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{{Short description|Series of four books by Jonathan Stroud (2003–2010)}}
{{italic title}}
{{Infobox book series
|name= ''Bartimaeus Sequence''
|image = 
|caption= Cover of ''The Amulet of Samarkand'', the first book in the series
|books= {{Plainlist|
*''[[The Amulet of Samarkand]]'' (2003)
*''[[The Golem's Eye]]'' (2004)
*''[[Ptolemy's Gate]]'' (2005)
*''[[The Ring of Solomon]]'' (2010)
}}
|author= [[Jonathan Stroud]]
|title_orig= 
|translator= 
|illustrator= 
|cover_artist= 
|country= United Kingdom
|language= [[English (language)|English]]
|genre= [[Fantasy literature|Fantasy]]
|publisher= [[Random House]]
|pub_date= 30 September 2003 – 14 October 2010
|english_pub_date= 
|media_type= Print
|preceded_by=
|followed_by=
}}
The '''''Bartimaeus Sequence'''''<ref>{{Cite web |title=About the Series |url=http://www.bartimaeusbooks.com/about_the_series.html |access-date=2022-06-17 |website=www.bartimaeusbooks.com}}</ref> is a series of young adult novels of [[alternate history]], [[Fantasy literature|fantasy]] and [[Magic (paranormal)|magic]]. It was written by British writer [[Jonathan Stroud]] and consists of a [[trilogy]] published from 2003 to 2005 and a [[prequel]] novel published in 2010. The story follows the career of a teenage magician Nathaniel (aka John Mandrake) and a five-thousand-year-old [[djinni]] Bartimaeus, whom he has summoned and nominally controls, through the [[alternate history]] of the peak of London's domination as a magical [[oligarchy]].

According to the website for the series, over six million copies of the novels were sold in 36 languages worldwide.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bartimaeusbooks.com/about_the_series.html |title="About the series", ''bartimaeusbooks.com''}}</ref>

==Setting==
The series is set in London during the late 1900s or possibly the early 2000s in a parallel universe where trained people can summon demons to do their bidding. Throughout history, various individuals and empires have harnessed these magical forces to obtain great power in the world. The most recent nation to do this is the [[British Empire]] (of which London is the capital) that has dominated Europe since the mid-19th century and continues to do so at the time of the story. The [[United Kingdom|UK]] is a magical oligarchy where a ruling elite of magicians hold almost all the political, economic and cultural power.

The novels are set  in an [[alternate history]], with the effects of magic, magicians, and demons having resulted in many changes, but with many countries, cities, events, and people from actual history. In particular these changes are reflected in the contrast between modern aspects (such as electricity, laptops, and cars) and older ones (colonial-era weapons, including muskets). The books incorporate references to various world mythologies and folklore, such as the ''[[One Thousand and One Nights|Arabian Nights]]'' and [[Homer]].

==Plot summary==
===''The Amulet of Samarkand''===

{{Main article|The Amulet of Samarkand}}

The first book in the trilogy, published 2003, introduces Nathaniel as the gifted 12-year-old apprentice of a middle-aged mid-level magician, Arthur Underwood. He assumes his magician name, John Mandrake, to protect him from rivals who would wish to harm him.  When the magician Simon Lovelace cruelly humiliates Nathaniel in public, Nathaniel decides to take revenge by stealing Lovelace's most powerful possession, the Amulet of Samarkand, which makes the wearer invulnerable to magic.  Unknown to his tutor, he begins the study of advanced magic in order to summon the djinni Bartimaeus and enslave him. Bartimaeus soon overhears Nathaniel's birth-name, which greatly reduces Nathaniel's control over him, because demons can then cast counterspells. Things soon get out of hand and Bartimaeus and Nathaniel find themselves caught in the middle of magical espionage, murder, blackmail, and revolt.  Together, the two of them defeat Lovelace and his most powerful demon, Ramuthra, who was last seen destroying an entire nation. These actions end in an uneasy truce between the young magician and Bartimaeus, resulting in the demon returning to whence he came. 

===''The Golem's Eye''===

{{Main article|The Golem's Eye}}

Published in 2004, the second book picks up two years and eight months later and features Nathaniel as a junior magician working his way up the government ranks. In this book Kitty Jones is introduced as an important character.  She is a part of the Resistance movement which seeks to end the oppressive rule of the magicians. Nathaniel is tasked by his superiors with crushing the Resistance and capturing its members. His task is complicated by the unexpected appearance of a seemingly invulnerable clay [[golem]] that attacks London. Much to the displeasure of Bartimaeus, Nathaniel recalls the djinni to aid him in uncovering the origins of the golem and to save his own skin.  In the end, the golem is revealed to have been created by Kavka, a Czech magician, and animated by Henry Duvall, the London Chief of Police.

===''Ptolemy's Gate''===

{{Main article|Ptolemy's Gate}}

In the final book of the trilogy, published 2005, Nathaniel is a senior magician and a member of the ruling council, an elite class of magicians in the government. Bartimaeus is still trapped on [[Earth]] by Nathaniel and is treated with disdain, continuously weakening as he is not allowed to return to the Other Place. Meanwhile, Kitty Jones has been hiding undercover and completing her research on magic and spirits. She hopes that this will enable her to break the endless cycles of conflicts between djinn and humans. The main plot of this story is a conspiracy to overthrow the government which causes the most dangerous threat in the history of magic. Together, Nathaniel, Bartimaeus and Kitty try to save the city of London from this dangerous threat.

Bartimaeus reveals to the reader the presence of an endless cycle wherein magicians summon spirits, magicians rule over commoners, spirits spread magic throughout a city, some of the commoners gain a resistance to magic, the commoners rebel against the magicians, the magicians are overthrown and the spirits return to the Other Place until another magical empire rises to dominance. This cycle proves to be the main plot, which culminates in the overthrowing of [[London]]. Bartimaeus makes references to other magical empires, such as [[Baghdad]], [[Rome]] and [[Egypt]], all of which have fallen from dominance as well.

===''The Ring of Solomon''===
{{Main article|The Ring of Solomon}}
''[[The Ring of Solomon]]'' revisits the universe created in the ''Bartimaeus Trilogy'', although the setting shifts from modern London to [[Jerusalem]], 950 BC. It follows the djinni's adventures during the reign of [[King Solomon]], who was frequently referenced in the footnotes during the trilogy.  It was released in the United Kingdom on 14 October 2010 and in the U.S. on November 2, 2010. The story revolves around the troubles Bartimaeus faces while enslaved to Solomon's magicians, as he gets caught between the plots of his master to overthrow Solomon, and the schemes of Asmira, captain of the guard of the Queen of Sheba, who was sent by her to assassinate Solomon.

==Adaptations==
In 2002, [[Miramax]] purchased the publishing and screen rights to the series as [[Harvey Weinstein]]'s replacement for ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'' as its fantasy film franchise. While several scripts were made, Harvey Weinstein left Miramax with his brother to start the [[Weinstein Company]] leaving the films in limbo,<ref name="dl">{{cite news |last1=Fleming |first1=Mike Jr. |date=May 30, 2019 |title=Start Media Reignites Jonathan Stroud Fantasy Series 'The Bartimaeus Sequence' |language=en |work=Deadline |url=https://deadline.com/2019/05/the-bartimaeus-sequence-jonathan-stroud-start-media-fantasy-series-film-tv-series-1202624142/ |access-date=April 20, 2020}}</ref> although the first book's film was reported as being in production in November 2005 under director Anthony Minghella.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Abbott |first1=Charlotte |last2=Roback |first2=Diane |last3=Scharf |first3=Michael |title=Talk of the Trade |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/print/20051107/29822-talk-of-the-trade.html |access-date=April 20, 2020 |work=PublishersWeekly |date=November 4, 2005 |language=en}}</ref> In 2019, Start Media acquired the film and television rights to the four books.<ref name="dl"/>

In October 2010, [[Disney Publishing Worldwide|Disney-Hyperion]] published the first book as a graphic novel written by Jonathan Stroud and [[Andrew Donkin]], with art by [[Lee Sullivan (comics)|Lee Sullivan]] and colors by Nicolas Chapuis. The first print run was 50,000 in hardcover and 100,000 in paperback.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Lodge |first1=Sally |title=Three Popular Tales Go Graphic |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/new-titles/childrens-announcements/article/43865-three-popular-tales-go-graphic.html |access-date=April 20, 2020 |work=Publishers Weekly |date=July 19, 2010}}</ref>

{{portal|Novels}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{Official website|www.bartimaeusbooks.com}}
*[http://www.jonathanstroud.com/ Jonathan Stroud's website]
*[http://bartiforums.com/ Bartiforums, the official Bartimaeus forums]

{{Bartimaeus}}
{{Jonathan Stroud}}

[[Category:Bartimaeus Sequence| ]]
[[Category:Book series introduced in 2003]]
[[Category:Jinn in popular culture]]
[[Category:Novels by Jonathan Stroud]]
[[Category:British fantasy novels]]
[[Category:British alternative history novels]]
[[Category:Fantasy novel trilogies]]
[[Category:Metafictional novels]]