The Thief of Always

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The Thief of Always
ThiefOfAlways.jpg
First edition
Author Clive Barker
IllustratorClive Barker
Cover artistClive Barker
LanguageEnglish
Genre Dark fantasy
Suspense
Publisher HarperCollins
Publication date
1 November 1992
Publication placeUnited States
Media typePrint (hardback)
Pages225 (first edition)
ISBN 0-06-017724-1
OCLC 26356764

The Thief of Always is a 1992 novel written and illustrated by Clive Barker. [1] [2] The plot concerns a 10-year-old boy who journeys to a magical house, only to discover its master uses the home to attract children and steal their youth to ensure his own immortality.

Contents

Plot

10-year-old Harvey Swick is approached by a stranger named Rictus, who offers him the opportunity to stay at the magical Holiday House, founded by one Mr. Hood. Harvey accepts and accompanies Rictus there, meeting two other children, Wendell and Lulu, as well as its elderly caretaker, Mrs. Griffin, and her three cats.

At the Holiday House, all of the seasons pass by in a day, with Halloween and Thanksgiving in the evening and Christmas at night. However, Mr. Hood himself is nowhere to be found, there are mentions of a mysterious figure named Carna, the nearby lake is full of enormous, sad looking fish, and Mrs. Griffin seems to be keeping a dark secret about the house. Harvey must use his wits and clever thinking in order to escape and return home.

Reception

The Thief of Always has received positive reviews from both critics and casual readers alike. The book has an approximate 4.20 out of 5 stars on Goodreads. [3] [4]

Publishers Weekly described the book as "both cute and horrifying", noting its similarity to Grimm's Fairy Tales. [3]

Kirkus Reviews described Barker's "studiously simple narration" as lacking in spirit. [5]

Adaptations

The Thief of Always was adapted as a bimonthly three-part comic book, published between January and May 2005, by IDW Publishing. [6]

References

  1. ↑ Barker, C. "Clive Barker - The Thief of Always Cover, 1992". Revelations. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
  2. ↑ Barker, C. "Portfolio - The Thief of Always". Revelations. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
  3. 1 2 "The Thief of Always: A Fable". Publishers Weekly. 2 November 1992.
  4. ↑ "The Thief of Always". Goodreads. 18 August 2023.
  5. ↑ "The Thief of Always". Kirkus Reviews. 20 May 2010.
  6. ↑ "IDW's The Thief of Always". Revelations. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
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