Paperback, 695 pages
Published Oct. 31, 2006
Published in 2004, it is an alternative history set in 19th-century England around the time of the Napoleonic Wars. Its premise is that magic once existed in England and has returned with two men: Gilbert Norrell and Jonathan Strange. Centred on the relationship between these two men, the novel investigates the nature of "Englishness" and the boundaries between reason and unreason, Anglo-Saxon and Anglo-Dane, and Northern and Southern English cultural tropes/stereotypes. It has been described as a fantasy novel, an alternative history, and a historical novel. It inverts the Industrial Revolution conception of the North-South divide in England: in this book the North is romantic and magical, rather than rational and concrete.
Published in 2004, it is an alternative history set in 19th-century England around the time of the Napoleonic Wars. Its premise is that magic once existed in England and has returned with two men: Gilbert Norrell and Jonathan Strange. Centred on the relationship between these two men, the novel investigates the nature of "Englishness" and the boundaries between reason and unreason, Anglo-Saxon and Anglo-Dane, and Northern and Southern English cultural tropes/stereotypes. It has been described as a fantasy novel, an alternative history, and a historical novel. It inverts the Industrial Revolution conception of the North-South divide in England: in this book the North is romantic and magical, rather than rational and concrete.
Very lengthy, but somehow, I couldn't stop reading. At least not after page 1500 or so. Still, I'm glad I finished it.
Very lengthy, but somehow, I couldn't stop reading. At least not after page 1500 or so. Still, I'm glad I finished it.
Unlikable characters didn't help. There goes 30h of my life!
Unlikable characters didn't help. There goes 30h of my life!
skönt brittiskt språk
lätt osammanhängande
This book is truly delightful. Written in the Victorian style Jude the Obscure or the novels of the Austen's, without falling into the trap of just simplistically spoofing the genre ala Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. Not just the use of language, but also the pacing, characterization, narrative structure, and over-arching themes are carefully chosen to help maintain the illusion of a period; the author's careful research of and familiarity with the time period and its literature is apparent. Even the art has the appropriate period 'feel'. Fans of epic fantasy may be a little dissatisfied as it is consequently lacking some of the tropes they may be looking for (I.e. No systematized magic, no clear heroes journey, etc.), and besides fans of Victorian lit, fans of some of the more 'naturalistic' fantasy from before the turn of the century, especially where it sometimes crosses over with the weird fiction …
This book is truly delightful. Written in the Victorian style Jude the Obscure or the novels of the Austen's, without falling into the trap of just simplistically spoofing the genre ala Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. Not just the use of language, but also the pacing, characterization, narrative structure, and over-arching themes are carefully chosen to help maintain the illusion of a period; the author's careful research of and familiarity with the time period and its literature is apparent. Even the art has the appropriate period 'feel'. Fans of epic fantasy may be a little dissatisfied as it is consequently lacking some of the tropes they may be looking for (I.e. No systematized magic, no clear heroes journey, etc.), and besides fans of Victorian lit, fans of some of the more 'naturalistic' fantasy from before the turn of the century, especially where it sometimes crosses over with the weird fiction genre (some of the authors Lovecraft discusses in Supernatural Horror in Literature for example) will probably also really enjoy this book. If your not looking for a slow building, character driven, mystical story, I would avoid this, as I can see it being a long slog for those looking for more action.
I really wanted to like this, given all of the good reviews. I tried the written book, I tried the audio book. There was a review that said it got better about 8 hours in. I just couldn't make it - there were interesting moments, but it felt like a chore to keep trying to come back to this book.
I really wanted to like this, given all of the good reviews. I tried the written book, I tried the audio book. There was a review that said it got better about 8 hours in. I just couldn't make it - there were interesting moments, but it felt like a chore to keep trying to come back to this book.
Unglaublich zäh. Die ersten 85% ziehen sich wie Kaugummi. Dazu jede Menge Fußnoten die den Lesefluß zusätzlich stören.
I was introduced to this book by the excellent BBC TV mini-series, which I have seen maybe 4 times now. I can recall many lines, which are completely unremarkable sentences, yet so memorable because of how they were delivered. The book is so much more than the series (which I really like), a lot of the story, character back stories, history and world building is in the footnotes. 5/5 stars. Should you read it or should you watch it? It is a wrong question, sir.
I don't write many reviews, but this book demands recognition beyond a mere sprinkling of stars.
Susanna Clarke has deftly woven an alternative English history from raw materials with which we're all familiar. The result is a textured backdrop against which her story can play. And does it play! Her characters large and small have depths, incongruities and humour that give them a life of their own. The plot, like a medieval bridge, is strongly buttressed against human foible at one end and the entropy of "normal life" at the other, allowing it rise in a gravity-defying arch that seems all too slender for the weighty moral issues it supports.
Having read the book, I shall watch the television adaptation again. And then I'll look forward to re-reading the book in a year or so when the glorious particoloured undergrowth of detail has dimmed sufficiently for me to enjoy it …
I don't write many reviews, but this book demands recognition beyond a mere sprinkling of stars.
Susanna Clarke has deftly woven an alternative English history from raw materials with which we're all familiar. The result is a textured backdrop against which her story can play. And does it play! Her characters large and small have depths, incongruities and humour that give them a life of their own. The plot, like a medieval bridge, is strongly buttressed against human foible at one end and the entropy of "normal life" at the other, allowing it rise in a gravity-defying arch that seems all too slender for the weighty moral issues it supports.
Having read the book, I shall watch the television adaptation again. And then I'll look forward to re-reading the book in a year or so when the glorious particoloured undergrowth of detail has dimmed sufficiently for me to enjoy it all again.
I didn't finish it... It's just taking way too long to get started. I love the narrator's voice but please give me a reason to keep going in this slow paced, numbing story...
I didn't finish it... It's just taking way too long to get started. I love the narrator's voice but please give me a reason to keep going in this slow paced, numbing story...
Unbearable, boring, pretentious. When I have to force myself to read even a few pages from a book, it means I'm not enjoying it at all. That has been happening for the last months with this unswallowable brick.
The thing I regret the most, is having left aside so many other books I wanted to read, because I'm used to read only one book at a time.
I guess I'll just watch the TV series, just out of curiosity. I hope it's more enjoyable than this book.
Unbearable, boring, pretentious. When I have to force myself to read even a few pages from a book, it means I'm not enjoying it at all. That has been happening for the last months with this unswallowable brick.
The thing I regret the most, is having left aside so many other books I wanted to read, because I'm used to read only one book at a time.
I guess I'll just watch the TV series, just out of curiosity. I hope it's more enjoyable than this book.
Pero qué maravilla de libro.
No, en serio. Es impresionante. Plasma a la perfección una atmósfera victoriana y enlaza con ella un complejísimo mundo de magia. Las notas a pie de página le dan un trasfondo aún más profundo a la historia. Los personajes se desarrollan durante la historia, cambiando constantemente de opinión, cometiendo errores y comportándose a veces de manera despreciable: en una palabra, siendo humanos.
Dicen que el libro es muy aburrido (el autor [a:Brandon Sanderson|38550|Brandon Sanderson|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1394044556p2/38550.jpg] lo definía como "el mejor libro aburrido que me he leído"). Para mí, aburrido no ha sido. Denso puede que sí. El libro tiene una acción que se desarrolla lentísima, a un paso muy pausado. Eso hace que la primera mitad del libro se pueda hacer pesada al lector cuando no entiende del todo los acontecimientos que le están contando ni la repercusión que van a tener en el resto …
Pero qué maravilla de libro.
No, en serio. Es impresionante. Plasma a la perfección una atmósfera victoriana y enlaza con ella un complejísimo mundo de magia. Las notas a pie de página le dan un trasfondo aún más profundo a la historia. Los personajes se desarrollan durante la historia, cambiando constantemente de opinión, cometiendo errores y comportándose a veces de manera despreciable: en una palabra, siendo humanos.
Dicen que el libro es muy aburrido (el autor [a:Brandon Sanderson|38550|Brandon Sanderson|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1394044556p2/38550.jpg] lo definía como "el mejor libro aburrido que me he leído"). Para mí, aburrido no ha sido. Denso puede que sí. El libro tiene una acción que se desarrolla lentísima, a un paso muy pausado. Eso hace que la primera mitad del libro se pueda hacer pesada al lector cuando no entiende del todo los acontecimientos que le están contando ni la repercusión que van a tener en el resto de la historia. Pero en la segunda mitad del libro... Esa acción lenta es una maravilla. El clímax se desarrolla de forma increíblemente pausada durante páginas y páginas, consiguiendo mantenerte expectante y deseando saber el final sin alargarse innecesariamente en ningún momento. Del 75% en adelante la historia te tiene en un vilo absoluto.
Lo dicho. Una jodida maravilla.
PD: El vloguero filólogo Vanfunfun tiene un vídeo en el que resume en diez minutos sus opiniones sobre Jonathan Strante & Mr. Norrel. Lo recomiendo mucho para quien quiera más información sobre qué esperarse con el libro.
Absolutely fantastic book, notable for its interesting story and characters, but also impressive for how convincing this alternate England is, cleverly combining real history with fantasy history. The author clearly did a lot of research, as the language captures a sense of the period, even though it's far less ornate than writing of that time would be.
Absolutely fantastic book, notable for its interesting story and characters, but also impressive for how convincing this alternate England is, cleverly combining real history with fantasy history. The author clearly did a lot of research, as the language captures a sense of the period, even though it's far less ornate than writing of that time would be.
Absolutely loved this book but I kind of doubt others will.
Possibly the best fantasy novel I have ever read
A dreamy, detailed, pseudo-historical story of English magic centered around the two magicians in the title. It's long at 800+ pages but doesn't seem it. The author has gone to amazing detail in the historical magical England she reinvents, right down to lengthy scholarly footnotes on every chapter. If you're a fan of fast-paced action and adventure this might not be the book for you, but if you're interested in the general setting and you enjoyed books like "The High House" (Stoddard) and don't mind a a more leisurely unwinding of the plot, you'll probably enjoy this a lot.
A dreamy, detailed, pseudo-historical story of English magic centered around the two magicians in the title. It's long at 800+ pages but doesn't seem it. The author has gone to amazing detail in the historical magical England she reinvents, right down to lengthy scholarly footnotes on every chapter. If you're a fan of fast-paced action and adventure this might not be the book for you, but if you're interested in the general setting and you enjoyed books like "The High House" (Stoddard) and don't mind a a more leisurely unwinding of the plot, you'll probably enjoy this a lot.
