Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell

by Susanna Clarke

Mr Norrell intended it seemed to exact the same promise from each and every magician of the York society as he made himself. In other words if he succeeded, then they must without further ado disband the Society of York Magicians and none of them claim the title “magician” ever again. And after all, said Mr Robinson, this would be only fair, since Mr Norrell would then have proved himself the only true magician in Yorkshire. “And shall we have some third person, some independent party to decide if the magic has been accomplished?” asked Mr Thorpe. This question seemed to puzzle Mr Robinson. He hoped they would excuse him if he had taken up a wrong idea he said, he would not offend for the world, but he had thought that all the gentlemen present were magicians. Oh, yes, nodded the York society, they were all magicians. Then surely, said Mr Robinson, they would recognize magic when they saw it? Surely there were none better qualified to do so?