Imaginary Interviewer: We're back! Year four already, which seems somehow impossible. What's up first?
Me: First up is Susanna Clarke's 'Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell'. This is a book that I am totally unfamiliar with. I know that it won the Hugo award in 2004 but that's about it.
II: Well. Do some research then.
Me: Fine. [opens up Wikipedia] It seems that this was Clarke's debut novel, which is very impressive. It says that she was working on the story for a decade or so before she collected everything into a novel. She has also written a number of short stories that take place in the same universe as JS&N.
II: Anything else we should know?
Me: Sure. I started the book early because it's a big one. My copy is about 850 pages. I'm about half way through so I can tell you some things by direct knowledge.
II: Okay, go ahead.
Me: This is a story that takes place in the early 1800s. Wikipedia describes it as an alternate history and that seems fair to me. It takes place while England is fighting Napoleon and it is about the emergence of a pair of magicians in England. Not theatrical magicians but men that are capable of changing the world with magic.
II: Interesting.
Me: It really is. The story is written in a 19th century style. I thought it reminded me of Dickens but Wikipedia tells me that it should also remind me of Jane Austen. Fair enough.
II: Is it good?
Me: It's very good. I can see why it won a Hugo award. The characters are interesting. The writing has a light humor to it that it is *very* English. The plot continues to go in directions that I don't expect. I'm nearly halfway through and I literally have no idea how the story will continue. I highly recommend this book.
