Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell

by Susanna Clarke

“I believe, sir,” said Mr Childermass, “that the society must now be broken up. I am sorry for it.” Now it may have been due entirely to Mr Segundus’s lowness of spirits, but he suspected that, in spite of Childermass’s manner which was very respectful, in some other part of Childermass’s person he was laughing at the York magicians. Childermass was one of that uncomfortable class of men whose birth is lowly and who are destined all their lives to serve their betters, but whose clever brains and quick abilities make them wish for recognition and rewards far beyond their reach. Sometimes, by some strange combination of happy circumstances, these men find their own path to greatness, but more often the thought of what might have been turns them sour; they become unwilling servants and perform their tasks no better – or worse – than their less able fellows. They become insolent, lose their places and end badly.