Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell

📘 About This Book

The 20th anniversary edition of the fantasy classic, with an introduction by V E Schwab Over 4 million copies sold 'The book I wish I'd written' R F Kuang 'Susanna Clarke writes with an intelligence and beauty that seems at times miraculous' Katherine Rundell 'A modern masterpiece' Spectator 'One of my all-time favourite books' Ann Patchett 1806. England is beleaguered by the long war, and centuries have passed since magicians faded from view. But one remains: the reclusive Mr Norrell. Proceeding to London, he raises a woman from the dead and summons an army of ghostly ships to terrify the French. Yet the cautious Norrell is challenged by the emergence of another magician. Young, handsome and daring, Jonathan Strange is his very antithesis. So begins a dangerous battle between these two great men – which overwhelms that between England and France. And soon their own secret dabblings with the dark arts are going to cause more trouble than they can imagine... 'Like Hilary Mantel, Clarke has made the very notion of genre seem quaint' Guardian

📖 Summary

Set against the backdrop of an England beleaguered by long wars in the year 1806, Susanna Clarke's monumental fantasy classic explores a world where centuries have passed since practical magicians faded entirely from public view. Yet, magic has not vanished completely, remaining preserved in the actions and secretive studies of the reclusive Mr Norrell. Living quietly in Yorkshire, Norrell possesses a vast and intimidating library of magical texts, believing himself to be the sole practitioner capable of reviving the ancient art in modern times. Seeking to prove the utility of magic to a skeptical nation, Norrell eventually travels to London. In the capital, he demonstrates his formidable abilities by performing two astounding feats: he miraculously raises a prominent statesman's wife from the dead, and he summons an entire army of ghostly ships to terrify the French naval forces. These demonstrations quickly elevate Norrell from a local eccentric to a celebrated national asset, earning him the admiration of society and government alike. However, Norrell's cautious, academic approach to magic and his obsessive desire to control all knowledge of the craft are soon challenged by the emergence of a rival. Enter Jonathan Strange, a young, handsome, and daring gentleman who discovers his own innate talent for the art. Unlike the pedantic and protective Norrell, Strange approaches magic with an instinctive, reckless flair and a willingness to push boundaries into dangerous territory. As Strange becomes Norrell's reluctant pupil, a profound philosophical and personal rift develops between them. This growing tension escalates into a dangerous rivalry as the two men pursue very different visions of what magic should be and how it should serve the realm. Clarke's rich narrative weaves together history, folklore, and intricate world-building, examining the heavy costs of ambition, the preservation of lost arts, and the unpredictable consequences of awakening ancient, otherworldly powers. As the story unfolds across more than a thousand pages, the ideological clash between the cautious master and the daring apprentice threatens not only their own lives and sanity, but the very fabric of English society and its relationship with the mysterious realm of faerie.

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✍️ About the Author

Susanna Clarke

Susanna Clarke (b. 1959) is an English author best known for 'Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell', an acclaimed historical fantasy novel.

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