Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell

By: Susanna Clarke

Narrated by: Simon Prebble

Length: 32 hrs and 30 mins

Publisher's summary

English magicians were once the wonder of the known world, with fairy servants at their beck and call; they could command winds, mountains, and woods. But by the early 1800s they have long since lost the ability to perform magic. They can only write long, dull papers about it, while fairy servants are nothing but a fading memory.

But at Hurtfew Abbey in Yorkshire, the rich, reclusive Mr. Norrell has assembled a wonderful library of lost and forgotten books from England's magical past and regained some of the powers of England's magicians. He goes to London and raises a beautiful young woman from the dead. Soon he is lending his help to the government in the war against Napoleon Bonaparte, creating ghostly fleets of rain-ships to confuse and alarm the French.

All goes well until a rival magician appears. Jonathan Strange is handsome, charming, and talkative, the very opposite of Mr. Norrell. Strange thinks nothing of enduring the rigors of campaigning with Wellington's army and doing magic on battlefields. Astonished to find another practicing magician, Mr. Norrell accepts Strange as a pupil. But it soon becomes clear that their ideas of what English magic ought to be are very different. For Mr. Norrell, their power is something to be cautiously controlled, while Jonathan Strange will always be attracted to the wildest, most perilous forms of magic. He becomes fascinated by the ancient, shadowy figure of the Raven King, a child taken by fairies who became king of both England and Faerie, and the most legendary magician of all. Eventually Strange's heedless pursuit of long-forgotten magic threatens to destroy not only his partnership with Norrell, but everything that he holds dear.

Sophisticated, witty, and ingeniously convincing, Susanna Clarke's magisterial novel weaves magic into a flawlessly detailed vision of historical England. She has created a world so thoroughly enchanting that 32 hours leave readers longing for more.

©2004 Susanna Clarke (P)2004 Audio Renaissance, a division of Holtzbrinck Publishers, LLC, and Bloomsbury Publishing

Critic reviews

"A smashing success....An exceptionally compelling, brilliantly creative, and historically fine-tuned piece of work." (Booklist)
"Extraordinary....Immersion in the mesmerizing story reveals its intimacy, humor, and insight, and will enchant readers of fantasy and literary fiction alike." (Publishers Weekly)
"Ravishing...superb...combines the dark mythology of fantasy with the delicious social comedy of Jane Austen into a masterpiece of the genre that rivals Tolkien." (Time)
"Clarke welcomes herself into an exalted company of British writers - not only, some might argue, Dickens and Austen, but also the fantasy legends Kenneth Grahame and George MacDonald - as well as contemporary writers like Susan Cooper and Philip Pullman." (The New York Times Book Review)

Wizards in England (for adults)

"Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell" is a bewitching tale that transports the reader back to a time when magic was fading from the world. Susanna Clarke weaves a spellbinding narrative that transports you to a world of enchantment, where powerful magicians walk the earth.

The characters of Norrell and Strange are complex, with hidden depths and secrets that only add to their mystique. Clarke's writing is imbued with a sense of magic and wonder that infuses every page with a sense of otherworldly beauty.

The world-building is exquisite, with Clarke painting a richly detailed picture of 19th century England that is both familiar and strange. From the winding streets of London to the rolling countryside, every detail is brought to life with a vividness that makes the world of "Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell" feel real and tangible.

But it is the magic that truly sets this book apart. Clarke has created a magical system that is at once intricate and beguiling, with rules and limitations that give the magic a sense of groundedness and believability. The magic in this book is a living, breathing thing, and Clarke's writing is so evocative that you can almost feel its power coursing through your veins.

Overall, "Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell" is a captivating work of historical fantasy that will enchant readers with its spellbinding prose, vivid world-building, and richly drawn characters. It is a book that will transport you to another time and place, and leave you longing for more."

fabulous!

I've given this book 4 rather than 5 stars because I find it to be slightly lacking in the story/plot department. However I would highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys superb writing and a dry, witty, arrogant, sense of humour. If you like your fantasy in the good-versus-evil, prince defeats dragon and carries off damsel in distress with the aid of naughty but charming fairy style, then stay away from this one. But if you can handle a cast of slightly vile, beautifully flawed and unapologetically selfish characters scheming their way through the prim and devious world of the English Gentleman, and if you can imagine the entertainment value of magic put to "proper" use, then you will definitely get your money's worth from this title.

Magical

This is one of my favourite books of all time, so when I saw it in Audiobook format, I HAD to buy it. And I wasn't disappointed either. The narrator was excellent. I couldn't fault it (though perhaps my love for the story itself makes me somewhat biased).

The story is long and with much of the background information presented as 'footnotes', it might become somewhat tedious to keep going back to for those of you who prefer quicker paced books with plenty of action in them. This is a fictionalised account of a time when magic was non-fiction, with the story examining and reviewing magical theory and practice to great depth. Like Tolkien's masterpiece, JS&Mr.N is a history of England's fictional past, but is so vibrant that it might be almost believable...

Original, compelling, fresh.

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes. If someone enjoyed this genre I would recommend it as something entirely new and very enjoyable.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell?

Strange scrying the future of the battle of Waterloo. Can't say anymore with spoiling it. But the whole book is full of interesting moments.

Did the narration match the pace of the story?

Yes, I think so. There are better narrators out there, but maybe that's personal preference. The narrator didn't get in the way of the story and that often a sticking point for audiobooks.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Laughed at times, didn't cry but it certainly has unusual depth and depth of character development for the genre.

Captivating

I was thoroughly enthralled by the written book, so was overjoyed to see the audio version available here.

Brilliantly written, masterfully read and just totally captivating.

Despite its 32+ hours, I was disappointed when it ended.

C'mon Ms Clarke - write a sequel!

amazing.

this was a beautiful book. it was so imaginative and had some interesting twists and turns.

A bit slow start, yet mysteriously fizzeled!

A bit slow start, yet mysteriously fizzeled and gentlemanly funny. I dare say that this type of fantasy is not that much my cup of tea, but that British puffiness, dry humor and authors language is entertaining like a cup of English tea accompanied with a good conversation. 4,4/5 stars for me - yet it's rather more subjective rating this time and the book is superior for authors debut. The magic system is too unconcrete for me and I like rather high fantasy worlds. 🎩

Enthralling and immersive

I have heard this book described as 'Harry Potter' for adults, but I think it is better to say 'His Dark Materials' for adults, if that makes sense.
The book is long (!) and involved, and not all of the sub-plots/side stories are relevant but they do immmerse you in this alternate history.
That is exactly what the flavour of this book is: historical fiction. It feels like it was put together from eyewitness accounts and this is what made me enjoy it even more - it feels so real!
Yes, the book is long, but I would recommend you stick with it and stifle the urge to fast forward - it is a rewarding read and one that you will probably want to hear again (one day!).
The end, however, was slightly disappointing and felt rushed, to me, and as if the author had just run out of steam.
The narrator does an EXCELLENT job with the reading, and the voices are superb - Norrell sounds pedantic and persnickety, Vinculus sounds common, dirty and supercillious, and Arabella strange is loving, supportive and the rock on which her husband relies. The gentleman with the thistle-down hair sounds downright creepy on the whole, and there is never a time when you are left wondering who is speaking because the changes in tone and inflection are so good.

great book

I have chosen the book mostly because it is quite long. I had never heard about it before and so I didn't expect much.
I was quite surprised. The Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell is the best book I have read or listened in a long time.

Good old English Magic at its best

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, although various friends struggled with it. If you can suspend belief and enjoy fiction this is the book for you. Cleverly written and a joy to listen to. Long but good for holidays