Title: Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell
Author: Susanna Clarke
Rating:
4.5 stars out of 5Publisher: Bloomsbury
Copyright: 2004
Pages: 846
Keywords: fantasy
Reading period: 1–9 January, 2010
In the year Eighteen-Six, it has been two hundred years
since last a practical magician walked in England,
when Mr. Norrell shews himself after many years of study.
In time, he is joined by a student Jonathan Strange
who later distinguishes himself in the Peninsular War against the tyrant Bonaparte.
But their most dangerous adversary is the
capricious gentleman with the thistle-down hair from Faerie.
Susanna Clarke's debut novel is a startling take on fantasy,
evoking the work of Austen and Dickens,
pitting madness against reason,
exploring magic and Englishness.
Highly recommended.