Books like Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke
Set in 19th‑century England during the Napoleonic Wars, the novel follows two contemporary magicians: the reclusive Gilbert Norrell and the flamboyant Jonathan Strange. Their uneasy partnership rekindles a long‑lost magic that once flourished in England. While the story unfolds against the backdrop of war, it probes the nature of ‘Englishness’, contrasting rationalism and mysticism, and reversing the usual North‑South dichotomy by portraying the North as romantic and magical. The book blends fantasy, historical fiction, and alternative history into a richly detailed narrative that questions the boundaries between reason and unreason and the cultural stereotypes of inland and coastal England.
First publish date: 2001
Genre: Fantasy/Historical Fantasy
Authors: Susanna Clarke
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3.5 (6 community ratings)
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