At the very least, a 782-page novel can hardly be considered light reading. And yet, for whatever reason, "Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell" never loses its charm or sense of humor.
The novel, author Susanna Clarke's first, was published in September 2004 and has been named as one of the top 10 fiction must-reads for 2004 by the New York Times Book Review.
The book deals largely with what Clarke has dubbed the "revival of English magic" during the Napoleonic Wars. Clarke's Regency England is similar in appearance to historical Regency England, yet Clarke's version is grounded in a strong magical tradition originally introduced by a mythical figure known as The Raven King.
According to legend, the Raven King ruled a section of North England from the 11th to the 14th century, which marked a period of unparalleled magical progress in England. However, sometime in the 16th century, English magic began to dissipate and vanish until, by the time of Mad King George, the only magicians in the entire country were "theoretical" or charlatans.
Most of this background is told gradually throughout all 782 pages in footnote form. At first glance, the footnotes may seem a bit like overkill, but most of the information turns out to be necessary for the story's outcome to make sense. In the end, Clarke probably saved a few dozen trees by adding footnotes instead of sticking the information directly into the story as dialogue or some other contrived method of inserting pertinent background. Clarke is willing to fill her footnotes with color as well as substance, which adds some fun to the section.
The story itself opens in 1806 with Mr. Norrell's quest to revive magical tradition in England. Mr. Norrell and his pupil and later rival, Jonathan Strange, are the two primary characters in the novel, and they end up forming two opposite poles of what it means to be an English magician.
At the very least, they are always entertaining, particularly when they're squabbling. The lengths each goes to in order to thwart the other makes for a delightful read. And because they're both magicians, some of their methods are quite fantastical and over-the-top.
The novel, author Susanna Clarke's first, was published in September 2004 and has been named as one of the top 10 fiction must-reads for 2004 by the New York Times Book Review.
The book deals largely with what Clarke has dubbed the "revival of English magic" during the Napoleonic Wars. Clarke's Regency England is similar in appearance to historical Regency England, yet Clarke's version is grounded in a strong magical tradition originally introduced by a mythical figure known as The Raven King.
According to legend, the Raven King ruled a section of North England from the 11th to the 14th century, which marked a period of unparalleled magical progress in England. However, sometime in the 16th century, English magic began to dissipate and vanish until, by the time of Mad King George, the only magicians in the entire country were "theoretical" or charlatans.
Most of this background is told gradually throughout all 782 pages in footnote form. At first glance, the footnotes may seem a bit like overkill, but most of the information turns out to be necessary for the story's outcome to make sense. In the end, Clarke probably saved a few dozen trees by adding footnotes instead of sticking the information directly into the story as dialogue or some other contrived method of inserting pertinent background. Clarke is willing to fill her footnotes with color as well as substance, which adds some fun to the section.
The story itself opens in 1806 with Mr. Norrell's quest to revive magical tradition in England. Mr. Norrell and his pupil and later rival, Jonathan Strange, are the two primary characters in the novel, and they end up forming two opposite poles of what it means to be an English magician.
At the very least, they are always entertaining, particularly when they're squabbling. The lengths each goes to in order to thwart the other makes for a delightful read. And because they're both magicians, some of their methods are quite fantastical and over-the-top.
