So, first time I heard about this book was when I got myself a copy of EDGE magazine (I think it was Edge, since it has book reviews in it as well). I was intrigued to read of a new book concerning magic and the occult. I've been a huge fan of J.K.Rowling's Harry Potter books (can't wait for the final book in the series to be released), so imagine my surprise when I caught a glimpse of this peculiar title.
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell... Hmmm... Call me stupid but at first I thought it was like a pen-name for a writer. But then I saw the name Susanna Clarke on the cover as well. The story goes as follows (taken from the back cover of the book) :
"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."
Wow! Revivals, death armies, magical clashes! What more could I ask for? On the other hand, I was never keen of the era of the AngloFrench war.
A whopping 1006 pages, the book has received international critical acclaim and been shortlisted for the Whitebread First Novel Award and Guardian First Book Award.
I'm still wondering if I'll be able to finish it. These last few years I've only been able to read cover to cover a limited number of books. Due to lack of time mainly. But I'm sure I'll find it amusing to say the very least.
