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  • Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell

  • By: Susanna Clarke
  • Narrated by: Simon Prebble
  • Length: 32 hrs and 30 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (504 ratings)

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Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell

By: Susanna Clarke
Narrated by: Simon Prebble
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Publisher's Summary

OVER 4 MILLION COPIES SOLD WORLDWIDE

Shortlisted for the Whitbread First Novel Award and the Guardian First Book Award; longlisted for the Man Booker Prize

‘Unquestionably the finest English novel of the fantastic written in the last seventy years ... Funny, moving, scary, otherworldly, practical and magical' NEIL GAIMAN

The year is 1806. centuries have passed since practical magicians faded into the nation’s past. But scholars of this glorious history discover that one remains: the reclusive Mr Norrell, whose displays of magic send a thrill through the country.

Proceeding to London, he raises a beautiful woman from the dead and summons an army of ghostly ships to terrify the French. Yet the cautious, fussy Norrell is challenged by the emergence of another magician: the brilliant novice Jonathan Strange. Young, handsome and daring, Strange is the very antithesis of Norrell.

So begins a dangerous battle between these two great men which overwhelms that between England and France. And their own obsessions and secret dabblings with the dark arts are going to cause more trouble than they can imagine.

©2004 Susanna Clarke (P)2004 Audio Renaissance, a division of Holtzbrinck Publishers, LLC, and Bloomsbury Publishing

Critic Reviews

"Unquestionably the finest English novel of the fantastic written in the last seventy years...Funny, moving, scary, otherworldly, practical and magical." (Neil Gaiman) 

What listeners say about Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell

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  • Overall
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    5 out of 5 stars

Marvellous!!

Clarke will transport you to another world... she has written a truly unique book that is magical and charming and bittersweet. Her story telling is impeccable. The characters are brought to life by an excellent narrator.

Just wonderful.

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wonderful! it certainly brought back magic to me.

a slow start seeming more like a historical text but then the plot and characters kick into drive and the magic shines. I love the genuine names and faerie stories that Susanna has painstakingly researched from the Brittish Isles and abroad and included here. Enchanting.

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    4 out of 5 stars

One of these stories you just don't want to end

despite the length of this book I absolutely didn't want it to end, I'll miss the characters and hope Strange and Norrell make an appearance in a sequel or some of the authors other books. I didn't get into it straight away but after a couple of hours I was hooked. I love the way the author uses language to cast you back to the time of gentlemen (and fairies) and although it wasn't the most fast paced tale I really enjoyed it and would definitely recommend it.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Beautiful language

Loved the style and language. Characters are full and true to themselves. Story however prolonged too long in insignificant parts and too short in important. However in general book feels very authentic and original.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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A Fantastic Tale of books, words and voices.

The eye-catching art of a board game box lead me to this book. Susanna Clarke is a magical, masterful writer, with a wit as sharp and pure as ice-shards. Her blending of georgian romance and magic, with poignant observations of the times, was a delight to take in. Many times during the novel, it took on the flow of poetry, and took me far, far away.. I look forward to losing myself in more of her compositions.
As a narrator, Simon Prebble is an inspired choice. His voice range is exceptional, and his narrative pacing excellent. He truly is a worthy storyteller to Susanna Clarke's beautiful tale.

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One of the best historical fantasies I have read

I found the story quite captivating, dare I say, enchanting, and the narration vivid and expressive.

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Wonderful!

It took a little while to immerse myself in this story, but rarely have i come across a book so thoroughly enjoyable and so different. I lived in it, and that hasn’t happened for me since I lived in Enid Blyton’s Enchanted Wood, with all my friends who have stayed with me all of my life. At 61 I still drop in to those memories when reading to my granddaughter. This book is not a children’s book, definitely not, and nobody can make you love a book. But i loved the characters the magic and the feelings the author and amazing narrator managed to stir up for me. A great read and excellent purchase

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Brilliant

I’ve read and listened to this title multiple times - it’s stylish and droll, filled with amusing characters and structured to perfection. Oh! To live within these pages. I would give it six stars if it were allowed.

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    4 out of 5 stars

Idiosyncratic, suspenseful, well written.

A well written book. Interesting characters, that are not tokenistic. Suspenseful plot that leaves you satisfied.

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2 people found this helpful

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Eccentric, charming and intriguing

An outstandingly creative alternative history of how the lost magic of England returns in the Napoleonic era, through (and sometimes despite) the efforts of the title characters. Initially beguiling with gorgeous, elegant language, intriguing footnotes and quirky, ironic episodes, this novel proceeds to weave an intricate and (surprisingly, for such a literary work) tension-filled tale. Don't be put off by the length - the multitudinous threads all do come together in the end, and the perfectly pitched narration by Simon Prebble is a joy to listen to. I will certainly be indulging my ears again!

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