InsaneJournal

Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell

For the last month or so I’ve been engrossed in Susanna Clarke’s novel Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell.  It’s a huge book, a meticulously detailed 19^th century style novel.  In 1806 as the Napoleonic wars are raging, the reclusive Mr. Norrell takes it upon himself to revive practical (as opposed to theoretical) magic in England, where it has been dormant for the past three centuries. 

Of course Mr. Norrell has some very specific ideas of what magic ought to be.  Over the years he’s amassed the definitive library on the subject, yet he has no desire to share his books or knowledge with other magicians so that they might make the step from theoretical to practical.  In fact even the existence of theoretical magicians seems to irk Norrell.  His first demonstration of practical magic is tinged with his possessiveness of magic and malice towards those he considers unworthy of calling themselves magicians.  When the Learned Society of York Magicians doubts Norrell’s claim to be a practical magician (after all, it has been 300 years since magic was practiced) Norrell agrees to prove himself but the members of the Society are required to take an oath that if Norrell is capable of performing magic none of them will ever again study magic or call themselves magicians.  

Previous to Mr. Norrell’s rise in prominence magic and fairies were synonymous in the public imagination, something Norrell, an association Norrell is determined to see buried.  So far as he is concerned fairies are dangerous and should not be dealt with by a proper magician.  As such Norrell dismisses the magical legacy of the mythical Raven King who once ruled in both England and Fairie. 

An avarice hoarding of knowledge and an aversion to fairies are the twin pillars of Norrell’s vision of English magic and yet he violates both of his dearly cherished principles—and there are far reaching consequences.

When Norrell arrives in London, he is unable to convince the government to take him seriously or see the usefulness of his magic.  When Lady Emma, the fiancé of high ranking government official Sir Walter Pole dies Norrell strikes a deal with a fairy king referred to only as “the gentleman with thistle-down hair” to revive her.  Pole get’s his wife back and Norrell gets his in with the government but there is a considerable price to be paid.  According to the deal Norrell made, half of Emma’s remaining life belongs to the gentleman with thistle-down hair and he holds both her and household servent Stephen Black in magical thrall. 

Later Mr. Norrell meets Jonathan Strange, a young man presumptuous enough to practice magic.  Though largely self taught Strange is an imaginative and innovative magician.  Norrell is impressed and rather than crushing Strange’s magical aspirations takes him on as a student. 

Strange proves to have a very different approach to practical magic then Mr. Norrell.  While Norrell has remained in London and aided the British army from a distance, Strange encamps with Wellington and experiences the triumphs, discomforts and horrors of war firsthand.  His natural creativity emboldened by his wartime experiences Strange longs to venture deeper into magic.  He quickly grows impatient with Norrell’s cautious approach to magic and the way he hordes his knowledge and the two part ways.  They eventually become rivals, struggling to define English magic. 

Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell is taking me forever to read (I still have about 200 pages left at this writing) but I’m enjoying every minute of it.  Clarke flawlessly incorporates real-life historical elements into the world of the novel which has a complex and richly detailed past involving magic, magicians and fairies.  There is a great deal of wit in the novel that seems quintessentially British to me.  Clarke draws her characters with a spot-on sharpness reminiscent of Jane Austen.  Really a wonderful novel.