The Magic Kingdom

A Novel

By: Russell Banks

Narrated by: Danny Campbell, MacLeod Andrews

From one of America’s most beloved storytellers: a dazzling tapestry of love and faith, memory and imagination that questions what it means to look back and accept one’s place in history. In 1971, Harley Mann revisits his childhood, recounting his family's move to Florida’s swamplands—mere miles away from what would become Disney World—to join a community of Shakers.

“Eerily timely. Can what’s gone wrong in the past offer keys to the future? The Magic Kingdom confronts our longings for Paradise; also the inner serpents that are to be found in all such enchanted gardens.”—Margaret Atwood, author of The Testaments, via Twitter

Property speculator Harley Mann begins recording his life story onto a reel-to-reel machine, reflecting on his youth in the early twentieth century. He recounts that after his father’s sudden death, his family migrated down to Florida to join a Shaker colony. Led by Elder John, a generous man with a mysterious past, the colony devoted itself to labor, faith, and charity, rejecting all temptations that lay beyond the property. Though this way of life initially saved Harley and his family from complete ruin, when Harley began falling in love with Sadie Pratt, a consumptive patient living on the grounds, his loyalty to the Shakers and their conservative worldview grew strained and, ultimately, broke.

As Harley dictates his story across more than half a century—meditating on youth, Florida’s everchanging landscape, and the search for an American utopia—the truth about Sadie, Elder John, and the Shakers comes to light, clarifying the past and present alike. With an expert eye and stunning vision, Russell Banks delivers a wholly captivating portrait of a man navigating Americana and the passage of time.

©2022 Russell Banks (P)2022 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“Masterfully crafted . . . The Magic Kingdom is not the experience as it happened but as it’s been distilled for decades in the crucible of a guilty conscience. [Banks is] interested in the way grand schemes intended to perfect human nature produce instead a combination of secrecy and shame that can spark wildly unpredictable results . . . Always in the background of Harley’s reminiscence hovers Disney’s effort to create the Happiest Place on Earth—just the latest project of dreamers and schemers who sought to make Florida in their image . . . Banks has created another fascinating volume in his exploration of the American experience.”—Ron Charles, The Washington Post

“Engrossing . . . As ever, Banks writes gorgeously about [Florida’s] natural wonders, pointing out the strange magnetism a place needs to have to attract the world’s detritus . . . Banks is writing with an eye to the present.”—Mark Athiakis, Los Angeles Times

“Tender . . . Mr. Banks has created a quietly beautiful memorial to a transitory way of life that would soon disappear behind the theme-park attractions of contemporary America.”—Sam Sacks, The Wall Street Journal

Not great

Overall the story was somewhat interesting, but I thought it petered out in the end without much of a finish. It seemed to drone on and on. I did not enjoy the readers voice.

Rx for Readers Who Want to Understand Cults

Can a utopian society exist? This book intrigued me because it was about a cult that lived well and happily.

Slowwww

This ended up being a thought provoking story, but wowzerz it took a long time to get there. As the story went along you got just enough to hang on.

Intriguing

Very intriguing story line with just enough Shaker Florida history to make it believable. Also, knowing how Disney purchased land in Florida also lends a semblance of reality. The characters were well developed and had just enough intrigue to keep you reading more. A very good book.

Such a unique story

I was fascinated by this stor of a small piece of history! One man’s account of coming of age and how it shaped his life.

A story

I love a good story and this is just that. Well read. Lush with details, sights and sounds

From Shaker to Magic..

This book is an interesting memoir of Harley Mann, who felt responsible for the fall of New Bethany, a shaker community in Florida, and the rise of Walt Disney World in its place. He recorded his memories when he was older in a reel to reel like manner, mostly about his teenage years living in New Bethany, his admiration of his mentor Elder John, and his love obsession with Sadie Pratt living nearby. A big dilemma hits them later which involves him and shakes the community, and eventually crumbles.
This was well-written, but the story is boring for the most part. In the end it all came together.

The voice will put you to sleep

Really slow - the narration was terrible - listening to an old man’s voice for hours was not enjoyable- story line thin

Rewarding tale!

This book was fascinating! I lived in Shaker Heights 1959-2017 and now live only a couple of miles away, in Cleveland. Shaker Heights has the Shaker Historical Society, of which I am a longtime member. My heart is still in Shaker Heights, so I can say we are proud of our Shaker heritage, presented so graphically in a Florida setting by author Russell Banks. Shakers had virtues and vices, including shunning, according to Mr. Banks. I never heard of our North Union Shakers doing shunning, but maybe the record is suppressed. Shaker Heights is very different from the Shakers. They wouldn’t approve of us. I also know Florida, but not the way I know local Shaker history, and I’ve never been tempted to visit Disney’s Florida establishment. Mr. Banks, thank you for this book!

Dry account of a shaker love story

*Spoiler alert *
Despite the name, this story is a very dry and detailed love of the unique life of a Shaker man and his forbidden obsession with another woman that ultimately led to his demise. There is all of maybe 5 minutes of discussion about the Magic Kingdom and its conception, which was disappointing.