NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • From the beloved author of the Vampire Chronicles, the first installation of her spellbinding Mayfair Chronicles—the inspiration for the hit television series! “Extraordinary . . . Anne Rice offers more than just a story; she creates myth.”—The Washington Post Book World Rowan Mayfair, a beautiful woman, a brilliant practitioner of neurosurgery—aware that she has special powers but unaware that she comes from an ancient line of witches—finds the drowned body of a man off the coast of California and brings him to life. He is Michael Curry, who was born in New Orleans and orphaned in childhood by fire on Christmas Eve, who pulled himself up from poverty, and who now, in his brief interval of death, has acquired a sensory power that mystifies and frightens him. As these two, fiercely drawn to each other, fall in love and—in passionate alliance—set out to solve the mystery of her past and his unwelcome gift, an intricate tale of evil unfolds. Moving through time from today’s New Orleans and San Francisco to long-ago Amsterdam and a château in the Louis XIV’s France, and from the coffee plantations of Port au Prince, where the great Mayfair fortune is made and the legacy of their dark power is almost destroyed, to Civil War New Orleans, The Witching Hour is a luminous, deeply enchanting novel. The magic of the Mayfairs continues: THE WITCHING HOUR • LASHER • TALTOS

Reprint of the original, first published in 1858.

Mayfair is at the present time the most fashionable part of London, so much so that the name has come to be a synonym for wealth or pride of birth. Yet it was not always so, as he who runs may read, for the derivation is simple enough, and differs from most cases in that the obvious meaning is the right one. In James II.'s reign a permission was given for a fair to be held on the north side of Piccadilly, to begin on the first day of May, and to last for fifteen days. This fair, we are told, was "not for trade and merchandise, but for musick, showes, drinking, gaming, raffling, lotteries, stageplays and drolls." It was immensely popular, and was frequented by "all the nobility of the town," wherein, perhaps, we see the germs of the Mayfair we know. It must be remembered that Grosvenor and Berkeley Squares, with their diverging streets, were not then begun, and that all this land now covered by a network of houses lay in fields on the outskirts of London, while Hyde Park Corner was still the end of the world so far as Londoners were concerned. It was about the end of the seventeenth century that the above-mentioned squares were built, and at once became fashionable, and as the May fair continued to flourish until 1708, it must have seen the growth of the district to which it was to give its name. Though suppressed, doubtless on account of disorders, it revived again, with booths for jugglers, prize-fighting contests, boxing matches, and the baiting of bears and bulls, and was not finally abolished until the end of the eighteenth century. But Mayfair is not the only district to be noticed; we have also its rival—Belgravia—lying south of Hyde Park Corner, which is equally included in the electoral district of St. George's, Hanover Square. This electoral district takes in the three most fashionable churches in the Metropolis, including the mother church, St. Paul's, Wilton Place, and St. Peter's, Eaton Square, besides many others, whose marriage registers cannot compete either in quantity or quality of names with these three. The district can also show streets as poor as some are rich; it includes not only Park Lane and Piccadilly, but also Pimlico and the dreary part to the south of Buckingham Palace Road. It is a long, narrow district, stretching from the river to Oxford Street. As a parish, St. George's was separated from St. Martin's in 1724, and it is now included in the city of Westminster, with which it has been associated from its earliest history. In the charter given by King Edgar to the monks at Westminster, their possessions were defined as reaching to the highroad we now call Oxford Street on the north, and to Tyburn Lane, or Park Lane, on the west. But of this the parishes of St. Margaret and St. John at Westminster were the City, and the rest lay in the "Liberties." The larger portion of the district is included in the ancient estate of Eia, 890 acres in extent, reaching from the Bayswater Road to the Thames, which was given by William the Conqueror to Geoffrey de Mandeville, who at his death bequeathed it to the Abbey of Westminster. In Domesday Book it is divided into three manors of Hyde, Ebury, and Neyte. Of these the first occupies the site of Hyde Park; Ebury, from Knightsbridge to Buckingham Palace Road; Neyte, nearer the river, was the favourite residence of the Abbots. Here John of Gaunt lived, and here, in 1448, John, son of Richard, Duke of York, was born.

Welcome to the elegant streets of London's Piccadilly, Mayfair, and Pall Mall through the eyes of E. Beresford Chancellor in his captivating work, "Wanderings in London: Piccadilly, Mayfair, and Pall Mall." Step into the heart of London's most prestigious districts as Chancellor guides you through a journey of history, culture, and architecture. Discover the secrets of Piccadilly Circus, explore the grandeur of Mayfair's Georgian townhouses, and experience the sophistication of Pall Mall's gentleman's clubs. Chancellor's narrative skillfully blends historical anecdotes with vivid descriptions of the city's landmarks, providing readers with a rich tapestry of London life during the Victorian era. His keen observations and meticulous research bring the streets and buildings of London to life, making this book a treasure trove for history enthusiasts and urban explorers alike. Throughout the pages of "Wanderings in London," Chancellor captures the essence of London's social fabric, from the bustling commercialism of Piccadilly to the aristocratic elegance of Mayfair and the political intrigue of Pall Mall. His exploration of these iconic locales offers a glimpse into a bygone era, where the city's past intersects with its vibrant present. Since its publication, "Wanderings in London: Piccadilly, Mayfair, and Pall Mall" has been celebrated for its engaging prose and insightful commentary on London's architectural and cultural heritage. It remains an essential read for anyone interested in the history and character of one of the world's most iconic cities. Embark on a literary journey through the streets of London with E. Beresford Chancellor as your guide. Immerse yourself in the elegance and intrigue of Piccadilly, Mayfair, and Pall Mall, and discover why this book continues to captivate readers with its blend of history, art, and urban exploration. Don't miss your chance to explore the hidden gems of London's most iconic districts. Pick up your copy of "Wanderings in London: Piccadilly, Mayfair, and Pall Mall" today and experience the magic of London through Chancellor's masterful storytelling.