Despite the fact that Jonathan Strange won a ton of awards after it came out in 2004, and was generally agreed to be the best thing to happen to fantaDespite the fact that Jonathan Strange won a ton of awards after it came out in 2004, and was generally agreed to be the best thing to happen to fantasy since sliced (lembas) bread, I dragged my feet for the better part of a decade before sitting down to read it. Something about the title made me think it was a YA book, which is not usually my genre. Also, when I think of faeries, my mind instantly pictures something like this:
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However, this book is not YA by any stretch, and the faeries that come creeping out of Ms. Clarke’s imagination look more like this:
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Susanna Clarke’s debut novel is also not your typical fantasy romp, for better or worse. There are no knights, no dark lords bent on world domination, no elves and dwarves, etc. That cuts both ways: different can be good, but there are some readers who come into a fantasy story looking for certain familiar elements. Those readers may be disappointed – although if they keep an open mind, they’ll find that this story has a whole lot to offer, even if it’s not exactly what they might have expected.
I’ve spent long enough talking about what this book is not, so let me tell you what it is.
1. A thoroughly original tale unlike anything I’ve ever experienced in the fantasy genre. Clarke’s story is a historical fantasy set in 19th century England. Magic existed in the past and is a part of Europe’s history, but its practice has disappeared over the centuries. As the Napoleonic Wars rage on the continent, the reemergence of magic at home sets all of London abuzz.
Now, Ms. Clarke did not invent historical fantasy, as a spin around my friends’ bookshelves makes clear. But this was a new side of fantasy for me, and the whole thing felt so fresh and different that it was almost like experiencing fantasy for the first time. Clarke uses her historical setting to set up a sort of comedy-of-manners, particularly in the first half of the novel, that I’d never seen done before in fantasy and which I couldn’t get enough of.
2. A masterclass in A+ world-building. Given that this is a historical fantasy, taking place on dear old Mother Earth, you might not expect the book to stand out in this regard. But Clarke has created a rich, fascinating history for her version of our world, complete with ancient heroes, villains, and folklore. And she does a superb job of doling it out just right, using footnotes and backstory, to leave the reader wanting more and not feeling like they’ve just been on the business end of an information dump. I could have read 800 pages just on the history of Clarke’s England, or the Fairy Realms, and been a very happy camper.
3. Filled with some of the best, well-crafted, most lifelike characters the genre has to offer. Both of the main characters are standouts – at turns loveable and frustrating, but always consistent – and the supporting cast is equally stellar. There are compelling characters on both sides of the gender line (not always a given in fantasy), and Clarke’s portrayal of the wild, mischievous and…mercurial faeries that populate her universe is inspired.
4. Home to some of the finest prose that I’ve ever read in a fantasy novel. To me, this was the single best thing about the book. Clarke tells her story in a 19th century style (think Jane Austen) that fits her subject perfectly. She has this style, complete with the use of understatement and exaggeration that gives it such humor, down to a science, and the language was an absolute joy to read. This book was longlisted for the Booker Prize in 2005 (the rough equivalent to the British Pulitzer) and it would have made a worthy winner in my opinion. I can think of very, very few fantasy books I’ve read with writing this strong; it goes beyond good “genre” prose and enters into the discussion of great contemporary literary fiction. This book is also incredibly clever and witty when it wants to be, which fortunately is often.
5. One of my 10 favorite books from the 2000’s, and one of the best fantasy books I have ever read. 5 stars, highly recommended! ...more
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