Review: Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke

In the Beginning

Back in 2004, when Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell was first released, I knew it was a book I had to read. Susanna Clarke’s tale of two magicians in 19th-century England was a book tailor-made for my tastes. A historical fantasy set in a real-world Earth, a long, complex tale that quickly achieved critical acclaim and eventually was long listed for the Man Booker Prize and won the 2005 Hugo Award for the best novel. I couldn’t wait to read it.

I love the strong simplicity of t...