If you liked Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell, you might like...

[Meran]

I'm very surprised to see so many recommendations of Gormenghast.. Personally, I LOVED it, but couldn't get anyone I know on or offline to read it. I enjoyed the full scenes of set scenery, made me want to paint them! The fourth novel is out, btw ;)

Lots of interesting suggestions here. I too dearly loved JS&MRN, and am sorry to see the author hasn't put out much writing after that, besides the smaller book noted here.

I just read Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children. You may enjoy that one; similar flavor but not the same depth.

[Wanda]

It was already suggested but it's worth saying again, The Thirteenth Tale, especially if you are also a fan of the Bronte sisters' work.

[Brenda]

I didn't like the Gormenghast works so well. I would point readers at the novels of Charles Williams, one of C.S. Lewis's buddies. ALL HALLOWS EVE would be a fine place to begin.

[Thomas]

Surprised noone has brought up The Magicians or The Magician King by Lev Grossman. Shorter reads and a different twist, but the world of magic plays out wonderfuly for the reader.

[Meran]

Tara, I'm reading The Night Circus and it definitely has the same flavor as JS&MR.N.. another occurred to me: The Prestige.

Btw, The Night Circus is 'da bombe'!

[Marc]

Meran wrote: "Tara, I'm reading The Night Circus and it definitely has the same flavor as JS&MR.N.. another occurred to me: The Prestige.

Btw, The Night Circus is 'da bombe'!"

The night circus was a great book. It did remind me of JS&MR.N but some of the prose especialy when it's from the readers point of view reminded ma a little of Bradbury's Something Wicked This Comes. Truly Jonathan Stange seemed to be an inspiration but i think MS. Morgenstern seemed to be inspired mr many great fantasy writers. Can't wait for her next one. And MS.Clarke hurry up with that sequel or at least a new book it's been almost ten years. Just purchased the audio book it has'nt arrived yet looking forward to it.

[Meran]

Marc, i agree with you entirely :D

[Victoria]

Absolutely the best: Ursula Le Guin.
Often patronizingly compared to C.S. Lewis and Tolkien.
Tragedy that I only discovered her at this late date...

[Brenda]

They're issuing an electronic edition of the soundtrack that accomanies LeGuin's ALWAYS COMING HOME, when you get to it.

[P.T.]

There is nothing like this book... or at least nothing that I have come across. I think the only books that come close to it are some of
the classics.

[Justin]

I read "The Golem and the Jinni" right after my JS&MN binge and it's doing well to satisfy.

[Raymond]

Alex wrote: "Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchet. There a similar feeling of ridiculous Britishness." so true

[Raymond]

Clinton wrote: "If you liked the pace of this book, the focus on strong characters, descriptions which seem excessive but ultimately present a fully realized magical world, then my best suggestion for you is The G..."

very good suggestion I say

[Raymond]

David wrote: "Odd that no one has mentioned The Baroque Cycle by Neil Stephenson, the historical connection is certainly there.

For use of language I second the recommendations for Lord Dunsany (Charwomans Sha..."

I agree with all that up to Jack Vance. I bought the omnibus edition and to be honest I have only read two of the stories. I found them obvious and slow I'm afraid. Maybe I picked the wrong ones. I will give them another try.

[Raymond]

Dagda wrote: "Douglas: Thanks for mentioning Lord Dunsany. People need to go back to the roots. I'd Recommend "The Charwoman's Shadow", which is one of my all-time favorites.

Also, try "Gloriana" by Michael Moo..."

Ah you were too quick for me there, I was also going to suggest Gloriana but I think the subject matter is at times unsuitable for the younger reader. Fantastic book though (one of my favourites).

[Raymond]

Another that is well worth a shot although a novel of a different sort is "Faerie Tale" by Raymond Feist.
I loved it when I first read it. Others that may appeal (excluding many of the great ideas others have suggested) are;
The light princess by George Macdonald. I think it maybe actually free for Download now being out of copyright. The riddle master series of books by Patricia MacKillip. Travel Light by Naomi Mitchison.
Pperhaps, though I am not completely certain, it would appeal though it carries the same tone. The coming of the king by Nikolai Tolstoy.
As many have suggested the first things I would have jumped on were gormenghast, gloriana, lord dunsany, the historian. Oh and another just jumped to mind... The Alchemists daughter but I cannot remember who wrote it. Anyway you can look it up. It is very similar in stayle and content though a much darker read in all ways. Good luck I hope you find one that you like.

[Marc]

Hey everyone Thanks for the suggestions. I actually read Faerie Tale and thought it was excellent. Very interesting take on faerie. also may I suggest the Thursday next series by Jasper Fforde. It's an alternate timeline of 1985 England, dealing with time travel. and people traveling through books, Great Expectations, Jane Eyre, Shakespeare, Wonderland, etc. it has that unique british dry sense of humor, and a complicated fantasy world. And I can't forget Lud in the Mist by Hope Mirlees I believe, a very similar view of faerie noy unlike Strange and Norell.

[Maciej]

[John]

If you would like to try historical fantasy that's based in ancient Greece rather than victorian England, you can't beat Gene Wolfe's Latro in the Mist.

Also, I have to support the suggestions for The Gormenghast Novels. One of the best books I've read.

[Midge]

A Trip to the Stars by Nicholas Christopher

[Randall]

Would highly recommend Jack Vances trilogy
the Lyonesse series, fair amount of beautifully rendered faerie in the series

[2tetheredhorses]

Might I propose: John Crowley's Aegypt sequence (The Solitudes; Love & Sleep; Daemonomania; Endless Things), which examines the Hermetic tradition in Renaissance Europe through the researches and experiences of a young academic in the Rural New England of the late seventies. It's about a great many other things besides... and much less dry and dusty than I make it sound. Also very funny in places.

Or, Gene Wolfe's Soldier of the Mist/Soldier of Arete which, to reduce it to it's narrative bare bones is the 'story' of Latro, an injured and amnesiac mercenary, blessed (or cursed) with the ability to see, and indeed, speak to the gods (and other supernatural creatures) of Persian War-era 'Greece'.

[Morganne]

I was continually reminded of The Master and Margarita while reading this-- and it's another favorite of mine. A different time and era, but equally strange and wonderful.

[Rachel]

Great topic! I love this book!

[Beth]

What about Spindle's End by Robin McKinley? It's not as ambitious as JS&MN, but it's a fairytale retelling (Sleeping Beauty) with a style similar to Clarke's and a similar sense of humor.

[Sarah]

Prince wrote: "Check out Kostova's The Historian. It has elements of horror, and the prose is a bit dry, so do go through the reviews first."

Oh gosh, someone recommended 'The Historian' to me, because I said I loved JS&MrN. I did stagger through it, but thought it was terrible... depends what you're looking for, I suppose, but if you love Susanna Clarke's elegance and high-quality writing, then please avoid Kostova - because the writing is execrable. It's like comparing Michelin-starred dining with a McDonalds!

[Eric]

Arabis wrote: "Another you might like is The Magicians and Mrs. Quent by Galen Beckett. It reads like a Regency novel, but set in another world with odd day/night periods, magic and strange trees...."

I enjoyed that novel, though it pales in comparison to JS&MN. I can't get into the sequel at all.

[Eric]

Nora Branch wrote: "If you're into audiobooks, Simon Prebble's reading of JS&MN is the best narration of a book I HAVE EVER HEARD. I've read the book three or four times and listened to the audio twice. It's really ..."

It really is remarkable. His "man with the thistle-down-hair" sounds just as I imagined he would, as does virtually every character in the hook.

[Brenda]

TOOTH & CLAW, by Jo Walter. For that Victorian-fiction with fantasy vibe.

[Mellilla]

I strongly second The Magicians and Mrs. Quent. I'm reading it right now and I thoroughly enjoy it! However I must admit that without the magic element, I wouldn't be able to like it as much as I do.

[Natasa]

Quentin wrote: "Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell is definitly one of my favorites.
I just finished the Bartimaeus Trilogy by Jonathan Stroud and it was great. He replaces British governmen with magicians. Little mo..."

Two of my favorites, but the Bartimaeus Trilogy books are children's books. I'm not sure if they are truly comparable.

[Natasa]

Daliso wrote: "Orson Scott Card's fantasy Tales of the Alvin Maker does for early US history what Clarke's novel does for Victorian society. Seventh Son is Book 1."

I wholeheartedly agree! This in spirit would probably be the closest one to JS&MN of all the books I have read, but I wonder if Mr. Card would agree with this comparison :) Still, the Alvin Maker series is a must-read!

[Natasa]

Nora Branch wrote: "If you're into audiobooks, Simon Prebble's reading of JS&MN is the best narration of a book I HAVE EVER HEARD. I've read the book three or four times and listened to the audio twice. It's really ..."

Ah, yes! I agree! I listen to the audiobook once a year :) That's why I dread the BBC's adaptation. By the way, Simon Prebble can read a grocery list and I would by the audio!

[Libby]

Wanda wrote: "It was already suggested but it's worth saying again, The Thirteenth Tale, especially if you are also a fan of the Bronte sisters' work."

Agree! I also really liked Setterfield's other novel, Bellman & Black

[Anna]

James Stoddard's The High House is quite a good story. It strikes me as the sort of book that would respond well to being read aloud. It's more fantasy/fairy tale than much of JS&MN, but the setting seems quite similar.

The sequel, The False House seemed somewhat less successful, less fairy tale-like, more action-set pieces, etc., still a good story.

Caroline Stevermer's A College of Magics is also set in this era, so trains, carriages and magic exist together. (It's more grown up in style than the Sorcery and Cecelia books she wrote with Patricia Wrede.) Not as serious/dry as JS&MN, not so much about the intersection of actual reality/history with magicians as about a young woman's journey to adulthood (with fabulous clothes).

[Thomas]

Natasa wrote: "Nora Branch wrote: "If you're into audiobooks, Simon Prebble's reading of JS&MN is the best narration of a book I HAVE EVER HEARD. I've read the book three or four times and listened to the audio ..."

I just finished listening to this audiobook and enjoyed it immensely. Prebble's voice was perfect! Such a great way to enjoy one of my favorite reads!

[Matt]

Wow, so many books to read! Loved JS&MN very, very much and wanted to read some more about Faerie - I came to the right place!

If anyone reading this hasn't read them yet, try Lud-in-the-Mist, or Stardust (more for younger readers, but still great for that).

But, for me, the closest in style to Susanna Clarke's amazing book is actually The Sandman, Vol. 3: Dream Country. I know it's a Graphic Novel but the story "A Midsummer Night's Dream" is one of the most beautiful, elegiac pieces of literature I've ever come across.

[Marc]

Lud in the Mist is a terrific book, very similar take on faerie. Stardust is very much in the same tradition as Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell. Susanna Clarke wrote a short story in The Ladies of Grace Adieu that took place in the Stardust world. Excellent story.

[EA]

Tara wrote: "I'm looking for novels that are similar to this -- well-written, historical fantasies. Is there anything like it out there?"

You might enjoy "Stardust" by Neil Gaiman (Susanna Clarke once wrote a story set in that world).

Robert Holdstock wrote a very interesting mythic-fiction book called "Mythago Wood," which you might enjoy. Also Lord Dunsany's "King of Elfland's Daughter," and Peter Beagle's "Last Unicorn."

Lud-in-the-Mist is also a marvelous book -- one of my all-time favorites. So I utterly agree with the recommendation of it.

For that sort of written flavor, try Diana Wynne-Jones' Chrestomanci Chronicles, the Abhorsen books (which partly take place in a sort of early-20th English setting), Jo Walton's "Lifelode," Jack Vance's Lyonesse series, and the works of Tim Powers.

If you want the historical setting, try Mary Robinette Kowal's books, the Cahill Witch chronicles, and perhaps the forthcoming "Newt's Emerald" by Garth Nix.

[Erica]

I second To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis. it's such a delightful read. Full of brilliant British humor and time travel. It's not so dark as JS&MN but I think you'll love it.

[Nora Branch]

I love almost everything by Diana Wynne Jones (Neil Gaiman's favorite author, apparently), but one of my all-time favorites is Fire and Hemlock. Not like JS&MN, except that it's magic and I love magical books. BTW, I've been desperate for titles in that genre and this discussion has been a godsend.

[Wanda]

A Darker Shade of Magic bt V E Schwab really has me thinking of JS&MN. Magic, alternate Londons, strong female character (although lead is male). I'm listening to the audiobook narrated by Steven Crossley - he does a really good female character's voice.

[Plateresca]

cerebus wrote: "Might be a bit of a stretch, but give Carter Beats the Devil a go......"
It is a bit of a stretch, but I did give it a go and I liked it, so, thank you :)