists we think you will like!

Interested in the American Revolution, New Zealand, and the Māori people?

New Zealand 63 books