The year is 1806. England has forgotten its magical past, reduced to fairy tales and myths. There are some who claim to be magicians, but neither the swindlers nor the academicians can actually perform magic. Until a retiring, nervous little man—Mr. Norrell—is discovered. He has devoted his life, in the quiet of his private library, to the study of magic, and after proving his abilities to the theoretical magicians, he sets out to ensure his role as the sole practitioner and protector of magic in England.
Jonathan Strange wants to get married, but he knows that his inheritance won’t impress his beloved as much as his having a vocation. Through a strange series of events, he hits on the idea of becoming a magician, and for the first time in his life, throws himself whole-heartedly into his studies. He eventually finds his way to Norrell and convinces him to take him on as his student.
The reader follows Norrell and Strange through English history—trying to cure mad King George, helping Wellington to victory at Waterloo—and through alternate history, as well, as they restore magic to England, to their own detriment.
Maybe I am the target audience, but I enjoyed every one of the 1006 pages of the paperback edition of Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell. It has *footnotes*, people; footnoted fiction—it was love at first sight. The language made me think of Jane Austen and Henry James, and the humor was deliciously dry. And to top off the enjoyment, I didn’t notice a single typo, something that has marred my enjoyment of many a text, fiction and academic alike. I found it an all-around excellent read!
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