Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell (Magill’s Literary Annual 1991-2005)
At a glance:
- Author: Susanna Clarke
- First Published: 2004
- Type of Work: Novel
- Time of Work: 1806-1817
- Setting: London, Portugal, Venice, and the fairy home of Lost-hope
- Principal Characters: Gilbert Norrell, Jonathan Strange, John Uskglass, Lady Pole, Stephen Black, The gentleman with the thistle-down hair
- Genres: Long fiction, Science fiction, Fantasy
- Subjects: Folkloric or magical people, Magic or magicians, Nineteenth century, England or English people, London, Apprentices, Napoleonic Wars, Fairies
- Locales: London, England, Venice, Italy, Portugal
Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell, Susanna Clarke's debut novel, is both historical and fantastical fiction of the highest caliber. Set primarily in England in the beginning of the nineteenth century, when Napoleon was making maneuvers upon the world, Clarke's novel uses this backdrop as the setting for her version of England. Clarke's England is one where magic and other realms (such as the Faerie realm) are known to exist, and magicians are just as easily famous as military generals.
Into this backdrop comes Gilbert Norrell, a magician who lives in Hurtfew Abbey and, as a...
[The entire page is 1662 words long]
Join eNotes
Over 3,500 study guides, question and answer forums, literature criticism, reference content, and much more!
