The Secret Commonwealth: The Book of Dust Volume Two
From the world of Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials - now a major BBC series
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4.5 • 447 Ratings
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- £6.99
Publisher Description
From the author of the phenomenal His Dark Materials comes the next chapter in the story of Lyra Silvertongue . . .
Lyra is now studying at St Sophia's College, Oxford, with her daemon Pantalaimon.
But, for the first time there are serious divisions between the two.
Lyra is questioning everything she once held dear. Pan misses the impulsiveness of their youth.
When an act of terrible violence breaks the peace of the Oxford night, Lyra and Pan's relationship reaches a crisis and they are drawn, far from home, into the dangerous factions of a world they had no idea existed.
The Secret Commonwealth is truly a book for our times; a powerful adventure and a thought-provoking look at what it is to understand yourself and to grow up and make sense of the world around you.
This is storytelling at its very best from one of our greatest writers.
*Exclusive to the paperback edition, Chris Wormell's new original illustrations bring Lyra's world vividly to life.*
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Reviews for The Secret Commonwealth: The Book of Dust Volume Two:
"[Pullman] has created a fantasy world, made yet more satisfying in rigour and stylistic elegance. This is a book for getting older with" Guardian, Book of the Week
"The Secret Commonwealth is ablaze with light and life. The writing is exquisite; every sentence sings ... To read Pullman is to experience the world refreshed, aglow, in Technicolour" i
"Pullman's story is still thought-provoking ... This book elegantly weaves in live issues, from Europe's refugee crisis to facts in the post-truth era. And Pullman's prose is rewarding as ever" The Times
"A long, taxing, complex journey, laced with beauty, terror and philosophy" Metro
"As ever, Pullman's story is complex and vast but home to some of the finest storytelling in the 21st century. Revel in whole new worlds and enjoy one of literature's most wonderful heroines before she comes to HBO and the BBC" Stylist
"Pullman is confronting readers with the horrors of our own world reflected back at us. In The Secret Commonwealthhe creates a fearful symmetry" The Herald
APPLE BOOKS REVIEW
We first met Lyra Belacqua as an infant in the seismic La Belle Sauvage: The Book of Dust Volume One. Even then it appeared clear that we were being introduced to an important literary character. This book proves that suspicion correct. Philip Pullman’s second Book of Dust book rejoins Lyra aged 20. She’s studying in Oxford, experiencing difficulties with her deamon, Pan, and very keen to unearth the truth around her past. Predictably for a girl as trouble-fond as Lyra, it’s not long before she and Pan are forced to work together to battle evil after she witnesses a murder. It’s a true delight being plunged back into Pullman’s exquisite imagination and The Secret Commonwealth is a complex, dark and utterly gripping delight.
Customer Reviews
Another brilliant story from Philip Pullman
This is as fascinating and gripping as the others in this series. I scored it 4 rather than 5 because I feel frustrated that it is unfinished and as far as I know the third volume of the Book of Dust is not yet written or at least available. So many loose ends! It has left me feeling ‘incomplete’...
The Secret Commonwealth
Another enthralling read from Philip Pullman and I await the final book in the trilogy with greedy anticipation. I thoroughly enjoyed each character and each minute detail brought to life vividly in both books and my heart aches for Lyra and Pan and their troubled lives. Brilliant book.
Excellent read
This is a second reading for me and still great story for me