Chrestomanci
Book cover of Charmed Life; the first in the series
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| Author | Diana Wynne Jones |
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| Cover artist | various |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Children's fantasy |
| Publisher |
various (first) Greenwillow Books (US) |
| Published | 1977–2006 |
| Media type | |
| No. of books | 7 |
Chrestomanci, sometimes branded The Worlds of Chrestomanci, is a heptalogy of children's fantasy books written by British author Diana Wynne Jones, published from 1977 to 2006. In the context of the parallel universe setting of the books, Chrestomanci also refers to the eponymous British government office that is responsible for supervising the use of magic and Chrestomanci Castle in southern England, which is both residence and headquarters.
The word "Chrestomanci" may be derived from the Greek khrestos, meaning "useful", and -mancy, "divination". In turn -mancy is derived from Ancient Greek manteía, "prophecy or divination". Jones gives the pronunciation "KREST–OH–MAN–SEE" herself and one of her characters writes the same instruction for using the word as a spell.
The "The Worlds of Chrestomanci" label on some 21st-century editions alludes to their general setting, a multiverse called the "Related Worlds". The worlds have branched from common ancestors at important events in history such as English and French victories in the Battle of Agincourt, or the success or failure of the Gunpowder plot. Some people can move between worlds, at least in spirit, and twelve Series of similar worlds have been labelled in the English of the stories. It is common for people to have parallel selves in other worlds. The principal setting for the series is World 12A.
World 12A is reminiscent of Britain during the Edwardian Era. There are known to be other worlds with British governments, probably all of series 12 and some others; even more worlds have an England in or near Europe. The Chrestomanci has representatives in some other worlds but does not know all other worlds. Indeed, Witch Week is set in a world even closer to ours, yet its existence is a surprise to Chrestomanci Christopher Chant and he cannot easily identify it.
In World 12A, "magic is as common as music is with us", Jones explains. That may be the norm. On the other hand, a world where almost everyone has detectable magic is rare or unique to the world of Witch Week.
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Wikipedia