Book 0004: Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke
Title:
- Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell
First Publication:
- 8 September 2004 in America and 20 September 2004 in Britain (Bloomsbury)
Trivia:
- Christopher Hampton is adapting the book as a motion picture for New Line Cinema and Clarke has partnered with newly formed Cuba Pictures to produce the film.
- this debut novel from Clarke took 10 years in the making
- a sequel is in the works
Awards:
- 2005 Hugo Award for Best novel
- 2005 World Fantasy Award for Best novel
- Nominated for the 2004 Whitbread First Novel Award
- Nominated for the Guardian First Book Award
- Longlisted for the 2004 Man Booker Prize
- Both a New York Times and Sunday Times bestseller
- Shortlisted for the 2005 British Book Industry Waterstones Literary Fiction Award
- Shortlisted for the Virgin Books Newcomer of the Year
There came a time when I wanted to read novels with thicker spines: that is to maximize the reading period for each book. Avergae length novel still excites me but I wanted more than that so I started looking for 800-page novels. I came along a great book with this criteria and it was called Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell.
The story took place in a 1986 alternate England where magic-workers were once reagrded as a common thing. The setting were exquisitely and elaborately furnished to present classical settings. So great was the narrative that I cannot stop reading the book.
As the title implied the novel focuses on the two rival wizards, who at first were actually comrades. They co-mignled with each other as teacher and pupil until outside forces pressed them to go against each other. There were also a lot of side stories which one will greatly enjoy. The folklore which are presented in footnotes are so engrossing that you would want them to go on up until the end of the story.
Many fantastical personalities in history are put into the magical light like Napoleon Bonaparte as he showed his gallantry in the Napoleonic episode of the novel. Lord Byron was also part of the story along with George Canning, Lord Castlereagh, Lord Chatham, The Duke of Wellington and many others.
As a whole I greatly enjoyed the magical journey. I was reading this book during Christmas holiday and I remembered very well that the content of my "Christmas Holiday" experience (a task for school) was all about this book. I can't wait for the companion book of this novel which would focus more about a great magician referred in this novel.
Grade: A+
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