Susanna Clarke "Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell"

Following a theme of alternative history sci fi (S. M. Stirling), we have here an example of alternative history fantasy writing.  The fabulous case of Jonathan Strange, Mr Norrell, and more mysteriously John Updike, the King of the North.  In this lengthy novel Clarke weaves a rich tapestry of a haunting England, were there was once such a thing as magic, with the North ruled for 300 years by a wizard king.  It is set in the time of the Iron Duke and Napoleon and it paints a picture of England at a time when magic once more comes back into common use.
The style of the book is interesting, like a cross between reading Jane Austen and Edgar Allen Poe with an incredible amount of footnotes, sometimes there are multiple pages of one one footnote and you grow confused as to where the thread is.  The footnotes actually draw you in though, they make the historic backdrop to the story seem quite real due to their detail and wit.
At no point does Clarke attempt to explain magic, or give a reason for there being fey creatures that interfere with human existence, it is an assumption of the narrative that is so seamless that the reader loses all skepticism for the occult and just instead marvels at what is accomplished by its modern practitioners.  The story has many notable characters, not just the title characters, but perhaps the most interesting is the hidden character of the Raven King, whose existence and history is the warp and weft of the story, the real backbone.  He remains at the end wrapped in as much, if not more, mystery than in which he starts the tale.

Susanna Clarke is clearly a talented writer, and I will definitely get hold of more books that flow from her pen.  I hope though that she branches out in terms of her themes and styles, because as much as I enjoyed the novel, I was not left eagerly anticipating its sequel.  I was rather well satisfied with the literary meal and had no room for dessert.  I will though recommend this book as a great read.