penguinrandomhouse.biz - Penguin Random House Rest Services API

Accepts GET and application/xml or application/json.

INPUTS

start

(required) the position of first record to be returned starting with zero
max

(required) the position of the last record to be returned; passing zero will return all found records
expandLevel

(required) the level of detail to be returned
0 = no details returned, just links
1 = return links and details
firstName

(optional) case insensitive match against the complete first name

Examples:
'Da' matches 'Da Chen' but not 'Dan Brown'
'dAN' matches 'Dan Brown'
lastName

(optional) case insensitive match against the complete last name

Examples:
'Bro' returns no matches
'brOwN' matches 'Dan Brown'

OUTPUTS

The response is a single authors element with each result represented by a nested author element.

USAGE

bash

expand source

# Curl example

curl -X GET -v --basic -u "testuser:testpassword" https://reststop.randomhouse.com/resources/authors?lastName=Grisham

php

expand source

<?php

// PHP example

$ch = curl.init();
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_URL, "https://reststop.randomhouse.com/resources/authors?lastName=Grisham");
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_HEADER, FALSE);
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_HTTPAUTH, CURLAUTH_BASIC);
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_USERPWD, "testuser:testpassword");
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_RETURNTRANSFER, TRUE);
$api_return = curl exec($ch);
echo $api_return;
curl close($ch);
?>

java

expand source

// Java example

import java.io.BufferedReader;
import java.io.OutputStreamWriter;
import java.io.InputStream;
import java.io.InputStreamReader;
import java.net.Authenticator;
import java.net.PasswordAuthentication;
import java.net.URL;
import java.net.HttpUrlConnection;

public class Api {
static final String kuser = "testuser";
static final String kpass = "testpassword";

static class RHAuthenticator extends Authenticator {
public PasswordAuthentication getPasswordAuthentication() {
return (new PasswordAuthentication(kuser, kpass.toCharArray()));
}
}

public static void main(String[] args) {
Authenticator.setDefault(new RHAuthenticator());
URL url = new URL("https://reststop.randomhouse.com/resources/authors?lastName=Grisham");
HttpURLConnection con = (HttpURLConnection) url.openConnection();
InputStream is = con.getInputStream();
BufferedReader reader = new BufferedReader(new InputStreamReader(is));
String str
while((str = reader.readLine()) != null) {
System.out.println(str);
}
reader.close();
}
}

Accepts GET and application/xml or application/json.

INPUTS

authorid

(required) The integer identifying a specific author. If you don't know this number, you should first do a author search and extract the authorid. A zero is treated as a null.
example value: 3446

OUTPUTS

The response is a single author element composed as follows.

approved

'X' = true, empty = false
example value: X
authordisplay

the first and last name in proper case concatenated for display
example value: Dan Brown
authorfirst

the author's first name
example value: Dan
authorfirstlc

first name cast to lower case
example value: dan
authorid

an integer unique to this contributor
example value: 3446
authorlast

the author's last name
example value: Brown
authorlastfirst

upper-case of author's name with the last name first
example value: BROWN, DAN
authorlastlc

last name cast to lower case
example value: brown
lastinitial

lower case first letter of the last name
example value: b
photocredit

The credit line for the author photo
example value: Philip Scalia
spotlight

HTML snippet about the author.
example value:
Dan Brown is the author of numerous #1 bestselling novels, including the recent record-breaking The Lost Symbol, which had the biggest one-week sale in Penguin Random House history for a single title. His previous title, The Da Vinci Code, has sold more than 80 million copies worldwide, making it one of the bestselling novels of all time. In addition to numerous appearances on The Today Show, Mr. Brown was named one of the World's 100 Most Influential People by Time Magazine. He has appeared in the pages of Newsweek, Forbes, People, GQ, The New Yorker, and others. His novels are published in over 50 languages around the world.

Sample XML response.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
   <author uri="https://reststop.randomhouse.com/resources/authors/3446/">
       <approved>X</approved>
       <authordisplay>Dan Brown</authordisplay>
       <authorfirst>Dan</authorfirst>
       <authorfirstlc>dan</authorfirstlc>
       <authorid>3446</authorid>
       <authorlast>Brown</authorlast>
       <authorlastfirst>BROWN, DAN</authorlastfirst>
       <authorlastlc>brown</authorlastlc>
       <lastinitial>b</lastinitial>
       <photocredit>Philip Scalia</photocredit>
       <spotlight>Dan Brown is the author of numerous #1 bestselling novels, including the recent record-breaking The Lost Symbol, which had the biggest one-week sale in Penguin Random House history for a single title.  His previous title, The Da Vinci Code, has sold more than 80 million copies worldwide, making it one of the bestselling novels of all time. In addition to numerous appearances on The Today Show, Mr. Brown was named one of the World's 100 Most Influential People by Time Magazine. He has appeared in the pages of Newsweek, Forbes, People, GQ, The New Yorker, and others. His novels are published in over 50 languages around the world.</spotlight>
   </author>

Sample JSON response.

USAGE

bash

expand source

# Curl example

curl -X GET -v --basic -u "testuser:testpassword" https://reststop.randomhouse.com/resources/authors/3446/

php

expand source

<?php

// PHP example

$ch = curl.init();
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_URL, "https://reststop.randomhouse.com/resources/authors/3446/");
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_HEADER, FALSE);
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_HTTPAUTH, CURLAUTH_BASIC);
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_USERPWD, "testuser:testpassword");
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_RETURNTRANSFER, TRUE);
$api_return = curl exec($ch);
echo $api_return;
curl close($ch);
?>

java

expand source

// Java example

import java.io.BufferedReader;
import java.io.OutputStreamWriter;
import java.io.InputStream;
import java.io.InputStreamReader;
import java.net.Authenticator;
import java.net.PasswordAuthentication;
import java.net.URL;
import java.net.HttpUrlConnection;

public class Api {
static final String kuser = "testuser";
static final String kpass = "testpassword";

static class RHAuthenticator extends Authenticator {
public PasswordAuthentication getPasswordAuthentication() {
return (new PasswordAuthentication(kuser, kpass.toCharArray()));
}
}

public static void main(String[] args) {
Authenticator.setDefault(new RHAuthenticator());
URL url = new URL("https://reststop.randomhouse.com/resources/authors/3446/");
HttpURLConnection con = (HttpURLConnection) url.openConnection();
InputStream is = con.getInputStream();
BufferedReader reader = new BufferedReader(new InputStreamReader(is));
String str
while((str = reader.readLine()) != null) {
System.out.println(str);
}
reader.close();
}
}

Accepts GET and application/xml or application/json.

INPUTS

start

(required) the position of first record to be returned starting with zero
max

(required) the position of the last record to be returned; passing zero will return all found records
expandLevel

(required) the level of detail to be returned

0 = no details returned, just links
1 = return links and details
search

(required) text to search for in the title of a work or the author's name
Examples:
'Grisham' finds 'The Confession by John Grisham' as well as other Grisham titles
'Inheritance' finds both 'Inheritance' by Paolini and 'The Voysey Inheritance' by Mamet

OUTPUTS

The response is a single work element with each result represented by a nested work element.

Sample XML response

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
   <works uri="https://reststop.randomhouse.com/resources/works/?start=0&max=3&expandLevel=1&search=Grisham">
       <work uri="https://reststop.randomhouse.com/resources/works/72140/?start=0&max=3&expandLevel=1&search=Grisham">
           <authorweb>GRISHAM, JOHN</authorweb>
           <onsaledate>2004-06-01T00:00:00-04:00</onsaledate>
           <series>John Grisham</series>
           <titleAuth>John Grisham Value Collection : John Grisham</titleAuth>
           <titleSubtitleAuth>John Grisham Value Collection : A Time to Kill, The Firm, The Client : John Grisham</titleSubtitleAuth>
           <titleshort>JOHN GRISHAM VALUE COLL (CD)</titleshort>
           <titleweb>John Grisham Value Collection</titleweb>
           <workid>72140</workid>
       </work>
       <work uri="https://reststop.randomhouse.com/resources/works/72134/?start=0&max=3&expandLevel=1&search=Grisham">
           <authorweb>GRISHAM, JOHN</authorweb>
           <onsaledate>2003-09-09T00:00:00-04:00</onsaledate>
           <series>John Grisham</series>
           <titleAuth>Bleachers : John Grisham</titleAuth>
           <titleSubtitleAuth>Bleachers : : John Grisham</titleSubtitleAuth>
           <titleshort>BLEACHERS</titleshort>
           <titleweb>Bleachers</titleweb>
           <workid>72134</workid>
       </work>
       <work uri="https://reststop.randomhouse.com/resources/works/72137/?start=0&max=3&expandLevel=1&search=Grisham">
           <authorweb>GRISHAM, JOHN</authorweb>
           <onsaledate>2008-10-07T00:00:00-04:00</onsaledate>
           <titleAuth>El cliente : John Grisham</titleAuth>
           <titleSubtitleAuth>El cliente : : John Grisham</titleSubtitleAuth>
           <titleshort>CLIENTE, EL</titleshort>
           <titleweb>El cliente</titleweb>
           <workid>72137</workid>
       </work>
   </works>

Sample JSON response

{"@uri":"https://reststop.randomhouse.com/resources/works/?start=0&max=3&expandLevel=1&search=Grisham","work":[{"@uri":"https://reststop.randomhouse.com/resources/works/72140/?start=0&max=3&expandLevel=1&search=Grisham","authorweb":"GRISHAM, JOHN","onsaledate":"2004-06-01T00:00:00-04:00","series":"John Grisham","titleAuth":"John Grisham Value Collection : John Grisham","titleSubtitleAuth":"John Grisham Value Collection : A Time to Kill, The Firm, The Client : John Grisham","titleshort":"JOHN GRISHAM VALUE COLL (CD)","titleweb":"John Grisham Value Collection","workid":"72140"},{"@uri":"https://reststop.randomhouse.com/resources/works/72134/?start=0&max=3&expandLevel=1&search=Grisham","authorweb":"GRISHAM, JOHN","onsaledate":"2003-09-09T00:00:00-04:00","series":"John Grisham","titleAuth":"Bleachers : John Grisham","titleSubtitleAuth":"Bleachers : : John Grisham","titleshort":"BLEACHERS","titleweb":"Bleachers","workid":"72134"},{"@uri":"https://reststop.randomhouse.com/resources/works/72137/?start=0&max=3&expandLevel=1&search=Grisham","authorweb":"GRISHAM, JOHN","onsaledate":"2008-10-07T00:00:00-04:00","titleAuth":"El cliente : John Grisham","titleSubtitleAuth":"El cliente : : John Grisham","titleshort":"CLIENTE, EL","titleweb":"El cliente","workid":"72137"}]}

USAGE

bash

expand source

# Curl example

curl -X GET -v --basic -u "testuser:testpassword" "https://reststop.randomhouse.com/resources/works?keyword=Grisham%20Christmas"

php

expand source

<?php

// PHP example

$ch = curl.init();
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_URL, "https://reststop.randomhouse.com/resources/works?keyword=Grisham%20Christmas");
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_HEADER, FALSE);
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_HTTPAUTH, CURLAUTH_BASIC);
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_USERPWD, "testuser:testpassword");
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_RETURNTRANSFER, TRUE);
$api_return = curl exec($ch);
echo $api_return;
curl close($ch);
?>

java

expand source

// Java example

import java.io.BufferedReader;
import java.io.OutputStreamWriter;
import java.io.InputStream;
import java.io.InputStreamReader;
import java.net.Authenticator;
import java.net.PasswordAuthentication;
import java.net.URL;
import java.net.HttpUrlConnection;

public class Api {
static final String kuser = "testuser";
static final String kpass = "testpassword";

static class RHAuthenticator extends Authenticator {
public PasswordAuthentication getPasswordAuthentication() {
return (new PasswordAuthentication(kuser, kpass.toCharArray()));
}
}

public static void main(String[] args) {
Authenticator.setDefault(new RHAuthenticator());
URL url = new URL("https://reststop.randomhouse.com/resources/works?keyword=Grisham%20Christmas");
HttpURLConnection con = (HttpURLConnection) url.openConnection();
InputStream is = con.getInputStream();
BufferedReader reader = new BufferedReader(new InputStreamReader(is));
String str
while((str = reader.readLine()) != null) {
System.out.println(str);
}
reader.close();
}
}

Accepts GET and application/xml or application/json.

INPUTS

workid

(required) Penguin Random House work identifier
example value: 72148

OUTPUTS

The response is a single work element composed as follows. All of the fields that say they contain HTML snippets are optional blurbs that can contain large text including carriage returns.

authorweb

list of contributors formatted for display (proper order, proper case)
example value: GRISHAM, JOHN
onsaledate

the date that the title was released to the public. Penguin Random House always releases on a Tuesday.
example value: 2001-11-06T00:00:00-05:00
series

?
example value: John Grisham
titleauth

A concatenation of the title and author separated by a semi-colon.
example values: Skipping Christmas : John Grisham
titleSubtitleAuth

A concatenation of the title, subtitle and author separated by semi-colons.
example value: Skipping Christmas : : John Grisham
titleshort

a version of the title limited to 30 characters, all upper case with articles at the back; suitable for sorting or narrow displays
example value: SKIPPING CHRISTMAS
titleweb

the title of the book in proper case with leading articles; suitable for display
example value: Skipping Christmas
workid

an integer that identifies this work uniquely; versions of the same work in different formats will share the same work ID
example value: 72148

Sample XML response

Sample JSON response.

USAGE

bash

expand source

# Curl example

curl -X GET -v --basic -u "testuser:testpassword" "https://reststop.randomhouse.com/resources/works/72148/"

php

expand source

<?php

// PHP example

$ch = curl.init();
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_URL, "https://reststop.randomhouse.com/resources/works/72148/");
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_HEADER, FALSE);
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_HTTPAUTH, CURLAUTH_BASIC);
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_USERPWD, "testuser:testpassword");
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_RETURNTRANSFER, TRUE);
$api_return = curl exec($ch);
echo $api_return;
curl close($ch);
?>

java

expand source

// Java example

import java.io.BufferedReader;
import java.io.OutputStreamWriter;
import java.io.InputStream;
import java.io.InputStreamReader;
import java.net.Authenticator;
import java.net.PasswordAuthentication;
import java.net.URL;
import java.net.HttpUrlConnection;

public class Api {
static final String kuser = "testuser";
static final String kpass = "testpassword";

static class RHAuthenticator extends Authenticator {
public PasswordAuthentication getPasswordAuthentication() {
return (new PasswordAuthentication(kuser, kpass.toCharArray()));
}
}

public static void main(String[] args) {
Authenticator.setDefault(new RHAuthenticator());
URL url = new URL("https://reststop.randomhouse.com/resources/works/72148/");
HttpURLConnection con = (HttpURLConnection) url.openConnection();
InputStream is = con.getInputStream();
BufferedReader reader = new BufferedReader(new InputStreamReader(is));
String str
while((str = reader.readLine()) != null) {
System.out.println(str);
}
reader.close();
}
}

Accepts GET and application/xml or application/json.

INPUTS

start

(required) the position of first record to be returned starting with zero
max

(required) the position of the last record to be returned; passing zero will return all found records
expandLevel

(required) the level of detail to be returned

0 = no details returned, just links
1 = return links and details
onsaleStart

(optional) MM/dd/yyyy limit results to just those titles that went on sale on or after this date. On-sale dates are always Tuesdays.
Examples:
'01/18/2011'
onsaleEnd

(optional) MM/dd/yyyy limit results to just those titles that went on sale on or after this date. On-sale dates are always Tuesdays.
Examples:
'02/18/2011'
ageRangeCodes

(optional) one or more age range codes separated by commas. Each code is 4 or 5 position alpha-numeric.
Examples:
'0512' -- ages five to twelve
'10UP,0812' -- ages 10 and up or eight to twelve
division

(optional) one or more division codes separated by commas. Each code is a 2 position alpha-numeric.
Examples:
'70' -- Penguin Random House Group
'72' -- RH Childrens Books
imprint

(optional) one or more imprint codes separated by commas. Each code is a 2 position alpha-numeric.
Examples:
'1A' -- Bantam
'K1' -- Knopf Books for Young Readers
format

(optional) one or more format codes separated by commas. Each code is a 2 position alpha-numeric.
Examples:
'HC' -- Hardcover
'MM' -- Paperback
'EL' -- eBook
authorid

(optional) limit the results to just those titles for whom the specified author is listed as a contributor. If you don't know this number, you should first do a author search and extract the authorid. A zero is treated as a null.
Examples:
3446
workid

(optional) limit the results to just those titles with the same work ID. This can be used to pull up all the different formats of a previously found title.
Examples:
19309
workFamily

(optional) a list of single position alpha-numeric codes used to modify a 'workid' search to limit the types of results that are returned. If you don't know what this means, then you probably want 'P' which should represent ISBNs with the same content in different formats.
Examples:
P (default)
R
P,R
search

(optional) exact match of a word in the keyword field, a concatenation of the basic metadata plus some blurb text.
Examples:
'Grisham' finds 'The Confession by John Grisham'
'DaVinci' finds both 'The DaVinci Code' and 'Laughing Matters: Learning to Laugh when Life Stinks' because DaVinci is mentioned in the flap copy.
theme

(optional) case insensitive match of all or a portion of one of the theme categories assigned to a title.
Examples:
'friend' finds titles tagged with the theme 'Friendship'
'roma' finds titles tagged with the theme 'Love & Romance'.

OUTPUTS

The response is a single titles element with each result represented by a nested title element.

Sample XML response

Sample JSON response

USAGE

bash

expand source

# Curl example

curl -X GET -v --basic -u "testuser:testpassword" "https://reststop.randomhouse.com/resources/titles?keyword=Grisham%20Christmas"

php

expand source

<?php

// PHP example

$ch = curl.init();
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_URL, "https://reststop.randomhouse.com/resources/titles?keyword=Grisham%20Christmas");
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_HEADER, FALSE);
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_HTTPAUTH, CURLAUTH_BASIC);
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_USERPWD, "testuser:testpassword");
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_RETURNTRANSFER, TRUE);
$api_return = curl exec($ch);
echo $api_return;
curl close($ch);
?>

java

expand source

// Java example

import java.io.BufferedReader;
import java.io.OutputStreamWriter;
import java.io.InputStream;
import java.io.InputStreamReader;
import java.net.Authenticator;
import java.net.PasswordAuthentication;
import java.net.URL;
import java.net.HttpUrlConnection;

public class Api {
static final String kuser = "testuser";
static final String kpass = "testpassword";

static class RHAuthenticator extends Authenticator {
public PasswordAuthentication getPasswordAuthentication() {
return (new PasswordAuthentication(kuser, kpass.toCharArray()));
}
}

public static void main(String[] args) {
Authenticator.setDefault(new RHAuthenticator());
URL url = new URL("https://reststop.randomhouse.com/resources/titles?keyword=Grisham%20Christmas");
HttpURLConnection con = (HttpURLConnection) url.openConnection();
InputStream is = con.getInputStream();
BufferedReader reader = new BufferedReader(new InputStreamReader(is));
String str
while((str = reader.readLine()) != null) {
System.out.println(str);
}
reader.close();
}
}

Accepts GET and application/xml or application/json.

INPUTS

isbn

(required) The 13-digit integer identifying a specific title. May not contain hyphens and does not accept the old 10-digit variety. This is the same as the 'ean' value returned in the title detail. If you don't know the ISBN, you should first do a title search and extract the ean.
example value: 9781400079148

OUTPUTS

The response is a single title element composed as follows. All of the fields that say they contain HTML snippets are optional blurbs that can contain large text including carriage returns.

acmartflap

(optional) HTML snippet that contains the Academic Marketing text
agerange

(optional) Description of the age range for which this title is appropriate
agerangecode

(optional) four or five position code that indicates the age range for which this titleis appropriate
agerange

(optional) Description of the age range for which this title is appropriate
author

primary contributor's name formatted as "LAST, FIRST" in all upper case
example value: BROWN, DAN
authors

list of nested <authorId> elements which are the Penguin Random House unique internal identifiers for authors
example value: 11178
authorbio

(optional) HTML snippet that contains text about the contributors
authorweb

list of contributors formatted for display (proper order, proper case)
example values:
Dan Brown
Janet Bode and Stan Mack
contributorfirst1

primary contributor's first name in proper case
example value: Dan
contributorlast1

primary contributor's last name in proper case
example value: Brown
division

name of the division that published the book
example value: Knopf
excerpt

(optional) HTML snippet taken from the content of the book
flapcopy

(optional) HTML snippet of the content about the book taken from the flaps; does not repeat the author bio

formatCode

a code representing the book's format

AU Audio
BR Board
BX Boxed Set
CS Cassette
CD Compact Disc
DG Digest
DN Audio Download
EL eBook
HC Hardcover
MM Paperback
MG Multi Media
NM New Media
NT Non-traditional book
MH Package
TR Trade Paperback
TW Hardcover Library Binding
VI Video
NA Not Available

formatname

description of the book's format
example value: Hardcover
imprint

the name of the imprint that published the book
example value: Anchor
isbn

13-digit ISBN without hyphens (aka EAN)
example value: 9781400079148
isbn10

10-digit ISBN without hyphens
example value: 1400079144
isbn10hyphenated

hyphenated 10-digit ISBN
example value: 1-4000-7914-4
isbn13hyphenated

hyphenated 13-digit ISBN
example value: 978-1-4000-7914-8
jacketquotes

(optional) HTML snippet of quotes taken from the back cover or jacket
keyword

a concatenation of various metadata text including title, author, division, imprint, format, category, various ISBNs, and the flap copy. Since this includes the flap copy, it may include HTML markup.
onsaledate

the date that the title was released to the public. Penguin Random House always releases on a Tuesday.
example value: 10/19/2010
pages

the number of pages in the book
example value: 224
pricecanada

a decimal number representing the Canadian retail price
example value: 23.95
priceusa

a decimal number representing the US retail price
example value: 16.95
rgabout

(optional) HTML snippet that contains the Reading Group introduction
rgauthbio

(optional) HTML snippet that contains the Reading Group author bio
rgcopy

(optional) HTML snippet that contains the Reading Group text about the book
rgdiscussion

(optional) HTML snippet that contains the Reading Group questions for discussion

salestatus

AA Active Assortment
CA Canceled
EL eBooks
HB Hot Bklst/Initials
HR Hot Bklst/ReOrders
HT Hot Title
IN Initial
IO Import to Order
IP In Print
ND *Do not Use!
NR No Reprints Sched.
OP Out of Print
OS Out of Stock Indef.
PP Postponed
RI Re-Issue
RM Remainder
RR Rights Reverted
SC Scrapped
SR Short Run Title
XD No Longer Dist by RH
IA Initial Assortment
IR Initial Reorder
NO Network-only

subjectcategory1

A BISAC Subject Category code
example value: FIC000000
subjectcategorydescription1

The text description of code in subjectcategory1
example value: Fiction - General
themes

(optional) a list of theme categories
example value: Love & Romance
example value: Death, Dying & Grief
titleAuthIsbn

concatenation of title, author and various ISBNs
example value: Unbroken : Laura Hillenbrand : 0679603751 : 0-679-60375-1 : 9780679603757 : 978-0-679-60375-7
titleSubtitleAuthIsbn

concatenation of title, subtitle, author and various ISBNs
example value: Unbroken : A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption : Laura Hillenbrand : 0679603751 : 0-679-60375-1 : 9780679603757 : 978-0-679-60375-7
titleshort

a version of the title limited to 30 characters, all upper case with articles at the back; suitable for sorting or narrow displays
example value: LOST SYMBOL, THE
titleweb

the title of the book in proper case with leading articles; suitable for display
example value: The Lost Symbol
workid

an integer that identifies this work uniquely; versions of the same work in different formats will share the same work ID
example value: 19314

Sample XML response

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
   <title uri="https://reststop.randomhouse.com/resources/titles/9781400079148">
       <acmartflap>In this stunning follow-up to the global phenomenon The Da Vinci Code, Dan Brown demonstrates once again why he is the world's most popular thriller writer. The Lost Symbol is a masterstroke of storytelling—a deadly race through a real-world labyrinth of codes, secrets, and unseen truths . . . all under the watchful eye of Brown's most terrifying villain to date. Set within the hidden chambers, tunnels, and temples of Washington, D.C., The Lost Symbol accelerates through a startling landscape toward an unthinkable finale.

As the story opens, Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon is summoned unexpectedly to deliver an evening lecture in the U.S. Capitol Building. Within minutes of his arrival, however, the night takes a bizarre turn. A disturbing object artfully encoded with five symbols is discovered in the Capitol Building. Langdon recognizes the object as an ancient invitation . . . one meant to usher its recipient into a long-lost world of esoteric wisdom.

When Langdon's beloved mentor, Peter Solomona prominent Mason and philanthropist is brutally kidnapped, Langdon realizes his only hope of saving Peter is to accept this mystical invitation and follow wherever it leads him. Langdon is instantly plunged into a clandestine world of Masonic secrets, hidden history, and never-before-seen locations all of which seem to be dragging him toward a single, inconceivable truth.

"Dan Brown brings sexy back to a genre that had been left for dead. . . . His code and clue-filled book is dense with exotica…amazing imagery…and the nonstop momentum that makes The Lost Symbol impossible to put down."—Janet Maslin, New York Times

"Call it Brownian motion: A comet-tail ride of beautifully spaced reveals and a socko unveiling of the killer's true identity." —Washington Post
</acmartflap>
       <author>BROWN, DAN</author>
       <authorbio>

Dan Brown is the author of The Da Vinci Code, one of the most widely read novels of all time, as well as the international bestsellers Angels & Demons, Deception Point, and Digital Fortress.  He lives in New England with his wife.
</authorbio>
       <authorweb>Dan Brown</authorweb>
       <contributorfirst1>Dan</contributorfirst1>
       <contributorlast1>Brown</contributorlast1>
       <division>Knopf</division>
       <excerpt>Prologue
House of the Temple
8:33 P.M.
 
The secret is how to die.

Since the beginning of time, the secret had always been how to die.

The thirty-four-year-old initiate gazed down at the human skull cradled in his palms. The skull was hollow, like a bowl, filled with bloodred wine.

Drink it, he told himself. You have nothing to fear.
 
As was tradition, he had begun this journey adorned in the ritualistic garb of a medieval heretic being led to the gallows, his loose-fitting shirt gaping open to reveal his pale chest, his left pant leg rolled up to the knee, and his right sleeve rolled up to the elbow. Around his neck hung a heavy rope noose—a "cable-tow" as the brethren called it. Tonight, however, like the brethren bearing witness, he was dressed as a master.

The assembly of brothers encircling him all were adorned in their full regalia of lambskin aprons, sashes, and white gloves. Around their necks hung ceremonial jewels that glistened like ghostly eyes in the muted light. Many of these men held powerful stations in life, and yet the initiate knew their worldly ranks meant nothing within these walls. Here all men were equals, sworn brothers sharing a mystical bond.

As he surveyed the daunting assembly, the initiate wondered who on the outside would ever believe that this collection of men would assemble in one place . . . much less this place. The room looked like a holy sanctuary from the ancient world.

The truth, however, was stranger still.

I am just blocks away from the White House.

This colossal edifice, located at 1733 Sixteenth Street NW in Washington, D.C., was a replica of a pre-Christian temple—the temple of King Mausolus, the original mausoleum . . . a place to be taken after death. Outside the main entrance, two seventeen-ton sphinxes guarded the bronze doors. The interior was an ornate labyrinth of ritualistic chambers, halls, sealed vaults, libraries, and even a hollow wall that held the remains of two human bodies. The initiate had been told every room in this building held a secret, and yet he knew no room held deeper secrets than the gigantic chamber in which he was currently kneeling with a skull cradled in his palms.

The Temple Room.

This room was a perfect square. And cavernous. The ceiling soared an astonishing one hundred feet overhead, supported by monolithic columns of green granite. A tiered gallery of dark Russian walnut seats with hand-tooled pigskin encircled the room. A thirty-three-foot-tall throne dominated the western wall, with a concealed pipe organ opposite it. The walls were a kaleidoscope of ancient symbols . . . Egyptian, Hebraic, astronomical, alchemical, and others yet unknown.

Tonight, the Temple Room was lit by a series of precisely arranged candles. Their dim glow was aided only by a pale shaft of moonlight that filtered down through the expansive oculus in the ceiling and illuminated the room's most startling feature—an enormous altar hewn from a solid block of polished Belgian black marble, situated dead center of the square chamber.

The secret is how to die, the initiate reminded himself.

"It is time," a voice whispered.

The initiate let his gaze climb the distinguished white-robed figure standing before him. The Supreme Worshipful Master. The man, in his late fifties, was an American icon, well loved, robust, and incalculably wealthy. His once-dark hair was turning silver, and his famous visage reflected a lifetime of power and a vigorous intellect.

"Take the oath," the Worshipful Master said, his voice soft like falling snow. "Complete your journey."

The initiate's journey, like all such journeys, had begun at the first degree. On that night, in a ritual similar to this one, the Worshipful Master had blindfolded him with a velvet hoodwink and pressed a ceremonial dagger to his bare chest, demanding: "Do you seriously declare on your honor, uninfluenced by mercenary or any other unworthy motive, that you freely and voluntarily offer yourself as a candidate for the mysteries and privileges of this brotherhood?"

"I do," the initiate had lied.

"Then let this be a sting to your consciousness," the master had warned him, "as well as instant death should you ever betray the secrets to be imparted to you."

At the time, the initiate had felt no fear. They will never know my true purpose here.

Tonight, however, he sensed a foreboding solemnity in the Temple Room, and his mind began replaying all the dire warnings he had been given on his journey, threats of terrible consequences if he ever shared the ancient secrets he was about to learn: Throat cut from ear to ear . . . tongue torn out by its roots . . . bowels taken out and burned . . . scattered to the four winds of heaven . . . heart plucked out and given to the beasts of the field—

"Brother," the gray-eyed master said, placing his left hand on the initiate's shoulder. "Take the final oath."

Steeling himself for the last step of his journey, the initiate shifted his muscular frame and turned his attention back to the skull cradled in his palms. The crimson wine looked almost black in the dim candlelight. The chamber had fallen deathly silent, and he could feel all of the witnesses watching him, waiting for him to take his final oath and join their elite ranks.

Tonight, he thought, something is taking place within these walls that has never before occurred in the history of this brotherhood. Not once, in centuries.

He knew it would be the spark . . . and it would give him unfathomable power. Energized, he drew a breath and spoke aloud the same words that countless men had spoken before him in countries all over the world.

"May this wine I now drink become a deadly poison to me . . . should I ever knowingly or willfully violate my oath."

His words echoed in the hollow space.

Then all was quiet.

Steadying his hands, the initiate raised the skull to his mouth and felt his lips touch the dry bone. He closed his eyes and tipped the skull toward his mouth, drinking the wine in long, deep swallows. When the last drop was gone, he lowered the skull.

For an instant, he thought he felt his lungs growing tight, and his heart began to pound wildly. My God, they know! Then, as quickly as it came, the feeling passed.

A pleasant warmth began to stream through his body. The initiate exhaled, smiling inwardly as he gazed up at the unsuspecting gray-eyed man who had foolishly admitted him into this brotherhood's most secretive ranks.

Soon you will lose everything you hold most dear.

Chapter 1

The Otis elevator climbing the south pillar of the Eiffel Tower was overflowing with tourists. Inside the cramped lift, an austere businessman in a pressed suit gazed down at the boy beside him. "You look pale, son. You should have stayed on the ground."

"I'm okay . . ." the boy answered, struggling to control his anxiety. "I'll get out on the next level." I can't breathe.

The man leaned closer. "I thought by now you would have gotten over this." He brushed the child's cheek affectionately.

The boy felt ashamed to disappoint his father, but he could barely hear through the ringing in his ears. I can't breathe. I've got to get out of this box!

The elevator operator was saying something reassuring about the lift's articulated pistons and puddled-iron construction. Far beneath them, the streets of Paris stretched out in all directions.

Almost there, the boy told himself, craning his neck and looking up at the unloading platform. Just hold on.

As the lift angled steeply toward the upper viewing deck, the shaft began to narrow, its massive struts contracting into a tight, vertical tunnel.

"Dad, I don't think—"

Suddenly a staccato crack echoed overhead. The carriage jerked, swaying awkwardly to one side. Frayed cables began whipping around the carriage, thrashing like snakes. The boy reached out for his father.

"Dad!"

Their eyes locked for one terrifying second.

Then the bottom dropped out.

Robert Langdon jolted upright in his soft leather seat, startling out of the semiconscious daydream. He was sitting all alone in the enormous cabin of a Falcon 2000EX corporate jet as it bounced its way through turbulence. In the background, the dual Pratt & Whitney engines hummed evenly.

"Mr. Langdon?" The intercom crackled overhead. "We're on final approach."

Langdon sat up straight and slid his lecture notes back into his leather daybag. He'd been halfway through reviewing Masonic symbology when his mind had drifted. The daydream about his late father, Langdon suspected, had been stirred by this morning's unexpected invitation from Langdon's longtime mentor, Peter Solomon.

The other man I never want to disappoint.

The fifty-eight-year-old philanthropist, historian, and scientist had taken Langdon under his wing nearly thirty years ago, in many ways filling the void left by Langdon's father's death. Despite the man's influential family dynasty and massive wealth, Langdon had found humility and warmth in Solomon's soft gray eyes.

Outside the window the sun had set, but Langdon could still make out the slender silhouette of the world's largest obelisk, rising on the horizon like the spire of an ancient gnomon. The 555-foot marble-faced obelisk marked this nation's heart. All around the spire, the meticulous geometry of streets and monuments radiated outward.

Even from the air, Washington, D.C., exuded an almost mystical power.

Langdon loved this city, and as the jet touched down, he felt a rising excitement about what lay ahead. The jet taxied to a private terminal somewhere in the vast expanse of Dulles International Airport and came to a stop.

Langdon gathered his things, thanked the pilots, and stepped out of the jet's luxurious interior onto the foldout staircase. The cold January air felt liberating.

Breathe, Robert, he thought, appreciating the wide-open spaces.

A blanket of white fog crept across the runway, and Langdon had the sensation he was stepping into a marsh as he descended onto the misty tarmac.

"Hello! Hello!" a singsong British voice shouted from across the tarmac. "Professor Langdon?"

Langdon looked up to see a middle-aged woman with a badge and clipboard hurrying toward him, waving happily as he approached. Curly blond hair protruded from under a stylish knit wool hat.

"Welcome to Washington, sir!"

Langdon smiled. "Thank you."

"My name is Pam, from passenger services." The woman spoke with an exuberance that was almost unsettling. "If you'll come with me, sir, your car is waiting."

Langdon followed her across the runway toward the Signature terminal, which was surrounded by glistening private jets. A taxi stand for the rich and famous.

"I hate to embarrass you, Professor," the woman said, sounding sheepish, "but you are the Robert Langdon who writes books about symbols and religion, aren't you?"

Langdon hesitated and then nodded.

"I thought so!" she said, beaming. "My book group read your book about the sacred feminine and the church! What a delicious scandal that one caused! You do enjoy putting the fox in the henhouse!"

Langdon smiled. "Scandal wasn't really my intention."

The woman seemed to sense Langdon was not in the mood to discuss his work. "I'm sorry. Listen to me rattling on. I know you probably get tired of being recognized . . . but it's your own fault." She playfully motioned to his clothing. "Your uniform gave you away."

My uniform? Langdon glanced down at his attire. He was wearing his usual charcoal turtleneck, Harris Tweed jacket, khakis, and collegiate cordovan loafers . . . his standard attire for the classroom, lecture circuit, author photos, and social events.

The woman laughed. "Those turtlenecks you wear are so dated. You'd look much sharper in a tie!"

No chance, Langdon thought. Little nooses.

Neckties had been required six days a week when Langdon attended Phillips Exeter Academy, and despite the headmaster's romantic claims that the origin of the cravat went back to the silk fascalia worn by Roman orators to warm their vocal cords, Langdon knew that, etymologically, cravat actually derived from a ruthless band of "Croat" mercenaries who donned knotted neckerchiefs before they stormed into battle. To this day, this ancient battle garb was donned by modern office warriors hoping to intimidate their enemies in daily boardroom battles.

"Thanks for the advice," Langdon said with a chuckle. "I'll consider a tie in the future."

Mercifully, a professional-looking man in a dark suit got out of a sleek Lincoln Town Car parked near the terminal and held up his finger. "Mr. Langdon? I'm Charles with Beltway Limousine." He opened the passenger door. "Good evening, sir. Welcome to Washington."

Langdon tipped Pam for her hospitality and then climbed into the plush interior of the Town Car. The driver showed him the temperature controls, the bottled water, and the basket of hot muffins. Seconds later, Langdon was speeding away on a private access road. So this is how the other half lives.

As the driver gunned the car up Windsock Drive, he consulted his passenger manifest and placed a quick call. "This is Beltway Limousine," the driver said with professional efficiency. "I was asked to confirm once my passenger had landed." He paused. "Yes, sir. Your guest, Mr. Langdon, has arrived, and I will deliver him to the Capitol Building by seven P.M. You're welcome, sir." He hung up.

Langdon had to smile. No stone left unturned. Peter Solomon's attention to detail was one of his most potent assets, allowing him to manage his substantial power with apparent ease. A few billion dollars in the bank doesn't hurt either.

Langdon settled into the plush leather seat and closed his eyes as the noise of the airport faded behind him. The U.S. Capitol was a half hour away, and he appreciated the time alone to gather his thoughts. Everything had happened so quickly today that Langdon only now had begun to think in earnest about the incredible evening that lay ahead.

Arriving under a veil of secrecy, Langdon thought, amused by the prospect.

Ten miles from the Capitol Building, a lone figure was eagerly preparing for Robert Langdon's arrival.</excerpt>
       <flapcopy>

In this stunning follow-up to the global phenomenon The Da Vinci Code, Dan Brown demonstrates once again why he is the world’s most popular thriller writer. The Lost Symbol is a masterstroke of storytelling that finds famed symbologist Robert Langdon in a deadly race through a real-world labyrinth of codes, secrets, and unseen truths . . . all under the watchful eye of Brown’s most terrifying villain to date. Set within the hidden chambers, tunnels, and temples of Washington, D.C., The Lost Symbol is an intelligent, lightning-paced story with surprises at every turn.  This is Dan Brown’s most exciting novel yet.
</flapcopy>
       <formatcode>MM</formatcode>
       <formatname>Paperback</formatname>
       <imprint>Anchor</imprint>
       <isbn>9781400079148</isbn>
       <isbn10>1400079144</isbn10>
       <isbn10hyphenated>1-4000-7914-4</isbn10hyphenated>
       <isbn13hyphenated>978-1-4000-7914-8</isbn13hyphenated>
       <jacketquotes>

“Dan Brown brings sexy back to a genre that had been left for dead . . . His code and clue-filled book is dense with exotica . . . amazing imagery . . . and the nonstop momentum that makes The Lost Symbol impossible to put down.  Splendid. . . . Another mind-blowing Robert Langdon story.” —New York Times

“Thrilling in the extreme, a definite page-flipper.” —Daily News (New York)

“Call it Brownian motion: a comet-tail ride of beautifully spaced reveals and a socko unveiling of the killer’s true identity.” —Washington Post

“The wait is over.  The Lost Symbol is here—and you don’t have to be a Freemason to enjoy it . . . .Thrilling and entertaining, like the experience on a roller coaster.” —Los Angeles Times

“Robert Langdon remains a terrific hero, a bookish intellectual who’s cool in a crisis and quick on his feet . . . .The codes are intriguing, the settings present often-seen locales in a fresh light, and Brown keeps the pages turning.” —Entertainment Weekly
 
“A fascinating pleasure. . . . Upends our usual assumptions about the world we think we know.” —Newsweek
 
“A roaring ride. . . . A caper filled with puzzles, grids, symbols, pyramids and a secret that can bestow ‘unfathomable power.’” —San Francisco Chronicle
 
“Dan Brown is a master of the breathless, puzzle-driven thriller.” —Richmond Times-Dispatch
</jacketquotes>
       <keyword>The Lost Symbol : : Dan Brown : Anchor : Fiction - General : : : 1400079144 : 1-4000-7914-4 : 9781400079148 : 978-1-4000-7914-8 :

In this stunning follow-up to the global phenomenon The Da Vinci Code, Dan Brown demonstrates once again why he is the world’s most popular thriller writer. The Lost Symbol is a masterstroke of storytelling that finds famed symbologist Robert Langdon in a deadly race through a real-world labyrinth of codes, secrets, and unseen truths . . . all under the watchful eye of Brown’s most terrifying villain to date. Set within the hidden chambers, tunnels, and temples of Washington, D.C., The Lost Symbol is an intelligent, lightning-paced story with surprises at every turn.  This is Dan Brown’s most exciting novel yet.
</keyword>
       <onsaledate>10/19/2010</onsaledate>
       <pages>656</pages>
       <pricecanada>11.99</pricecanada>
       <priceusa>9.99</priceusa>
       <rgabout>"Dan Brown brings sexy back to a genre that had been left for dead . . . . His code and clue-filled book is dense with exotica . . . amazing imagery . . . and the nonstop momentum that makes The Lost Symbol impossible to put down.  Splendid . . . Another mind-blowing robert langdon story." —Janet Maslin, The New York Times
 
The questions and discussion topics that follow are designed to enhance your reading group's discussion of The Lost Symbol, Dan Brown's bestselling follow-up to The Da Vinci Code.</rgabout>
       <rgauthbio>Dan Brown is the author of numerous number one bestselling novels, including the recent record-breaking The Lost Symbol, which had the biggest one-week sale in Penguin Random House history for a single title. His previous title, The Da Vinci Code, has sold more than eighty million copies worldwide, making it one of the bestselling novels of all time. In addition to numerous appearances on the Today show, Brown was named one of the World's 100 Most Influential People by Time magazine. He has appeared in the pages of Newsweek, Forbes, People, GQ, The New Yorker, and others. His novels are published in over fifty languages around the world.</rgauthbio>
       <rgcopy>In this stunning follow-up to the global phenomenon The Da Vinci Code, Dan Brown demonstrates once again why he is the world's most popular thriller writer. The Lost Symbol is a masterstroke of storytelling—a deadly race through a real-world labyrinth of codes, secrets, and unseen truths . . . all under the watchful eye of Brown's most terrifying villain to date. Set within the hidden chambers, tunnels, and temples of Washington, D.C., The Lost Symbol accelerates through a startling landscape toward an unthinkable finale.

As the story opens, Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon is summoned unexpectedly to deliver an evening lecture in the U.S. Capitol Building. Within minutes of his arrival, however, the night takes a bizarre turn. A disturbing object—artfully encoded with five symbols—is discovered in the Capitol Building. Langdon recognizes the object as an ancient invitation . . . one meant to usher its recipient into a long-lost world of esoteric wisdom.

When Langdon's beloved mentor, Peter Solomon—a prominent Mason and philanthropist—is brutally kidnapped, Langdon realizes his only hope of saving Peter is to accept this mystical invitation and follow wherever it leads him. Langdon is instantly plunged into a clandestine world of Masonic secrets, hidden history, and never-before-seen locations—all of which seem to be dragging him toward a single, inconceivable truth.

As the world discovered in The Da Vinci Code and Angels & Demons, Dan Brown's novels are brilliant tapestries of veiled histories, arcane symbols, and enigmatic codes. In this new novel, he again challenges readers with an intelligent, lightning-paced story that offers surprises at every turn. The Lost Symbol is exactly what Brown's fans have been waiting for . . . his most thrilling novel yet.</rgcopy>
       <rgdiscussion>

1. How familiar were you with Freemasonry before reading the novel? How did your impressions of the organization shift throughout the book, from the chilling prologue to Peter Solomon's philosophical comments near the end?

2. How do Peter Solomon's students (including Robert) reconcile their admiration for him with the knowledge that he is a Mason? Did it surprise you to learn about well-known American historical figures who were Masons and to read about scientists who were intrigued by mysticism and other occult belief systems?

3. Discuss the novel's grand theme of architecture. How did The Lost Symbol change the way you think about the way buildings are designed and the intention of their architects—their creators? What most surprised you about the tributes to the past—and visions of the future—that are captured in the landmarks of Washington, D.C.?

4. Mal'akh considers the polarity of angels and demons, noting that "the guardian angel who conquered your enemy in battle was perceived by your enemy as a demon destroyer." What does this indicate about Mal'akh's perception of himself in the world? How can his evil nature be explained? Why is he able to consider only his own suffering, while relishing the suffering of others?

5. How did you react to Katherine Solomon's work in Noetic Science? What motivates her to investigate the tangible aspects of the human soul (attempting to weigh it, even)? How would it change the world if there were more tangible evidence of the spiritual world? How is Katherine Solomon's perception of science different from Robert Langdon's?

6. At the heart of the novel is a quest to unlock wisdom despite the need to keep it "locked" since it can be used for destructive purposes. Do you believe that freedom of knowledge (Wikipedia, the World Wide Web) is a blessing or a curse?

7. The novel's epigraph, from Manly Hall's The Secret Teachings of All Ages, encourages readers to become aware of the meaning of the world. What mysteries about the world, and life, do you think are the most important ones to explore?

8. How does Mal'akh amass enough power to turn his personal plot into a national security threat? What does his rise to power indicate about the potential of mind over body and a human being's ability to play a variety of roles for unsuspecting audiences?

9. The final chapter raises intriguing questions about the possibility of a multifaceted God and the potential to find God in all of humanity. Can there be a universal definition of enlightenment?

10. While interpreting the Masonic Pyramid's final inscription, Robert Langdon tries to bring order out of chaos by interpreting each symbol as a metaphor. Peter Solomon instructs him to be literal and accept the inscription as a true map. What does this exchange say about the best way to interpret all sacred messages?

11. In the epilogue what truths do Katherine Solomon and Robert Langdon experience, at sunris atop America's ultimate symbol? From your perspective, what does the Capitol symbolize?

12. What does The Lost Symbol indicate about the power of the word—whether ancient texts or bestselling twenty-first-century novels?

13. What common thread runs through this and each of Dan Brown's previous works? What makes The Lost Symbol unique? How has Robert Langdon's perspective changed from Angels & Demons and The Da Vinci Code?

(For a complete list of available reading group guides, and to sign up for the Reading Group Center enewsletter, visit www.readinggroupcenter.com)
</rgdiscussion>
       <salestatus>HT</salestatus>
       <subjectcategory1>FIC000000</subjectcategory1>
       <subjectcategorydescription1>Fiction - General</subjectcategorydescription1>
       <titleauthisbn>The Lost Symbol : Dan Brown : 1400079144 : 1-4000-7914-4 : 9781400079148 : 978-1-4000-7914-8</titleauthisbn>
       <titleshort>LOST SYMBOL, THE</titleshort>
       <titlesubtitleauthisbn>The Lost Symbol : : Dan Brown : 1400079144 : 1-4000-7914-4 : 9781400079148 : 978-1-4000-7914-8</titlesubtitleauthisbn>
       <titleweb>The Lost Symbol</titleweb>
       <workid>19314</workid>
   </title>

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As the story opens, Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon is summoned unexpectedly to deliver an evening lecture in the U.S. Capitol Building. Within minutes of his arrival, however, the night takes a bizarre turn. A disturbing object artfully encoded with five symbols is discovered in the Capitol Building. Langdon recognizes the object as an ancient invitation . . . one meant to usher its recipient into a long-lost world of esoteric wisdom.

When Langdon's beloved mentor, Peter Solomona prominent Mason and philanthropist is brutally kidnapped, Langdon realizes his only hope of saving Peter is to accept this mystical invitation and follow wherever it leads him. Langdon is instantly plunged into a clandestine world of Masonic secrets, hidden history, and never-before-seen locations all of which seem to be dragging him toward a single, inconceivable truth.

"Dan Brown brings sexy back to a genre that had been left for dead. . . . His code and clue-filled book is dense with exotica…amazing imagery…and the nonstop momentum that makes The Lost Symbol impossible to put down."—Janet Maslin, New York Times

"Call it Brownian motion: A comet-tail ride of beautifully spaced reveals and a socko unveiling of the killer's true identity." —Washington Post
","author":"BROWN, DAN","authorbio":"

Dan Brown is the author of The Da Vinci Code, one of the most widely read novels of all time, as well as the international bestsellers Angels & Demons, Deception Point, and Digital Fortress.  He lives in New England with his wife.
","authorweb":"Dan Brown","contributorfirst1":"Dan","contributorlast1":"Brown","division":"Knopf","excerpt":"Prologue
House of the Temple
8:33 P.M.
 
The secret is how to die.

Since the beginning of time, the secret had always been how to die.

The thirty-four-year-old initiate gazed down at the human skull cradled in his palms. The skull was hollow, like a bowl, filled with bloodred wine.

Drink it, he told himself. You have nothing to fear.
 
As was tradition, he had begun this journey adorned in the ritualistic garb of a medieval heretic being led to the gallows, his loose-fitting shirt gaping open to reveal his pale chest, his left pant leg rolled up to the knee, and his right sleeve rolled up to the elbow. Around his neck hung a heavy rope noose—a \"cable-tow\" as the brethren called it. Tonight, however, like the brethren bearing witness, he was dressed as a master.

The assembly of brothers encircling him all were adorned in their full regalia of lambskin aprons, sashes, and white gloves. Around their necks hung ceremonial jewels that glistened like ghostly eyes in the muted light. Many of these men held powerful stations in life, and yet the initiate knew their worldly ranks meant nothing within these walls. Here all men were equals, sworn brothers sharing a mystical bond.

As he surveyed the daunting assembly, the initiate wondered who on the outside would ever believe that this collection of men would assemble in one place . . . much less this place. The room looked like a holy sanctuary from the ancient world.

The truth, however, was stranger still.

I am just blocks away from the White House.

This colossal edifice, located at 1733 Sixteenth Street NW in Washington, D.C., was a replica of a pre-Christian temple—the temple of King Mausolus, the original mausoleum . . . a place to be taken after death. Outside the main entrance, two seventeen-ton sphinxes guarded the bronze doors. The interior was an ornate labyrinth of ritualistic chambers, halls, sealed vaults, libraries, and even a hollow wall that held the remains of two human bodies. The initiate had been told every room in this building held a secret, and yet he knew no room held deeper secrets than the gigantic chamber in which he was currently kneeling with a skull cradled in his palms.

The Temple Room.

This room was a perfect square. And cavernous. The ceiling soared an astonishing one hundred feet overhead, supported by monolithic columns of green granite. A tiered gallery of dark Russian walnut seats with hand-tooled pigskin encircled the room. A thirty-three-foot-tall throne dominated the western wall, with a concealed pipe organ opposite it. The walls were a kaleidoscope of ancient symbols . . . Egyptian, Hebraic, astronomical, alchemical, and others yet unknown.

Tonight, the Temple Room was lit by a series of precisely arranged candles. Their dim glow was aided only by a pale shaft of moonlight that filtered down through the expansive oculus in the ceiling and illuminated the room's most startling feature—an enormous altar hewn from a solid block of polished Belgian black marble, situated dead center of the square chamber.

The secret is how to die, the initiate reminded himself.

\"It is time,\" a voice whispered.

The initiate let his gaze climb the distinguished white-robed figure standing before him. The Supreme Worshipful Master. The man, in his late fifties, was an American icon, well loved, robust, and incalculably wealthy. His once-dark hair was turning silver, and his famous visage reflected a lifetime of power and a vigorous intellect.

\"Take the oath,\" the Worshipful Master said, his voice soft like falling snow. \"Complete your journey.\"

The initiate's journey, like all such journeys, had begun at the first degree. On that night, in a ritual similar to this one, the Worshipful Master had blindfolded him with a velvet hoodwink and pressed a ceremonial dagger to his bare chest, demanding: \"Do you seriously declare on your honor, uninfluenced by mercenary or any other unworthy motive, that you freely and voluntarily offer yourself as a candidate for the mysteries and privileges of this brotherhood?\"

\"I do,\" the initiate had lied.

\"Then let this be a sting to your consciousness,\" the master had warned him, \"as well as instant death should you ever betray the secrets to be imparted to you.\"

At the time, the initiate had felt no fear. They will never know my true purpose here.

Tonight, however, he sensed a foreboding solemnity in the Temple Room, and his mind began replaying all the dire warnings he had been given on his journey, threats of terrible consequences if he ever shared the ancient secrets he was about to learn: Throat cut from ear to ear . . . tongue torn out by its roots . . . bowels taken out and burned . . . scattered to the four winds of heaven . . . heart plucked out and given to the beasts of the field—

\"Brother,\" the gray-eyed master said, placing his left hand on the initiate's shoulder. \"Take the final oath.\"

Steeling himself for the last step of his journey, the initiate shifted his muscular frame and turned his attention back to the skull cradled in his palms. The crimson wine looked almost black in the dim candlelight. The chamber had fallen deathly silent, and he could feel all of the witnesses watching him, waiting for him to take his final oath and join their elite ranks.

Tonight, he thought, something is taking place within these walls that has never before occurred in the history of this brotherhood. Not once, in centuries.

He knew it would be the spark . . . and it would give him unfathomable power. Energized, he drew a breath and spoke aloud the same words that countless men had spoken before him in countries all over the world.

\"May this wine I now drink become a deadly poison to me . . . should I ever knowingly or willfully violate my oath.\"

His words echoed in the hollow space.

Then all was quiet.

Steadying his hands, the initiate raised the skull to his mouth and felt his lips touch the dry bone. He closed his eyes and tipped the skull toward his mouth, drinking the wine in long, deep swallows. When the last drop was gone, he lowered the skull.

For an instant, he thought he felt his lungs growing tight, and his heart began to pound wildly. My God, they know! Then, as quickly as it came, the feeling passed.

A pleasant warmth began to stream through his body. The initiate exhaled, smiling inwardly as he gazed up at the unsuspecting gray-eyed man who had foolishly admitted him into this brotherhood's most secretive ranks.

Soon you will lose everything you hold most dear.

Chapter 1

The Otis elevator climbing the south pillar of the Eiffel Tower was overflowing with tourists. Inside the cramped lift, an austere businessman in a pressed suit gazed down at the boy beside him. \"You look pale, son. You should have stayed on the ground.\"

\"I'm okay . . .\" the boy answered, struggling to control his anxiety. \"I'll get out on the next level.\" I can't breathe.

The man leaned closer. \"I thought by now you would have gotten over this.\" He brushed the child's cheek affectionately.

The boy felt ashamed to disappoint his father, but he could barely hear through the ringing in his ears. I can't breathe. I've got to get out of this box!

The elevator operator was saying something reassuring about the lift's articulated pistons and puddled-iron construction. Far beneath them, the streets of Paris stretched out in all directions.

Almost there, the boy told himself, craning his neck and looking up at the unloading platform. Just hold on.

As the lift angled steeply toward the upper viewing deck, the shaft began to narrow, its massive struts contracting into a tight, vertical tunnel.

\"Dad, I don't think—\"

Suddenly a staccato crack echoed overhead. The carriage jerked, swaying awkwardly to one side. Frayed cables began whipping around the carriage, thrashing like snakes. The boy reached out for his father.

\"Dad!\"

Their eyes locked for one terrifying second.

Then the bottom dropped out.

Robert Langdon jolted upright in his soft leather seat, startling out of the semiconscious daydream. He was sitting all alone in the enormous cabin of a Falcon 2000EX corporate jet as it bounced its way through turbulence. In the background, the dual Pratt & Whitney engines hummed evenly.

\"Mr. Langdon?\" The intercom crackled overhead. \"We're on final approach.\"

Langdon sat up straight and slid his lecture notes back into his leather daybag. He'd been halfway through reviewing Masonic symbology when his mind had drifted. The daydream about his late father, Langdon suspected, had been stirred by this morning's unexpected invitation from Langdon's longtime mentor, Peter Solomon.

The other man I never want to disappoint.

The fifty-eight-year-old philanthropist, historian, and scientist had taken Langdon under his wing nearly thirty years ago, in many ways filling the void left by Langdon's father's death. Despite the man's influential family dynasty and massive wealth, Langdon had found humility and warmth in Solomon's soft gray eyes.

Outside the window the sun had set, but Langdon could still make out the slender silhouette of the world's largest obelisk, rising on the horizon like the spire of an ancient gnomon. The 555-foot marble-faced obelisk marked this nation's heart. All around the spire, the meticulous geometry of streets and monuments radiated outward.

Even from the air, Washington, D.C., exuded an almost mystical power.

Langdon loved this city, and as the jet touched down, he felt a rising excitement about what lay ahead. The jet taxied to a private terminal somewhere in the vast expanse of Dulles International Airport and came to a stop.

Langdon gathered his things, thanked the pilots, and stepped out of the jet's luxurious interior onto the foldout staircase. The cold January air felt liberating.

Breathe, Robert, he thought, appreciating the wide-open spaces.

A blanket of white fog crept across the runway, and Langdon had the sensation he was stepping into a marsh as he descended onto the misty tarmac.

\"Hello! Hello!\" a singsong British voice shouted from across the tarmac. \"Professor Langdon?\"

Langdon looked up to see a middle-aged woman with a badge and clipboard hurrying toward him, waving happily as he approached. Curly blond hair protruded from under a stylish knit wool hat.

\"Welcome to Washington, sir!\"

Langdon smiled. \"Thank you.\"

\"My name is Pam, from passenger services.\" The woman spoke with an exuberance that was almost unsettling. \"If you'll come with me, sir, your car is waiting.\"

Langdon followed her across the runway toward the Signature terminal, which was surrounded by glistening private jets. A taxi stand for the rich and famous.

\"I hate to embarrass you, Professor,\" the woman said, sounding sheepish, \"but you are the Robert Langdon who writes books about symbols and religion, aren't you?\"

Langdon hesitated and then nodded.

\"I thought so!\" she said, beaming. \"My book group read your book about the sacred feminine and the church! What a delicious scandal that one caused! You do enjoy putting the fox in the henhouse!\"

Langdon smiled. \"Scandal wasn't really my intention.\"

The woman seemed to sense Langdon was not in the mood to discuss his work. \"I'm sorry. Listen to me rattling on. I know you probably get tired of being recognized . . . but it's your own fault.\" She playfully motioned to his clothing. \"Your uniform gave you away.\"

My uniform? Langdon glanced down at his attire. He was wearing his usual charcoal turtleneck, Harris Tweed jacket, khakis, and collegiate cordovan loafers . . . his standard attire for the classroom, lecture circuit, author photos, and social events.

The woman laughed. \"Those turtlenecks you wear are so dated. You'd look much sharper in a tie!\"

No chance, Langdon thought. Little nooses.

Neckties had been required six days a week when Langdon attended Phillips Exeter Academy, and despite the headmaster's romantic claims that the origin of the cravat went back to the silk fascalia worn by Roman orators to warm their vocal cords, Langdon knew that, etymologically, cravat actually derived from a ruthless band of \"Croat\" mercenaries who donned knotted neckerchiefs before they stormed into battle. To this day, this ancient battle garb was donned by modern office warriors hoping to intimidate their enemies in daily boardroom battles.

\"Thanks for the advice,\" Langdon said with a chuckle. \"I'll consider a tie in the future.\"

Mercifully, a professional-looking man in a dark suit got out of a sleek Lincoln Town Car parked near the terminal and held up his finger. \"Mr. Langdon? I'm Charles with Beltway Limousine.\" He opened the passenger door. \"Good evening, sir. Welcome to Washington.\"

Langdon tipped Pam for her hospitality and then climbed into the plush interior of the Town Car. The driver showed him the temperature controls, the bottled water, and the basket of hot muffins. Seconds later, Langdon was speeding away on a private access road. So this is how the other half lives.

As the driver gunned the car up Windsock Drive, he consulted his passenger manifest and placed a quick call. \"This is Beltway Limousine,\" the driver said with professional efficiency. \"I was asked to confirm once my passenger had landed.\" He paused. \"Yes, sir. Your guest, Mr. Langdon, has arrived, and I will deliver him to the Capitol Building by seven P.M. You're welcome, sir.\" He hung up.

Langdon had to smile. No stone left unturned. Peter Solomon's attention to detail was one of his most potent assets, allowing him to manage his substantial power with apparent ease. A few billion dollars in the bank doesn't hurt either.

Langdon settled into the plush leather seat and closed his eyes as the noise of the airport faded behind him. The U.S. Capitol was a half hour away, and he appreciated the time alone to gather his thoughts. Everything had happened so quickly today that Langdon only now had begun to think in earnest about the incredible evening that lay ahead.

Arriving under a veil of secrecy, Langdon thought, amused by the prospect.

Ten miles from the Capitol Building, a lone figure was eagerly preparing for Robert Langdon's arrival.","flapcopy":"

In this stunning follow-up to the global phenomenon The Da Vinci Code, Dan Brown demonstrates once again why he is the world’s most popular thriller writer. The Lost Symbol is a masterstroke of storytelling that finds famed symbologist Robert Langdon in a deadly race through a real-world labyrinth of codes, secrets, and unseen truths . . . all under the watchful eye of Brown’s most terrifying villain to date. Set within the hidden chambers, tunnels, and temples of Washington, D.C., The Lost Symbol is an intelligent, lightning-paced story with surprises at every turn.  This is Dan Brown’s most exciting novel yet.
","formatcode":"MM","formatname":"Paperback","imprint":"Anchor","isbn":"9781400079148","isbn10":"1400079144","isbn10hyphenated":"1-4000-7914-4","isbn13hyphenated":"978-1-4000-7914-8","jacketquotes":"

“Dan Brown brings sexy back to a genre that had been left for dead . . . His code and clue-filled book is dense with exotica . . . amazing imagery . . . and the nonstop momentum that makes The Lost Symbol impossible to put down.  Splendid. . . . Another mind-blowing Robert Langdon story.” —New York Times

“Thrilling in the extreme, a definite page-flipper.” —Daily News (New York)

“Call it Brownian motion: a comet-tail ride of beautifully spaced reveals and a socko unveiling of the killer’s true identity.” —Washington Post

“The wait is over.  The Lost Symbol is here—and you don’t have to be a Freemason to enjoy it . . . .Thrilling and entertaining, like the experience on a roller coaster.” —Los Angeles Times

“Robert Langdon remains a terrific hero, a bookish intellectual who’s cool in a crisis and quick on his feet . . . .The codes are intriguing, the settings present often-seen locales in a fresh light, and Brown keeps the pages turning.” —Entertainment Weekly
 
“A fascinating pleasure. . . . Upends our usual assumptions about the world we think we know.” —Newsweek
 
“A roaring ride. . . . A caper filled with puzzles, grids, symbols, pyramids and a secret that can bestow ‘unfathomable power.’” —San Francisco Chronicle
 
“Dan Brown is a master of the breathless, puzzle-driven thriller.” —Richmond Times-Dispatch
","keyword":"The Lost Symbol : : Dan Brown : Anchor : Fiction - General : : : 1400079144 : 1-4000-7914-4 : 9781400079148 : 978-1-4000-7914-8 :

In this stunning follow-up to the global phenomenon The Da Vinci Code, Dan Brown demonstrates once again why he is the world’s most popular thriller writer. The Lost Symbol is a masterstroke of storytelling that finds famed symbologist Robert Langdon in a deadly race through a real-world labyrinth of codes, secrets, and unseen truths . . . all under the watchful eye of Brown’s most terrifying villain to date. Set within the hidden chambers, tunnels, and temples of Washington, D.C., The Lost Symbol is an intelligent, lightning-paced story with surprises at every turn.  This is Dan Brown’s most exciting novel yet.
","onsaledate":"10/19/2010","pages":"656","pricecanada":"11.99","priceusa":"9.99","rgabout":"\"Dan Brown brings sexy back to a genre that had been left for dead . . . . His code and clue-filled book is dense with exotica . . . amazing imagery . . . and the nonstop momentum that makes The Lost Symbol impossible to put down.  Splendid . . . Another mind-blowing robert langdon story.\" —Janet Maslin, The New York Times
 
The questions and discussion topics that follow are designed to enhance your reading group's discussion of The Lost Symbol, Dan Brown's bestselling follow-up to The Da Vinci Code.","rgauthbio":"Dan Brown is the author of numerous number one bestselling novels, including the recent record-breaking The Lost Symbol, which had the biggest one-week sale in Penguin Random House history for a single title. His previous title, The Da Vinci Code, has sold more than eighty million copies worldwide, making it one of the bestselling novels of all time. In addition to numerous appearances on the Today show, Brown was named one of the World's 100 Most Influential People by Time magazine. He has appeared in the pages of Newsweek, Forbes, People, GQ, The New Yorker, and others. His novels are published in over fifty languages around the world.","rgcopy":"In this stunning follow-up to the global phenomenon The Da Vinci Code, Dan Brown demonstrates once again why he is the world's most popular thriller writer. The Lost Symbol is a masterstroke of storytelling—a deadly race through a real-world labyrinth of codes, secrets, and unseen truths . . . all under the watchful eye of Brown's most terrifying villain to date. Set within the hidden chambers, tunnels, and temples of Washington, D.C., The Lost Symbol accelerates through a startling landscape toward an unthinkable finale.

As the story opens, Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon is summoned unexpectedly to deliver an evening lecture in the U.S. Capitol Building. Within minutes of his arrival, however, the night takes a bizarre turn. A disturbing object—artfully encoded with five symbols—is discovered in the Capitol Building. Langdon recognizes the object as an ancient invitation . . . one meant to usher its recipient into a long-lost world of esoteric wisdom.

When Langdon's beloved mentor, Peter Solomon—a prominent Mason and philanthropist—is brutally kidnapped, Langdon realizes his only hope of saving Peter is to accept this mystical invitation and follow wherever it leads him. Langdon is instantly plunged into a clandestine world of Masonic secrets, hidden history, and never-before-seen locations—all of which seem to be dragging him toward a single, inconceivable truth.

As the world discovered in The Da Vinci Code and Angels & Demons, Dan Brown's novels are brilliant tapestries of veiled histories, arcane symbols, and enigmatic codes. In this new novel, he again challenges readers with an intelligent, lightning-paced story that offers surprises at every turn. The Lost Symbol is exactly what Brown's fans have been waiting for . . . his most thrilling novel yet.","rgdiscussion":"

1. How familiar were you with Freemasonry before reading the novel? How did your impressions of the organization shift throughout the book, from the chilling prologue to Peter Solomon's philosophical comments near the end?

2. How do Peter Solomon's students (including Robert) reconcile their admiration for him with the knowledge that he is a Mason? Did it surprise you to learn about well-known American historical figures who were Masons and to read about scientists who were intrigued by mysticism and other occult belief systems?

3. Discuss the novel's grand theme of architecture. How did The Lost Symbol change the way you think about the way buildings are designed and the intention of their architects—their creators? What most surprised you about the tributes to the past—and visions of the future—that are captured in the landmarks of Washington, D.C.?

4. Mal'akh considers the polarity of angels and demons, noting that \"the guardian angel who conquered your enemy in battle was perceived by your enemy as a demon destroyer.\" What does this indicate about Mal'akh's perception of himself in the world? How can his evil nature be explained? Why is he able to consider only his own suffering, while relishing the suffering of others?

5. How did you react to Katherine Solomon's work in Noetic Science? What motivates her to investigate the tangible aspects of the human soul (attempting to weigh it, even)? How would it change the world if there were more tangible evidence of the spiritual world? How is Katherine Solomon's perception of science different from Robert Langdon's?

6. At the heart of the novel is a quest to unlock wisdom despite the need to keep it \"locked\" since it can be used for destructive purposes. Do you believe that freedom of knowledge (Wikipedia, the World Wide Web) is a blessing or a curse?

7. The novel's epigraph, from Manly Hall's The Secret Teachings of All Ages, encourages readers to become aware of the meaning of the world. What mysteries about the world, and life, do you think are the most important ones to explore?

8. How does Mal'akh amass enough power to turn his personal plot into a national security threat? What does his rise to power indicate about the potential of mind over body and a human being's ability to play a variety of roles for unsuspecting audiences?

9. The final chapter raises intriguing questions about the possibility of a multifaceted God and the potential to find God in all of humanity. Can there be a universal definition of enlightenment?

10. While interpreting the Masonic Pyramid's final inscription, Robert Langdon tries to bring order out of chaos by interpreting each symbol as a metaphor. Peter Solomon instructs him to be literal and accept the inscription as a true map. What does this exchange say about the best way to interpret all sacred messages?

11. In the epilogue what truths do Katherine Solomon and Robert Langdon experience, at sunris atop America's ultimate symbol? From your perspective, what does the Capitol symbolize?

12. What does The Lost Symbol indicate about the power of the word—whether ancient texts or bestselling twenty-first-century novels?

13. What common thread runs through this and each of Dan Brown's previous works? What makes The Lost Symbol unique? How has Robert Langdon's perspective changed from Angels & Demons and The Da Vinci Code?

(For a complete list of available reading group guides, and to sign up for the Reading Group Center enewsletter, visit www.readinggroupcenter.com)
","salestatus":"HT","subjectcategory1":"FIC000000","subjectcategorydescription1":"Fiction - General","titleauthisbn":"The Lost Symbol : Dan Brown : 1400079144 : 1-4000-7914-4 : 9781400079148 : 978-1-4000-7914-8","titleshort":"LOST SYMBOL, THE","titlesubtitleauthisbn":"The Lost Symbol : : Dan Brown : 1400079144 : 1-4000-7914-4 : 9781400079148 : 978-1-4000-7914-8","titleweb":"The Lost Symbol","workid":"19314"}

USAGE

bash

expand source

# Curl example

curl -X GET -v --basic -u "testuser:testpassword" "https://reststop.randomhouse.com/resources/titles/9781400079148/"

php

expand source

<?php

// PHP example

$ch = curl.init();
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_URL, "https://reststop.randomhouse.com/resources/titles/9781400079148/");
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_HEADER, FALSE);
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_HTTPAUTH, CURLAUTH_BASIC);
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_USERPWD, "testuser:testpassword");
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_RETURNTRANSFER, TRUE);
$api_return = curl exec($ch);
echo $api_return;
curl close($ch);
?>

java

expand source

// Java example

import java.io.BufferedReader;
import java.io.OutputStreamWriter;
import java.io.InputStream;
import java.io.InputStreamReader;
import java.net.Authenticator;
import java.net.PasswordAuthentication;
import java.net.URL;
import java.net.HttpUrlConnection;

public class Api {
static final String kuser = "testuser";
static final String kpass = "testpassword";

static class RHAuthenticator extends Authenticator {
public PasswordAuthentication getPasswordAuthentication() {
return (new PasswordAuthentication(kuser, kpass.toCharArray()));
}
}

public static void main(String[] args) {
Authenticator.setDefault(new RHAuthenticator());
URL url = new URL("https://reststop.randomhouse.com/resources/titles/9781400079148/");
HttpURLConnection con = (HttpURLConnection) url.openConnection();
InputStream is = con.getInputStream();
BufferedReader reader = new BufferedReader(new InputStreamReader(is));
String str
while((str = reader.readLine()) != null) {
System.out.println(str);
}
reader.close();
}
}

Accepts GET and application/xml or application/json.

INPUTS

start

(required) the position of first record to be returned starting with zero
max

(required) the position of the last record to be returned; passing zero will return all found records
expandLevel

(required) the level of detail to be returned

0 = no details returned, just links
1 = return links and details
isbn

(optional) 13-digit ISBN (aka EAN) to limit the results to just those events that are tagged for the specified title; a zero is treated as a null
Examples:
9780345500205
authorid

(optional) integer identifying the author associated with the event. If you don't know this number, you should first do a author search and extract the authorid. A zero is treated as a null.
Examples:
19064

OUTPUTS

The response is a single authorevents element with each result represented by a nested authorevent element.

Sample XML response

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
   <authorevents uri="https://reststop.randomhouse.com/resources/authorevents/?start=0&max=3&expandLevel=1&isbn=0&authorid=0">
       <authorEvent uri="https://reststop.randomhouse.com/resources/authorevents/188677/">
           <authorid>80607</authorid>
           <city>Toronto</city>
           <description>Toronto - KAMA</description>
           <eventauthor>Andrea Gunraj</eventauthor>
           <eventdate>04/27/2011</eventdate>
           <eventid>188677</eventid>
           <eventtime>6:30 pm</eventtime>
           <eventtimeend>8:30 pm</eventtimeend>
           <isbn>9780307396983</isbn>
           <isbn10>30739698</isbn10>
           <location>KAMA Reading Series, Park Hyatt Toronto, 4 Avenue Rd</location>
           <market>CAN - Toronto and GTA</market>
           <state>ON</state>
           <status>Preliminary</status>
       </authorEvent>
       <authorEvent uri="https://reststop.randomhouse.com/resources/authorevents/86905/">
           <address1>26 Lewis Rd.</address1>
           <authorid>34191</authorid>
           <city>Irvington</city>
           <eventauthor>Arthur Phillips</eventauthor>
           <eventdate>04/22/2099</eventdate>
           <eventid>86905</eventid>
           <eventtime>7:00 PM</eventtime>
           <isbn>9781400066469</isbn>
           <isbn10>140006646</isbn10>
           <location>SPOKEN INTERLUDES</location>
           <market>NY - New York Suburbs</market>
           <state>NY</state>
           <status>Confirmed</status>
           <zip>10533</zip>
       </authorEvent>
       <authorEvent uri="https://reststop.randomhouse.com/resources/authorevents/87930/">
           <address1>157 Winslow Way East</address1>
           <authorid>75581</authorid>
           <city>Bainbridge Island</city>
           <description>co-reading/signing with Kara McClaren</description>
           <eventauthor>Will North</eventauthor>
           <eventdate>05/07/5009</eventdate>
           <eventdateend>2009-05-07T00:00:00-04:00</eventdateend>
           <eventid>87930</eventid>
           <eventtime>7:30pm</eventtime>
           <isbn>9780307451613</isbn>
           <isbn10>30745161</isbn10>
           <location>Eagle Harbor Book Company</location>
           <market>WA - Washington</market>
           <state>WA</state>
           <status>Confirmed</status>
           <zip>98110</zip>
       </authorEvent>
   </authorevents>

Sample JSON response

{"@uri":"https://reststop.randomhouse.com/resources/authorevents/?start=0&max=3&expandLevel=1&isbn=0&authorid=0","authorEvent":[{"@uri":"http://reststop.randomhouse.com/resources/authorevents/188677/","authorid":"80607","city":"Toronto","description":"Toronto - KAMA","eventauthor":"Andrea Gunraj","eventdate":"04/27/2011","eventid":"188677","eventtime":"6:30 pm","eventtimeend":"8:30 pm","isbn":"9780307396983","isbn10":"30739698","location":"KAMA Reading Series, Park Hyatt Toronto, 4 Avenue Rd","market":"CAN - Toronto and GTA","state":"ON","status":"Preliminary"},{"@uri":"http://reststop.randomhouse.com/resources/authorevents/86905/","address1":"26 Lewis Rd.","authorid":"34191","city":"Irvington","eventauthor":"Arthur Phillips","eventdate":"04/22/2099","eventid":"86905","eventtime":"7:00 PM","isbn":"9781400066469","isbn10":"140006646","location":"SPOKEN INTERLUDES","market":"NY - New York Suburbs","state":"NY","status":"Confirmed","zip":"10533"},{"@uri":"http://reststop.randomhouse.com/resources/authorevents/87930/","address1":"157 Winslow Way East","authorid":"75581","city":"Bainbridge Island","description":"co-reading/signing with Kara McClaren","eventauthor":"Will North","eventdate":"05/07/5009","eventdateend":"2009-05-07T00:00:00-04:00","eventid":"87930","eventtime":"7:30pm","isbn":"9780307451613","isbn10":"30745161","location":"Eagle Harbor Book Company","market":"WA - Washington","state":"WA","status":"Confirmed","zip":"98110"}]}

USAGE

bash

expand source

# Curl example

curl -X GET -v --basic -u "testuser:testpassword" "https://reststop.randomhouse.com/resources/authorevents?start=0&max=10"

php

expand source

<?php

// PHP example

$ch = curl.init();
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_URL, "https://reststop.randomhouse.com/resources/authorevents?start=0&max=10");
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_HEADER, FALSE);
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_HTTPAUTH, CURLAUTH_BASIC);
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_USERPWD, "testuser:testpassword");
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_RETURNTRANSFER, TRUE);
$api_return = curl exec($ch);
echo $api_return;
curl close($ch);
?>

java

expand source

// Java example

import java.io.BufferedReader;
import java.io.OutputStreamWriter;
import java.io.InputStream;
import java.io.InputStreamReader;
import java.net.Authenticator;
import java.net.PasswordAuthentication;
import java.net.URL;
import java.net.HttpUrlConnection;

public class Api {
static final String kuser = "testuser";
static final String kpass = "testpassword";

static class RHAuthenticator extends Authenticator {
public PasswordAuthentication getPasswordAuthentication() {
return (new PasswordAuthentication(kuser, kpass.toCharArray()));
}
}

public static void main(String[] args) {
Authenticator.setDefault(new RHAuthenticator());
URL url = new URL("https://reststop.randomhouse.com/resources/authorevents?start=0&max=10");
HttpURLConnection con = (HttpURLConnection) url.openConnection();
InputStream is = con.getInputStream();
BufferedReader reader = new BufferedReader(new InputStreamReader(is));
String str
while((str = reader.readLine()) != null) {
System.out.println(str);
}
reader.close();
}
}

Accepts GET and application/xml or application/json.

INPUTS

eventid

(required) The integer identifying a specific author event. If you don't know this number, you should first do a author event search and extract the eventid. A zero is treated as a null.
example value: 86694

OUTPUTS

The response is a single authorevent element composed as follows.

address1

The address of the event's location
example value: 1157 Chapel Street
authorid

The integer identifying the author who is featured at this event
example value: 8490
city

The city of the event's location
example value: New Haven
description

A text description of the event
example value: Lunch, Talk, & Signing at The Study at Yale
ean

The 13-digit International Article Number identifying the title being featured at this event. Equivalent to th eISBN.
example value: 9780345503688
eventauthor

The name of the author being featured at this event; proper case in first-last order.
example value: Gerald Kolpan
eventdate

The date of the event in MM/dd/yyyy format
example value: 04/30/2009
eventid

The integer uniquely identifying this event
example value: 86694
eventtime

The starting time of the event
example value: 7:00 PM
eventtimeend

(optional) The ending time of the event
example value: 9:00 PM
isbn

the 13-digit ISBN of the title being featured at this event
example value: 9780345503688
isbn10

The integer representation of the 10-digit ISBN of the title being featured at this event, that is without the check digit or leading zeroes.
example value: 34550368
location

The name of the place where the event is taking place
example value: R.J. Julia Booksellers
market

The name of the sales region in which the event is taking place
example value: CT - New Haven
state

The state of the location
example value: CT
status

The status of the event
example value:
Canceled
Confirmed
telephone

(optional) the telephone number of the location
example value: 212-583-2291
zip

The zip code of the location
example value: 10012

Sample XML response

Sample JSON response

USAGE

bash

expand source

# Curl example

curl -X GET -v --basic -u "testuser:testpassword" "https://reststop.randomhouse.com/resources/authorevents/86694/"

php

expand source

<?php

// PHP example

$ch = curl.init();
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_URL, "https://reststop.randomhouse.com/resources/authorevents/86694/");
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_HEADER, FALSE);
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_HTTPAUTH, CURLAUTH_BASIC);
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_USERPWD, "testuser:testpassword");
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_RETURNTRANSFER, TRUE);
$api_return = curl exec($ch);
echo $api_return;
curl close($ch);
?>

java

expand source

// Java example

import java.io.BufferedReader;
import java.io.OutputStreamWriter;
import java.io.InputStream;
import java.io.InputStreamReader;
import java.net.Authenticator;
import java.net.PasswordAuthentication;
import java.net.URL;
import java.net.HttpUrlConnection;

public class Api {
static final String kuser = "testuser";
static final String kpass = "testpassword";

static class RHAuthenticator extends Authenticator {
public PasswordAuthentication getPasswordAuthentication() {
return (new PasswordAuthentication(kuser, kpass.toCharArray()));
}
}

public static void main(String[] args) {
Authenticator.setDefault(new RHAuthenticator());
URL url = new URL("https://reststop.randomhouse.com/resources/authorevents/86694/");
HttpURLConnection con = (HttpURLConnection) url.openConnection();
InputStream is = con.getInputStream();
BufferedReader reader = new BufferedReader(new InputStreamReader(is));
String str
while((str = reader.readLine()) != null) {
System.out.println(str);
}
reader.close();
}
}