Most enchanting novel set in “Olde English” times

Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke

Book on Amazon | My review on Amazon

5 out of 5 stars

Reviewed May 20, 2008

I got it as a birthday gift. In recent times with two children, it had been almost impossible for me to read anything serious, but I ended up reading this 1000-odd page book within a week! (It helped that I was house-bound, having contracted chickenpox from the kids) Set in the beginning of the 19th century, it starts off full of the atmosphere of old England (York) – where gentlemen were what they ought to be and there was a “propah”, unhurried way of doing things.

After Harry Potter (which also I loved, especially the first and last books) I wondered whether there could be anything “new” in a magic/fantasy type novel – I was quite wrong! This book is quite different in its dealing with magic and writing style, and has its own brand of “magical” atmosphere.

The author’s evocative descriptions of “the Other Lands” – or magical neighbouring lands of England – takes the reader into those lands. While reading it, I felt transported to York, and London and Faerie (land where Fairies live), and the land of “Lost hope”, and Venice, and any place the characters chose to go. Skillfully interwoven with magic is the practical use of magic: unlike in Harry Potter, where the magicians live in a world of their own and rarely mix with “muggles”, here, magicians are just normal human beings who have chosen to study magic and practice it as a career. Just like someone trains to be a doctor, or wild-life warden, or whatever!

The writing style is not only evocative, but also direct and simple. There are some quaint spellings like “shew” for “show” and “chuse” for “choose” – but these only add to the old world character of the novel. Characters are drawn well and stay consistent throughout their “life”.

I particularly loved:

• The concept of magically recovering the “essence” of a person long dead, from the legacy they left behind.
• The build-up for the Raven King, and how his magic uses everything in nature (stones, river, tree).
• The concept of the King’s roads leading naturally between England and Faerie, and entering such a road via a mirror.

The only negative about the novel contents was the rather long footnotes (some of which cover 3/4 of the page!). Another minor negative was the small print size – not the sort of “easy read” typeset I am used to nowadays. It has its share of war descriptions, quiet but potent violence, and death – so not recommended if you are particularly affected by such stuff.

Apart from that, definitely worth owning/gifting. Quite a classic.