Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell

The much lauded Jonathon Strange and Mr Norrell is author Susanna Clarke’s first novel. The length and depth of the plot themselves are to be highly praised for their ambitiousness, but what really interests me is the role Faerie plays in the story. The theme is magic, and the two magicians who work to bring about the return of magic to early 19th century England. Throughout the book mention is made of magicians of previous eras using Faerie servants, journeys into the land of Faerie and dastardly enchantments by less than scrupulous Faerie folk. Like the historical aspects of the work, the fantastical themes have been well researched – the Fae Folk and the land itself contain all the menace of folktales. The Fae are powerful beings, not to be trifled with. A lesson that Strange and Norrell must ignore at their peril.

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