Jonathan Stroud was born in Bedford in 1970 and has been writing for as long as he can remember. After studying English Literature at York University, he moved to London where he worked as an editor in a publishing firm. He has written three novels besides The Amulet of Samarkand and The Golem's Eye and now devotes his whole time to writing.

He lives in St.Albans with his wife and small daughter

The young magician Nathaniel is fast rising through the government ranks. His most urgent task is to put an end to the mysterious Resistance, but Kitty and her friends continue to elude him. As the pressure mounts, London is suddenly threatened by a new series of terrifying attacks.Is it the Resistance - or something even more dangerous? Nathaniel is forced to embark on a perilous mission to the enemy city of Prague; and to summon once again the troublesome, enigmatic and quick-witted Djinni, Bartimaeus.