Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell: A Novel

Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell: A Novel
by Susanna Clarke

Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell: A Novel
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Book Summary Information

Author: Susanna Clarke
Edition: Mass Market Paperback
Audio: English (Original Language); English (Unknown); English (Published)
Published: 2006-08-01
ISBN: 0765356155
Number of pages: 1024
Publisher: Tor Books

Book Reviews of Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell: A Novel

Book Review: A weighty endeavor to tote around, but overall, worth it!
Summary: 3 Stars

This book was quite long - and it certainly had some slow moving parts (particularly in the beginning!). In fact, there were times that I regretted picking it up in the first place, but, I must admit, as the story drew on (and on!) it really improved. And the ending more than made up for the duller sections.
My main complaint though was that the book was broken up into rather anecdotal chapters, which stole some of the cohesiveness of the book as a whole. That being said, there were definitely sections that I really liked - such as King George's and Lord Byron's "guest appearances." There were some unanswered questions, of course, but it was very fascinating premise and the amount of details alone were impressive. It certainly had a real epic quality.

Summary of Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell: A Novel

At the dawn of the nineteenth century, two very different magicians emerge to change England's history. In the year 1806, with the Napoleonic Wars raging on land and sea, most people believe magic to be long dead in England-until the reclusive Mr Norrell reveals his powers, and becomes a celebrity overnight.

Soon, another practicing magician comes forth: the young, handsome, and daring Jonathan Strange. He becomes Norrell's student, and they join forces in the war against France. But Strange is increasingly drawn to the wildest, most perilous forms of magic, straining his partnership with Norrell, and putting at risk everything else he holds dear.

Time Magazine #1 Book of the Year ? Book Sense Book of the Year ? People Top Ten Books of the Year ? Winner of the Hugo Award ? A New York Times Notable Book of the Year ? Salon.com Top Ten of 2004 ?Winner of the World Fantasy Award ? Nancy Pearl's Top 12 Books of 2004 ? Washington Post Book World's Best of 2004 ? Christian Science Monitor Best Fiction 2004 ? San Francisco Chronicle Best Books of 2004 ? Winner of the Locus Award for Best First Novel ? Chicago Tribune Best of 2004 ? Seattle Times 25 Best Books of 2004 ? Atlanta Journal-Constitution Top 12 Books of 2004 ? Village Voice "Top Shelf" ? Raleigh News & Observer Best of 2004 ? Rocky Mountain News critics' favorites of 2004 ? Kansas City Star 100 Newsworthy Books of 2004 ? Fort Worth Star-Telegram 10 Best Books of 2004 ? Hartford Courant Best Books of 2004

It's 1808 and that Corsican upstart Napoleon is battering the English army and navy. Enter Mr. Norrell, a fusty but ambitious scholar from the Yorkshire countryside and the first practical magician in hundreds of years. What better way to demonstrate his revival of British magic than to change the course of the Napoleonic wars? Susanna Clarke's ingenious first novel, Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell, has the cleverness and lightness of touch of the Harry Potter series, but is less a fairy tale of good versus evil than a fantastic comedy of manners, complete with elaborate false footnotes, occasional period spellings, and a dense, lively mythology teeming beneath the narrative. Mr. Norrell moves to London to establish his influence in government circles, devising such powerful illusions as an 11-day blockade of French ports by English ships fabricated from rainwater. But however skillful his magic, his vanity provides an Achilles heel, and the differing ambitions of his more glamorous apprentice, Jonathan Strange, threaten to topple all that Mr. Norrell has achieved. A sparkling debut from Susanna Clarke--and it's not all fairy dust. --Regina Marler

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