OptionalBooks

This is where English Magic has gone

Why is there no magic performed in England? That's the question John Segundus of the Magicians of York asks himself in 1806. Not soon after, he and his fellow theoretical magicians bare witness to a demonstration of practical magic. This marks magic's return. We will follow Johnathan Strange and Gilbert Norrell in their quest to make their magic respected and useful. They deal with fairies, tamper with the dead and assist in the war against Napoleon.

This book tells an alternate history from the perspective of a writer that's not contemporary to the events described, but obviously still belonging to the early 19th century. The language and spelling fit the time. The slow tempo also echoes that of contemporaries like Jane Austen. This never felt bothersome though, as the—well over a thousand!—pages are full of dry wit, understated humour, and curious magic to discover.

The plot expertly weaves together history, fantasy, European fairy tales, this fresh take on magic, and a strong cast of interesting characters. Because the book is written under the assumption that the reader would be familiar with the world, it even ends up being a bit of a mystery. We are never handed an explanation for how magic works, what makes English magic “English”, the character and motivation of fairies, and what to think of the occasionally mentioned “Hell”. But the meandering tales and over a hundred footnotes invite to think about these questions while making your way through this well-crafted tome.

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