Overview
"Centuries ago, when magic still existed in England, the greatest magician of them all was the Raven King. A human child brought up by fairies, the Raven King blended fairy wisdom and human reason to create English magic. Now, at the beginning of the nineteenth century, he is barely more than a legend, and England, with its mad King and its dashing poets, no longer believes in practical magic." "Then the reclusive Mr Norrell of Hurtfew Abbey appears and causes the statues of York Cathedral to speak and move. News spreads of the return of magic to England and, persuaded that he must help the government in the war against Napoleon, Mr Norrell goes to London. There he meets a brilliant young magician and takes him as a pupil. Jonathan Strange is charming, rich and arrogant. Together, they dazzle the country with their feats." But the partnership soon turns to rivalry. Mr Norrell has never conquered his lifelong habits of secrecy, while Strange will always be attracted to the wildest, most perilous magic. He becomes fascinated by the shadowy figure of the Raven King, and his heedless pursuit of long-forgotten magic threatens, not only his partnership with Norrell, but everything that he holds dear.Synopsis
BOOK SENSE BOOK OF THE YEAR A PEOPLE MAGAZINE "TOP TEN" BOOK WINNER OF THE HUGO AWARD WINNER OF THE WORLD FANTASY AWARD
"Ravishing…Combines the dark mythology of fantasy with the delicious social comedy of Jane Austen into a masterpiece of the genre that rivals Tolkien."—Time
At the dawn of the nineteenth century, two very different magicians emerge to change England's history. In the year 1806, with the Napoleonic Wars raging on land and sea, most people believe magic to be long dead in England—until the reclusive Mr Norrell reveals his powers, and becomes a celebrity overnight.
Soon, another practicing magician comes forth: the young, handsome, and daring Jonathan Strange. He becomes Norrell's student, and they join forces in the war against France. But Strange is increasingly drawn to the wildest, most perilous forms of magic, straining his partnership with Norrell, and putting at risk everything else he holds dear.
"What kind of magic can make an 800-page novel seem too short? Whatever it is, debut author Susanna Clarke is possessed by it."—USA Today
"From beginning to end, a perfect pleasure."—Neil Gaiman
The New Yorker
This vast début fantasy novel, cast somewhat in the Harry Potter mold, is set in early-nineteenth-century England, where two men, Gilbert Norrell and his pupil Jonathan Strange, revive the once-thriving practice of the dark arts. After aiding the British against Napoleon, the magicians fall out over interpretations of wizardly philosophy. Meanwhile, a malevolent fairy accidentally set loose by Norrell enchants, among others, Strange’s wife. Clarke’s ability to construct a fully imagined world—much of it explained in long, witty footnotes—is impressive, and there are some suspenseful moments. But her attempt to graft a fantasy narrative onto such historical realities as the Battle of Waterloo is more often awkward than clever, and the period dialogue is simply twee. Worse, the tension between the forces of good and evil—crucial in any magical tale—is surprisingly slack; the arch-villain is a cartoonish fop whose petulant misdeeds lack menace.
Editorials
From Barnes & Noble
Barnes & Noble Discover Great New WritersWhen Susanna Clarke set out to write her sensational first novel, she determined to write a book about magic that would keep readers from their coveted sleep. She has certainly succeeded. A hefty doorstop of a book, Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell has already drawn comparisons to works by Dickens, Austen, and the Harry Potter books. Set in early-19th-century England, Clarke's novel introduces readers to a group of magicians from whom the "magic" has departed. Enter Mr. Norrell, a misanthropic, book-hoarding magician who takes up a challenge to prove that magic still exists.
After Mr. Norrell succeeds at his ambitious endeavor, he takes on a pupil, the charismatic Jonathan Strange, and together they begin to restore the sorry state of English magic. But a rift opens between these two allies, leading them to turn their magic on each other, and a darker, more sinister magic begins to reveal itself.
Clarke's ambitious epic is packed with twists and turns, as she leads readers through mysterious doorways, down magical pathways, and into other worlds. Filled with quirky characters and eerie places, it's frightening, moving, and very often witty. In her stunningly original and accomplished first novel, Susanna Clarke has created a completely convincing "historical" account magic's role in changing the course of history -- a work chock-full of the most fun a "smart" book has ever contained. (Holiday 2004 Selection)
Salon
"The most sparkling literary debut of the year."San Francisco Chronicle
"Witty dialogue, cunning observations, and intriguing footnotes....create worlds of deep imagination that seem as real as our own."Seattle Times
"Combines the wit of Jane Austen with the subterranean spookiness of the works of Arthur Conan Doyle."The New York Times
"Clarke's imagination is prodigious, her pacing is masterly and she knows how to employ dry humor in the service of majesty."The Onion
"Gorgeous. A terrific, phenomenally ambitious book."Toronto Globe and Mail
"Wonderful....built one splendid scene upon the next."Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"Extraordinary."Baltimore Sun
"An enthralling, unique read."Booklist
"A smashing success. History and fantasy form a beautiful partnership in this detailed, authentic, and heartfelt novel."Denver Post
"Utterly enchanting. [Clarke's] union of historical fiction and fantasy is fresh, it is surprising....a superb storyteller."Entertainment Weekly
"Immense, intelligent, inventive. Clarke is a restrained and witty writer with an arch and eminently readable style."Fort Worth Star-Telegram
"Clarke has delivered a book of universal truths and unexpectedly heartbreaking acuity."Harper's Bazaar
"Mesmerizing."National Post (Canada)
"Inarguably one of the year's best and most original works."New York Post
"This incredible work of the imagination, which took Clarke more than 10 years to write, ends all too soon."People
"Clarke's sober style keeps the fantasy grounded, and meticulous historical research brings the magical episodes to terrifying life."Edward Nawotka
It takes 100 pages for Clarke to establish her milieu, but most readers, once enchanted, will remain under her spell until the very last page.— USA Today
Gregory Maguire
A reader more distractible than I am might yawn for 300 pages running and still discover several book-length stretches to enjoy. I never yawned. Clarke's imagination is prodigious, her pacing is masterly and she knows how to employ dry humor in the service of majesty.— The New York Times
Michael Dirda
So Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell may or may not be the finest English fantasy of the past 70 years. But it is still magnificent and original, and that should be enough for any of us. Right now all we really need to do is open to chapter one and start reading, with mounting excitement: "Some years ago there was in the city of York a society of magicians. . . ."— The Washington Post