The Golem's Eye is a children's novel of alternate history, fantasy and magic. It is the second book in the Bartimaeus trilogy written by British author Jonathan Stroud. 6 million copies have been sold in 36 countries. It was a New York Times best-seller in 2004. The book and series are about the power struggles in a magical dystopia centered in London, England featuring a mixture of modern and ancient, secular and mythological themes. The series has been described as a darker, more political and morally complex version of Harry Potter. The book takes its name from the cyclops-like eye of the golem, a magical artifact that, along with an animating parchment, activates the golem. Synopsis Like the rest of the Bartimaeus Trilogy, The Golem's Eye is set in somewhat modern-day London in an alternate history in which magic is commonplace and magicians are an accepted part of society; in fact, most magicians are in positions of power. They comprise the government, and commoners are treated as inferior. The main character is Nathaniel, a magician who works for the government in the Ministry of Internal Affairs. His (unwilling) partner is the wisecracking spirit Bartimaeus. Together they embark on a quest to discover the secret behind the commoners' resistance to magic and the mysterious beast that is stalking the city of London. The beast is revealed to be an invulnerable clay golem created by a coterie of magicians in an attempt to discredit and undermine the government. Principal characters Many of the characters have names of biblical persons or historical literary, scientific or political figures, but not in biblical or historical contexts. Most such persons have been transmogrified into members of the elite ruling class of magicians. Spirits Bartimaeus, a mid-level djinn and servant to Nathaniel Queezle, female demon friend of Bartimaeus Honorius, an afrit occupying Gladstone's bones, guarding Gladstone's tomb Commoners Kathleen "Kitty" Jones, a mid-level member of the Resistance Terence Pennyfeather, leader of the Resistance Jakob Hyrnek, childhood friend of Kitty Jones Verroq, a mercenary of great physical strength and stature Clem Hopkins, member and betrayer of The Resistance Magicians Nathaniel (alias John Mandrake), junior magician in the Security Ministry of the government, and chief protagonist Henry Duvall, chief of the Night Police and commander of the golem Jane Farrar, assistant to chief of police Rupert Devereaux, Prime Minister of Britain Gladstone, a powerful dead 19th century British magician