Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell

English magicians were once the wonder of the known world, with fairy servants at their beck and call; they could command winds, mountains, and woods. But by the early 1800s they have long since lost the ability to perform magic. All that is left are “theoretical magicians”, enthusiasts and self-proclaimed scholars who study old books and write long, dull papers about magic.

From Yorkshire, a rich reclusive gentleman named Mr. Norrell has compiled a vast library which contains nearly all extant works on magic. Using this, he regains some of the powers of the old magicians and goes to London, to offer his services to His Majesty’s government. While initially dismissed as a curiosity, he turns heads when he raises a young woman from the dead, and is soon helping England in its war against Napoleon, creating fake storms and ghost fleets.

Another magician appears in the form of Jonathan Strange; young, handsome, outgoing and well-spoken, Strange is everything that Mr. Norrell is not. Mr. Norrell accepts him as a pupil, and together they make considerable strides in developing their skills. Strange departs with the English ground forces led by Lord Wellington, performing magic on battlefields to aid the campaign.

When he returns, it is evident that there is a rift in the perspectives of Strange and Mr. Norrell. While the latter wants to closely guard the secrets of magic and control its use, Strange is attracted to progressively more dangerous magic, and becomes obsessed with the Raven King, a legendary king of yore who ruled both England and Faerie. Soon the repercussions of their past actions catch up with them, and threatens to destroy all they hold dear.

This book is not for everyone; it targets a very specific type of reader, who has a range of tastes. To me, the book is a true charmer, compelling in all its subtlety, imaginative, witty and beautifully written. The characterizations in the book is definitely one of the best elements; the characters, be it the main protagonists or otherwise, are solidly drawn and interesting, as lovable as they are flawed.