Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell (Susanna Clarke)

The first practical English magician in centuries, Gilbert Norrell is determined to 'make England magical again.' He does a number of impressive feats, to include a resurrection. But he is his own worst enemy; self-centered and leary of others, he seeks to bring magic back on his own, doing what he can to horde magic books and deter other aspirants- until Jonathan Strange.

Jonathan Strange has an aptitude for magic and is soon taken on as Norrell's apprentice, though the teacher is careful to limit the information conveyed. Strange & Norrell help the British government in their struggle against Napoleon, natural disasters, and other things. But they soon clash on a number of topics, to include the importance of John Uskglass- the Raven King of ancient days who ruled the North- and his importance to modern magic. They eventually part ways, enmeshed in an unspoken competition to rule as England's top magician.

The Faerie realm once existed plainly and alongside 'typical' England, but centuries of English magic decline have hidden the kingdom from most. Three people will eventually be imprisoned in this realm, though, and forced to coexist in two realities and submit to the will of a wicked fairy ruler.

As the magicians strive both with each other and to increase magic awareness in the land, they will soon awaken forces well outside their understanding and control, getting more than they bargained for from the Faerie realm. Who will pay the dearest price for their aspirations?

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A tale of impressive wit and originality, I was enchanted by this novel. It is hard to classify, being considered fantasy, alternative history, or 'other.' The writing style hearkens back to nineteenth century British writers like Austen or Dickens. Wikipedia has a nice overview.

I liked how there were not clear protagonists here; the two main characters have notable gifts, strengths, and flaws. Strength, selfishness, and folly abound. Good and evil. They may mean well but make quite a mess of things. It's hard to know if you should root for them or not- or, perhaps, you want to root for them sometimes and against them others. This may be an exploration of our ultimate aim- it is clear they care about magic above everything (and everyone) else- and some critics talk of this work being a look at reason vs. unreason. I wasn't always clear on the point of the book, which dings it a bit in my mind, but the overall enjoyment I experienced warrants a high rating.

Rating: A