Reviews
"What kind of magic can make an 800-page novel seem too short? Whatever it is, debut author Susanna Clarke is possessed by it, and her astonished readers will surely hope she never recovers.", "Extraordinary…Will Enchant Readers of Fantasy and Literary Fiction Alike.", "Ravishing...superb...combines the dark mythology of fantasy with the delicious social comedy of Jane Austen into a masterpiece of the genre that rivals Tolkien.", "Many books are to be read, some are to be studied, and a few are meant to be lived in for weeks.Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrellis of this last kind...Magnificent and original.", "Clarke welcomes herself into an exalted company of British writersnot only, some might argue, Dickens and Austen, but also the fantasy legends Kenneth Grahame and George MacDonaldas well as contemporary writers like Susan Cooper and Philip Pullman.", Many books are to be read, some are to be studied, and a few are meant to be lived in for weeks.Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrellis of this last kind...Magnificent and original., "Ravishing…superb…combines the dark mythology of fantasy with the delicious social comedy of Jane Austen into a masterpiece of the genre that rivals Tolkien.", "The Most Sparkling Literary Debut of the YearâŠsusanna Clarke's Magic Is Universal.", "Unquestionably the finest English novel of the fantastic written in the last seventy years. It's funny, moving, scary, otherworldly, practical and magical, a journey through light and shadow-from beginning to end, a perfect pleasure.", "ExtraordinaryâŠwill Enchant Readers of Fantasy and Literary Fiction Alike.", "Combining folklore and fantasy with horror-story imagination, [Clarke] creates a Napoleonic-era England alive with the promise--and danger--of uncontrollable forces...Clarke's sober style keeps the fantasy grounded, and meticulous historical research brings the magical episodes to terrifying life. This is a gorgeous book of unforgettable images.", Clarke welcomes herself into an exalted company of British writers--not only, some might argue, Dickens and Austen, but also the fantasy legends Kenneth Grahame and George MacDonald--as well as contemporary writers like Susan Cooper and Philip Pullman., Ravishing...superb...combines the dark mythology of fantasy with the delicious social comedy of Jane Austen into a masterpiece of the genre that rivals Tolkien., "Clarke welcomes herself into an exalted company of British writers--not only, some might argue, Dickens and Austen, but also the fantasy legends Kenneth Grahame and George MacDonald--as well as contemporary writers like Susan Cooper and Philip Pullman.", Ravishing.superb.combines the dark mythology of fantasy with the delicious social comedy of Jane Austen into a masterpiece of the genre that rivals Tolkien., Thoroughly enchanting…In a fantastically paced conclusion, the ominous horror of what's preying on England comes into focus, even as the setting shifts into the cloudy world of enchantment that Clarke captures with such haunting effect., "Extraordinary.Will Enchant Readers of Fantasy and Literary Fiction Alike.", Combining folklore and fantasy with horror-story imagination, [Clarke] creates a Napoleonic-era England alive with the promise-and danger-of uncontrollable forces.Clarke's sober style keeps the fantasy grounded, and meticulous historical research brings the magical episodes to terrifying life. This is a gorgeous book of unforgettable images., "Thoroughly enchantingâŠIn a fantastically paced conclusion, the ominous horror of what's preying on England comes into focus, even as the setting shifts into the cloudy world of enchantment that Clarke captures with such haunting effect.", Combining folklore and fantasy with horror-story imagination, [Clarke] creates a Napoleonic-era England alive with the promise-and danger-of uncontrollable forces…Clarke's sober style keeps the fantasy grounded, and meticulous historical research brings the magical episodes to terrifying life. This is a gorgeous book of unforgettable images., "This novel took 10 years to research and write, according to publicity material; for readers at least, the author's arduous task results in a smashing success--it's an exceptionally compelling, brilliantly creative, and historically fine-tuned piece of work. The brilliance of the novel lies in how Clarke so completely and believably creates a world within a world..." - Booklist, starred review "Clarke's imagination is prodigious, her pacing is masterly and she knows how to employ dry humor in the service of majesty." - The New York Times "The most sparkling literary debut of the year." - Salon "An instant classic, one of the finest fantasies ever written." - Kirkus Reviews, starred review, Susanna Clarke's great fat tale of the rebirth of magic in 19th-century England has a rambling ground plan, a decorous diction, and a politely crazed investment in ornate cornices. Here is a writer who remembers that true fairy tales carry a sting and the creatures themselves were never properly domesticated to the nursery. Her uncanny book is an object lesson in the pleasures-and risks-of enchantment., Many books are to be read, some are to be studied, and a few are meant to be lived in for weeks. Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell is of this last kind...Magnificent and original., Combining folklore and fantasy with horror-story imagination, [Clarke] creates a Napoleonic-era England alive with the promise--and danger--of uncontrollable forces...Clarke's sober style keeps the fantasy grounded, and meticulous historical research brings the magical episodes to terrifying life. This is a gorgeous book of unforgettable images., "Thoroughly enchanting.In a fantastically paced conclusion, the ominous horror of what's preying on England comes into focus, even as the setting shifts into the cloudy world of enchantment that Clarke captures with such haunting effect.", Thoroughly enchanting.In a fantastically paced conclusion, the ominous horror of what's preying on England comes into focus, even as the setting shifts into the cloudy world of enchantment that Clarke captures with such haunting effect., Unquestionably the finest English novel of the fantastic written in the last seventy years. It's funny, moving, scary, otherworldly, practical and magical, a journey through light and shadow-from beginning to end, a perfect pleasure., Susanna Clarke's great fat tale of the rebirth of magic in 19th-century England has a rambling ground plan, a decorous diction, and a politely crazed investment in ornate cornices. Here is a writer who remembers that true fairy tales carry a sting and the creatures themselves were never properly domesticated to the nursery. Her uncanny book is an object lesson in the pleasures--and risks--of enchantment., What kind of magic can make an 800-page novel seem too short? Whatever it is, debut author Susanna Clarke is possessed by it, and her astonished readers will surely hope she never recovers., "Absolutely Compelling. an Astonishing Achievement.", Combining folklore and fantasy with horror-story imagination, [Clarke] creates a Napoleonic-era England alive with the promise--and danger--of uncontrollable forces…Clarke's sober style keeps the fantasy grounded, and meticulous historical research brings the magical episodes to terrifying life. This is a gorgeous book of unforgettable images., Unquestionably the finest English novel of the fantastic written in the last seventy years. It's funny, moving, scary, otherworldly, practical and magical, a journey through light and shadow--from beginning to end, a perfect pleasure., "Many books are to be read, some are to be studied, and a few are meant to be lived in for weeks. "Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell" is of this last kind...Magnificent and original.", Thoroughly enchanting...In a fantastically paced conclusion, the ominous horror of what's preying on England comes into focus, even as the setting shifts into the cloudy world of enchantment that Clarke captures with such haunting effect., "The Most Sparkling Literary Debut of the Year…Susanna Clarke's Magic Is Universal.", "An Instant Classic, One of the Finest Fantasies Ever Written.", "Thoroughly enchanting…In a fantastically paced conclusion, the ominous horror of what's preying on England comes into focus, even as the setting shifts into the cloudy world of enchantment that Clarke captures with such haunting effect.", "Clarke welcomes herself into an exalted company of British writers-not only, some might argue, Dickens and Austen, but also the fantasy legends Kenneth Grahame and George MacDonald-as well as contemporary writers like Susan Cooper and Philip Pullman.", Ravishing…superb…combines the dark mythology of fantasy with the delicious social comedy of Jane Austen into a masterpiece of the genre that rivals Tolkien., Clarke welcomes herself into an exalted company of British writers-not only, some might argue, Dickens and Austen, but also the fantasy legends Kenneth Grahame and George MacDonald-as well as contemporary writers like Susan Cooper and Philip Pullman., "The Most Sparkling Literary Debut of the Year.Susanna Clarke's Magic Is Universal.", "Susanna Clarke's great fat tale of the rebirth of magic in 19th-century England has a rambling ground plan, a decorous diction, and a politely crazed investment in ornate cornices. Here is a writer who remembers that true fairy tales carry a sting and the creatures themselves were never properly domesticated to the nursery. Her uncanny book is an object lesson in the pleasures--and risks--of enchantment.", "RavishingâŠsuperbâŠcombines the dark mythology of fantasy with the delicious social comedy of Jane Austen into a masterpiece of the genre that rivals Tolkien."
