Lewis Barnavelt (series)

Lewis Barnavelt is a fictional character who appears in a series of children's gothic horror novels by John Bellairs and Brad Strickland. In each book, Lewis and his group of friends face and overcome various evil forces usually bent on ending the world.

In 1948, Lewis' parents are killed in a sudden car accident, and Lewis moves to the fictional town of New Zebedee, Michigan, to live at 100 High Street with his uncle, Jonathan Barnavelt. Lewis soon learns the truth about his uncle, their neighbor Florence Zimmermann (a kindly witch) and their house, that Jonathan is a wizard and the house used to belong to a warlock, Isaac Izard and his wife Selenna. After Lewis unwittingly resurrects Selenna in an attempt to impress his friend Tarby (an act which drives the other boy away), Lewis helps to locate the clock that Isaac hid within the wall of the house and destroys it, sending the evil witch back to the grave permanently. After making friends with Rose Rita Pottinger, Lewis continues his adventures over the next several years.

At the start of the series, Lewis is a shy, overweight ten-year-old boy who enjoys reading. He is at one point described by Rose Rita as a worrywart, albeit one who displays true courage in genuinely dangerous situations. Though often the target of bullies, Lewis has been known to stand up for himself at times, either with the aid of outside forces (such as Rose Rita's presence or the amulet of Eliphaz Moss) or later with his own courage. He has also been known to cause some of their supernatural problems, albeit accidentally, but more often than not will also be the one to help set things right.

In The House With a Clock in Its Walls, it is said that when Lewis grows up, he becomes an astronomer working at Mount Palomar, and will discover that the magic egg he received that first Christmas is capable of showing him scenes on other planets.

Contents

Novels in Lewis Barnavelt Series

The House with a Clock in Its Walls (Jun 1973)

"For Priscilla, who let me be myself."
A boy goes to live with his magician uncle in a mansion that has a clock hidden in the walls which is ticking off the minutes until doomsday.

The Figure in the Shadows (1975)

"For Don Wilcox, David Walters, and Jonathan Grandine. Friends who have been friends indeed."
A painfully overweight sixth-grade boy receives a magic amulet which brings him luck, but also terrifying side effects.

The Letter, The Witch, and The Ring (Jan 1976)

"For my son, Frank."
A young girl takes a trip with a friend of the family only to get involved with a mysterious letter, a magic ring, and a powerful witch.

The Ghost in the Mirror (Apr 1993)

NA Dedication
Rose Rita Pottinger and Mrs. Zimmermann are transported back to 1828 to save the Weiss family from being destroyed by a wicked wizard.

The Vengeance of the Witch-Finder (Sep 1993)

"To Richard Curtis, advisor and friend."
In 1951, while visiting a distant cousin in the English countryside, thirteen-year-old Lewis Barnavelt accidentally unleases demonic forces and summons the ghost of an evil wizard bent on killing the Barnavelt family.

The Doom of the Haunted Opera (Sep 1995)

"Thanks to Jeanne Sharp, reader and advisor. For Ann and Tony Lapietra, who helped me explore the haunted opera!"
Lewis Barnavelt and Rose Rita Pottinger are faced with a dilemma when their discovery of an unpublished opera score unleases a wicked sorcerer who plans to rule the world by bringing back the dead.

The Specter From The Magician's Museum (Mar 1998)

"For Bob and Elaine Lund, whose museum shows that the secret of magic is people."
When the evil sorceress Belle Frisson ensnares Rose Rita Pottinger in a magic web in order to steal her life force, Lewis Barnavelt must risk his own life to save his friend.

The Beast Under the Wizard's Bridge (2000)

"For Barbara, with all my love."
Lewis Barnavelt tries to avert disaster when the destruction of an old bridge threatens to release a diabolical force, the legacy of a long-dead evil magician.

The Tower at the End of the World (Sep 2001)

"In memory of three, who will be forever missed. John Bellairs. Frank Bellairs. Edward Gorey."
Lewis and Rose Rita battle Ishmael Izard, the son of the magician who tried to destroy the world with the Doomsday Clock.

The Whistle, The Grave, and The Ghost (Aug 2003)

"This one is for the fans I've met at compleatbellairs. Keep the faith, all!"
In the woods near his home in Michigan, thirteen-year-old Lewis Barnavelt stumbles upon an ancient grave and silver whistle that draw him, his best friend Rose Rita Pottinger, his uncle Jonathan, and their friend Mrs. Zimmermann into a battle with an ancient evil.

The House Where Nobody Lived (Oct 2006)

"For Amy, my daughter, who always sees the magic."
Twelve-year-old Lewis and his best friend Rose Rita investigate a strange old house in their home town and discover that they may be dealing with powerful ancient Hawaiian spirits.

The Sign of the Sinister Sorcerer (Oct 2008)

"To Jonathan, my juggling son."
In Michigan in the mid-1950s, Lewis Barnavelt is convinced that the series of accidents he and his uncle are experiencing are the result of a curse by a mysterious, hooded figure that may be part of his uncle's past.

Novel Series Bibliography

# Title Month Year # Chapter # Page Author Illustrator
01 The House with a Clock in its Walls Jun 1973 11 179 John Bellairs Edward Gorey
02 The Figure in the Shadows   1975 13 155 John Bellairs Mercer Mayer
03 The Letter, the Witch, and the Ring Jan 1976 13 188 John Bellairs Richard Egielski
04 The Ghost in the Mirror Apr 1993 13 169 Co-Authored Edward Gorey
05 The Vengeance of the Witch-finder Sep 1993 15 153 Co-Authored Edward Gorey
06 The Doom of the Haunted Opera Sep 1995 16 153 Co-Authored Edward Gorey
07 The Specter from the Magician's Museum Mar 1998 16 149 Brad Strickland Edward Gorey
08 The Beast Under the Wizard's Bridge   2000 15 151 Brad Strickland Edward Gorey
09 The Tower at the End of the World Sep 2001 15 146 Brad Strickland S. D. Schindler
10 The Whistle, the Grave, and the Ghost Aug 2003 14 152 Brad Strickland S. D. Schindler
11 The House Where Nobody Lived Oct 2006 18 173 Brad Strickland Bart Goldman
12 The Sign of the Sinister Sorcerer Oct 2008 13 168 Brad Strickland Bart Goldman

Author of "Co-Authored" denotes books outlined by John Bellairs, completed by Brad Strickland.

External links

See also