Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke
Posted Mon Aug 11 2025
The year is 1806. England is beleaguered by the long war with Napoleon, and centuries have passed since practical magicians faded into the nation's past. But scholars of this glorious history discover that one remains: the reclusive Mr Norrell, whose displays of magic send a thrill through the country. Proceeding to London, he raises a beautiful woman from the dead and summons an army of ghostly ships to terrify the French. Yet the cautious, fussy Norrell is challenged by the emergence of another magician: the brilliant novice Jonathan Strange. Young, handsome and daring, Strange is the very antithesis of Norrell. So begins a dangerous battle between these two great men which overwhelms that between England and France. And their own obsessions and secret dabblings with the dark arts are going to cause more trouble than they can imagine.
No, I haven't stopped reading over the summer. I've just been reading the 800-page novel Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke. The book follows Mr. Norrell and Jonathan Strange, his student and rival, and their journey to reintroduce magic to England. It's a witty, whimsical, historical fantasy novel that kept me smiling and hooked on the magical Europe it introduced.
I loved the footnotes in the book. Far from being just asides, many spanned multiple pages as standalone stories, adding intricate worldbuilding. They covered different magic books and magicians, fairy stories, and insights into the characters. One of my favorites was describing how, after Strange moved Brussels to America, deserters of the army ended up staying there and trading cannons to the native tribes.
As the first historical fantasy book I've read, it was clear Susanna Clarke did a lot of research into the Napoleonic era. Magic is a decisive factor in how England beat France in the wars, and it's integrated so seamlessly that it could be an alternate history.
Reading Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell is really about the journey and not the destination. The pacing was slow in the first 500 pages, and although the climax didn't live up to the buildup, the prose, dry humor, and worldbuilding still kept me happily reading.
Their opposing views on magic, with Norrell's desire for tight control contrasting with Strange's embrace of risk and accessibility, reminded me of debates around advancing technology like artificial intelligence.
I wished the book fleshed out more characters beyond Jonathan Strange and Norrell. For instance, Stephen Black appears frequently but remains aloof and distant throughout the story. Also, the novel didn't fully explore Childermass's background and loyalty to Norrell. As a result, I wasn't as invested in the climax because I didn't care as much about their fates.
Unfortunately, the weakest part of the book was the climax. After spending the whole book developing Mr Norrell and Strange as characters, they didn't play significant roles in the climax. Also, the ending left many questions unanswered, making it seem incomplete, though I know Clarke plans on writing a sequel.
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell isn't for everyone. I wouldn't recommend it for people looking for traditional story arcs and intense action. However, for those who enjoy intricate worldbuilding and beautiful prose, Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell will put you under its spell.