“The wind was picking up now, and soon the snow would start.”
— Describing the setting as Billy searches for the truth in London.
Archivist's Choice
The Marvels
Brian Selznick (2015)
Genre
Fantasy / Children's / Historical Fiction / Mystery / Young Adult
Reading Time
120 min
Key Themes
See below
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A shipwrecked boy in 1766 finds his calling on the London stage. In 1990, a runaway uncovers the ghostly echoes of that theatrical family within a mysterious house. Two timelines tell a tale of family, secrets, and storytelling.
Synopsis
The story begins in 1766 with Billy Marvel, a shipwreck survivor who finds work in a London theatre. His family, the Marvels, become actors for generations. But in 1900, young Leontes Marvel is banished from the stage, ending their theatrical run. Almost a century later, in 1990, a runaway boy named Joseph Jervis travels to London to find his Uncle Albert Nightingale. Albert lives in a strange, art-filled house. Joseph discovers the house holds secrets connected to the Marvel family, shown through miniature models and portraits. As Joseph investigates, he uncovers the truth behind Leontes Marvel's banishment and the connections between the Marvel family's past and his own. He learns that Albert has recreated the Marvel family's history in his house, and that Joseph is a descendant of this theatrical line, leading to a new understanding of his identity and a new home.
Reading time
120 min
Difficulty
Medium
Pacing
Moderate
Mood
Mysterious, Whimsical, Historical, Evocative, Bittersweet
✓ Read this if...
You enjoy unique storytelling through interwoven text and illustrations, historical mysteries, and stories about family legacies and discovery.
✗ Skip this if...
You prefer fast-paced, dialogue-heavy narratives and dislike books with significant portions told solely through pictures.
Plot Summary
The Marvel Family's Theatrical Genesis
The story begins in 1766 with Billy Marvel, a young boy on a ship that sinks in a storm. He is the only survivor, washing ashore near London. A theater troupe finds him, takes him in, and he starts working backstage, eventually becoming an actor. He marries, and his children and later generations continue the Marvel family legacy in the theater. They become known actors, with their lives tied to the stage and London playhouses. This establishes the long theatrical history of the Marvel family, a line that connects to the later part of the story.
Leontes Marvel's Downfall
The Marvel family's theatrical run continues for generations. But in 1900, the family's fortunes change with Leontes Marvel. A talented but troubled young actor, Leontes is in an incident backstage that leads to his permanent banishment from the theater. The exact nature of the incident is unclear, but its consequences are severe, ending the Marvels' direct involvement with professional acting. This event marks a break in the family's history, leaving a legacy of shame and secrecy that affects future decades.
Joseph's Escape to London
The story moves to 1990. Twelve-year-old Joseph Jervis is a runaway. He has fled his boarding school after a fight and, feeling abandoned, decides to find his Uncle Albert Nightingale in London. Joseph's only connection to his uncle is a note and an old address. He finds the strange house on Folgate Street. Joseph feels lost and wants to belong, hoping his uncle can offer him stability and understanding.
Arrival at Albert's Peculiar House
At 18 Folgate Street, Joseph finds his Uncle Albert is an eccentric, reclusive man. The house itself is remarkable, preserved as if time has stopped. Every room is filled with artifacts, costumes, props, and portraits, all related to the Marvel family and their theater history. Albert lives among this past, seemingly focused on the Marvels. Joseph is immediately captivated and confused by the amount of detail in the collection, sensing a deep connection between his uncle, the house, and the forgotten theatrical family.
Unraveling the Marvel Mystery
As Joseph settles into his uncle's house, he explores its treasures. He finds miniature stage sets, old playbills, and portraits of Marvel family members, including Leontes. Joseph's curiosity grows, and he starts to piece together parts of the Marvels' story, especially the mystery around Leontes' banishment. He notices that many portraits resemble him, sparking a personal interest in the family's history and his own possible connection. He wants to understand the secrets in the house.
The Secrets of the Studio
Joseph's explorations lead him to a hidden studio in the house, a place his uncle rarely enters. Here, he finds Albert's life's work: a large, detailed diorama showing the final, tragic scene of the Marvel family's theatrical history. It is a recreation of the night in 1900 when Leontes Marvel was banished, showing the backstage drama and emotions. Joseph realizes that the entire house is a memorial, a living museum dedicated to preserving and retelling the Marvels' story, especially the forgotten parts.
Albert's Revelation
When Joseph discovers these things, Albert finally tells the truth. He is not just a collector; he is Albert Marvel, Leontes' younger brother, who changed his name after the tragedy. He explains that Leontes was not banished for a crime, but for falling in love with a man, a relationship that was scandalous in 1900. The 'incident' was an excuse to remove him from public view. Albert dedicated his life to preserving his family's true story, especially Leontes', and to creating a space where their legacy could be honored honestly, not hidden. He has been waiting for someone to truly see and understand his work.
The Connection to Joseph
Albert then reveals the most personal connection: Joseph is a direct descendant of the Marvel family through Leontes. Leontes, despite his banishment, had a child, and Joseph is part of that hidden line. This revelation deeply affects Joseph, giving him a sense of belonging and identity he had sought. The portraits he saw, the resemblances he felt, now all make sense. He is not just a runaway; he is a Marvel, part of this complex history, finally understood and embraced by his last living relative.
Joseph's New Home
With the truth revealed, Joseph chooses to stay with Albert. He helps his uncle maintain the house and its collection, becoming an active part in preserving the Marvel legacy. Joseph, once a lonely runaway, now has a home, a family, and a purpose. He understands the love and dedication that went into creating the house and its contents. The house, once a mystery, becomes a sanctuary for hidden histories, love, and acceptance. Joseph's journey ends with finding the family that was always there, waiting to be found.
Principal Figures
Joseph Jervis
The Protagonist
Joseph transforms from a lonely, lost runaway into a young man with a strong sense of identity and purpose, finding his place within his rediscovered family history.
Albert Nightingale / Albert Marvel
The Supporting/Mentor
Albert moves from a solitary existence, passively preserving a hidden past, to actively sharing his family's true story and finding companionship in Joseph.
Leontes Marvel
The Supporting/Central Figure of the Past
His arc is presented retrospectively, moving from a celebrated actor to a banished figure, and finally to a recognized and honored individual through Albert and Joseph's efforts.
Billy Marvel
The Supporting/Ancestral Figure
His arc establishes the family's beginning, moving from a lost boy to the founder of a significant theatrical family.
Rosalind
The Mentioned/Supporting (Historical)
Her arc is static, serving as an example of the family's early theatrical success.
The Headmaster
The Mentioned (Contemporary)
Static, serving as a catalyst for Joseph's flight.
Themes & Insights
Identity and Belonging
Joseph's journey is about finding his place and understanding who he is. As a runaway, he feels rootless and unloved. His discovery of the Marvel family history, and his direct link to Leontes, gives him a strong sense of identity and belonging. The house itself shows this theme, a sanctuary where a forgotten history is kept, offering Joseph a home and family connection he wanted. The story shows how understanding one's past helps build a sense of self.
“He didn't know who he was, or where he belonged. But in this house, with its secrets and its stories, he felt a flicker of something new.”
The Power of Storytelling and Performance
The novel shows the power of stories, both told and untold. The Marvel family's theatrical history shows performance as a way to express and leave a legacy. Albert's careful recreation of the Marvels' lives, especially Leontes' story, through his house and dioramas, shows storytelling as a way to preserve truth and memory. The book itself, with its alternating text and illustrations, reflects this theme, using different narrative forms to tell a complex story across centuries. It shows how stories, whether on stage or in a hidden house, shape our understanding of the past and present.
“Every object in the house was a word, every room a sentence, every floor a chapter in a story that had been waiting to be read.”
Hidden Histories and Secrets
A central theme is uncovering hidden histories and family secrets. The mystery around Leontes Marvel's banishment is the main secret, first shown as a shameful incident but later revealed as a result of prejudice against his homosexuality. Albert's life's work is to find and truthfully preserve this hidden history. Joseph's discovery of his own connection to this past further shows how secrets, while often painful, can lead to understanding and acceptance when revealed. The house itself holds these guarded truths.
“Some secrets were meant to stay hidden, but others, like Leontes's, were meant to be found.”
Love and Acceptance
The novel explores different forms of love and the importance of acceptance. Albert's love for his brother, Leontes, drives his lifelong effort to preserve Leontes' true story and create a memorial that honors his life rather than his public shame. This act of love goes beyond societal norms. Joseph, in turn, finds acceptance from Albert, who offers him a home and reveals their shared line, fulfilling Joseph's deep need for connection. The story champions unconditional love and accepting people for who they are.
“He had built a house not of sorrow, but of love. A love that had outlasted time and prejudice.”
Plot Devices & Literary Techniques
Alternating Narrative Formats
Switches between illustrated historical narrative and text-based contemporary narrative.
Selznick masterfully employs two distinct narrative styles: the historical story of the Marvel family (1766-1900) is told entirely through detailed, sequential pencil illustrations, without words. The contemporary story of Joseph (1990) is told through traditional prose. This creates a powerful juxtaposition, allowing the reader to experience the past visually and the present textually. The two threads converge both thematically and literally as Joseph uncovers the story depicted in the illustrations, enhancing the mystery and the eventual revelation of their connection.
The House on Folgate Street
A living museum and meticulously curated memorial to the Marvel family.
The house itself is a central character and a major plot device. It is not merely a setting but a meticulously constructed 'museum' or 'diorama' created by Albert Nightingale to preserve and narrate the Marvel family's history. Every object, portrait, and miniature stage set within the house serves as a clue, leading Joseph (and the reader) through the complex past. It functions as a physical manifestation of memory, love, and dedication, ultimately revealing Albert's true identity and the hidden story of Leontes.
Symbolic Portraits and Miniatures
Artworks and models that serve as clues and representations of the past.
Throughout the house, Joseph encounters numerous portraits of Marvel family members and intricate miniature stage sets. These are not merely decorative; they are vital plot devices. The portraits hint at Joseph's lineage and the family's theatrical heritage, while the miniatures, especially the final diorama in the hidden studio, directly depict the pivotal events of the past, particularly Leontes's banishment. They function as visual storytelling elements that Joseph must interpret to uncover the full truth, bridging the gap between the illustrated past and the written present.
The Shipwreck
A recurring motif signifying loss, new beginnings, and survival.
The initial shipwreck that Billy Marvel survives in 1766 is a powerful motif. It represents a dramatic loss and a forced new beginning, setting the entire Marvel legacy in motion. The image of a shipwreck, or parts of ships, recurs subtly throughout the illustrations, symbolizing moments of upheaval, change, or the precariousness of life and reputation. It ties into the idea of surviving difficult circumstances and finding new paths, mirroring Joseph's own 'shipwreck' as a runaway and his eventual new beginning with Albert.
Critical analysis
Notable Quotes
“Every object has a story, if only you know how to listen.”
— A recurring theme, emphasizing the importance of objects and their history.
“Secrets are like seeds. They need to be planted and watered before they can grow.”
— Relating to the unfolding mysteries and hidden connections.
“Sometimes the greatest magic is simply seeing what's right in front of you.”
— Highlighting the wonder found in everyday observation.
“He knew, with the certainty of a dream, that he had to find out what happened.”
— Billy's determination to uncover the past and solve the mystery.
“The past is never really gone. It's just waiting to be discovered.”
— Emphasizing the connection between past and present.
“A house holds memories like a shell holds the sound of the ocean.”
— Describing the profound sense of history within the house.
“Stories are powerful. They can change the way you see the world.”
— Reflecting on the transformative nature of narrative.
“He felt a strange, familiar pull, as if the house itself was calling to him.”
— Billy's initial connection to the mysterious house.
“The silence in the room was thick with unspoken histories.”
— Describing the atmosphere within the house, laden with untold stories.
“Even the smallest detail can unlock the biggest secret.”
— Referencing the intricate clues that lead to revelations.
“He had always believed in magic, even when he couldn't see it.”
— Underlining a character's enduring belief in wonder.
“The world was full of connections, if only you knew where to look.”
— A central idea about the interconnectedness of people and events.
“Sometimes the things you lose are the things that find their way back to you.”
— Reflecting on themes of loss, discovery, and reunion.
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Key Questions (FAQ)
"The Marvels" intertwines two distinct narratives: one, a historical saga following the Marvel family of actors from 1766 to 1900, beginning with shipwreck survivor Billy Marvel; the other, a contemporary mystery in 1990, where runaway Joseph Jervis investigates the secrets of his eccentric uncle Albert Nightingale's London house and its connection to the Marvel family.
About the author
Brian Selznick is a Caldecott Medal-winning author and illustrator celebrated for his unique blend of text and art. His notable works, including 'The Invention of Hugo Cabret,' 'Wonderstruck,' and 'The Marvels,' combine intricately illustrated narratives with compelling prose. Selznick's distinctive style bridges the gap between children's literature and fine art, captivating readers of all ages.
