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From Publishers Weekly
The drawing room social comedies of early 19th-century Britain are infused with the powerful forces of English folklore and fantasy in this extraordinary novel of two magicians who attempt to restore English magic in the age of Napoleon. In Clarke's world, gentlemen scholars pore over the magical history of England, which is dominated by the Raven King, a human who mastered magic from the lands of faerie. The study is purely theoretical until Mr. Norrell, a reclusive, mistrustful bookworm, reveals that he is capable of producing magic and becomes the toast of London society, while an impetuous young aristocrat named Jonathan Strange tumbles into the practice, too, and finds himself quickly mastering it. Though irritated by the reticent Norrell, Strange becomes the magician's first pupil, and the British government is soon using their skills. Mr. Strange serves under Wellington in the Napoleonic Wars (in a series of wonderful historical scenes), but afterward the younger magician finds himself unable to accept Norrell's restrictive views of magic's proper place and sets out to create a new age of magic by himself. Clarke manages to portray magic as both a believably complex and tedious labor, and an eerie world of signs and wonders where every object may have secret meaning. London politics and talking stones are portrayed with equal realism and seem indisputably part of the same England, as signs indicate that the Raven King may return. The chock-full, old-fashioned narrative (supplemented with deft footnotes to fill in the ignorant reader on incidents in magical history) may seem a bit stiff and mannered at first, but immersion in the mesmerizing story reveals its intimacy, humor and insight, and will enchant readers of fantasy and literary fiction alike.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
From School Library Journal
Adult/High School - This delightful first novel exerts a strong and seductive pull on readers who might otherwise balk at its length. Like Philip Pullman's work, it is dark, deep, and challenging. It compares dead-on with Jane Austen's novels, and YAs who have underappreciated her wit may find it delicious when applied to magicians. Clarke even tosses in a bit of Dickens and Hardy - with great characterization, subplots, and a sense of fate bearing down hard on us. At stake is the future of English magic, which has nearly dwindled to all theory by the early 1800s, after centuries of prominence. When the book opens, only the reclusive and jealous Gilbert Norrell is practicing. Enter Jonathan Strange, a natural who has never studied magic formally. Norrell resents, then adopts Strange as a pupil whose growth he insists on controlling until the two come to the impasse that nearly leads them to destroy one another. Strange champions the 12th century's "Raven King" as the greatest magician in English history and hopes to summon him from Faerie, an alternate world. Norrell is determined to erase both from English memory - to hide the fact that he himself made a bargain with a fairy that has cost three people their lives, though their hearts go on dismally beating. Expertly written and imagined, the book is a feast for fans of fantasy, historical novels, or simply fabulously engrossing reads. - Emily Lloyd, formerly at Rehoboth Beach Public Library, DE
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
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Most helpful customer reviews
18 of 18 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
What a delightfully BIG story!,
By A Customer
This review is from: Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell (Paperback)
I truly did not expect to like this book--this big, this enormous, intimidating book. My friends in my book club voted to read it (I didn't), but they were right and I was wrong. And to accept defeat, I announce with a shout: This is one seductively brilliant, imaginative novel! Clarke resurrects nineteenth century England with meticulous skill, then casts over it a Harry Potter-like magical aura. It has to be read to be believed. It all sounds foolish, I know. I was where you are now, smirking, shaking my head, saying, Right, right! But if you have good liberal-minded friends like I do, then you'll see. You'll see.Other recommended books from my book club: AMAGANSETT by Mill and A SECRET WORD by Paddock
5.0 out of 5 stars
Another helping please,
This review is from: Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell (Paperback)
First, let me start by saying that JONATHAN STRANGE is not an easy read; the novel is long, the book is heavy and not easy to carry around. But that is all the bad I can say about it. If you like history, like stories about magic, like to read, this book is for you. The story is so compelling, the way Clarke take history and blends it with her story, the intricacies of the characters, and the way it was written makes not want to put the book down. Having read other stories of Magic, including J.K. Rowlings Harry Potter Series with my kids (which I love, by the way), this book surprised me and made me think and say: finally somebody thought about us who like to read fantasy books and are adults. Finally something that can entertain us without to be thinking as kids. This book to me was wonderful! Must also recommend another great book, though it is MUCH shorter and compact-still, a great read, and that is Jackson T. McCrae's THE CHILDREN'S CORNER, which is a fantastic collection of stories that entertains and touches the soul.
2 of 3 people found the following review helpful
2.0 out of 5 stars
Not my cup of tea...,
By
This review is from: Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell (Hardcover)
I've read the first few chapters and this book and been quite unimpressed. After reading some reviews online and learning that the ending is generally found to be unsatisfying, I don't think I will bother reading any further. I don't have lots of time to read, and I don't want to waste time slogging through such a massive volume if it is ultimately going to end up being disappointing.Although the premise for the book is interesting, I couldn't help but be annoyed with Clarke's style. She is trying so hard to sound like an author from the Regency period (in which the book takes place), but for me (someone who has read many books from the 1800's) she fails miserably. She simply sounds like a modern person who is trying very hard to sound like she was born and is writing in a different time. Her grammar and syntax are nowhere near rigid enough to truly sound like a writer from that time period. I would rather read an author with a very loose and experimental style than one who tries to copy the style of 200 years ago and ends up sounding like a mixture of modern and antique styles. Clarke does not sound like Jane Austen or anyone else from the very early 1800s, although she makes a valiant effort. There is something else that annoys me, that is difficult to put my finger on. The voice of the narrator--it does not only sound like a modern person trying to sound old-fashioned, but...somehow I get the feeling that the narrator is making fun of people from this time period. All the characters seem so ridiculous and pompous. They are not like real people at all. It was not easy for me to be interested in these strange characters. Now I know a lot of readers have said this book gets better towards the end, but after the first few chapters I am quite happy to give up. Such a large books requires a large input of time, and I am not willing to give it that. If I want a book reminiscent of a different time, I will happily pull a volume of Jane Austen or Charlotte Brontė off my shelf.
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