John Uskglass and the Restoration of English Magic

“I have never heard of him,” said Childermass. Vinculus looked at him with amusement, “Off course not. You have lived your life in the Mayfair magician’s pocket. You only know what he knows. “So! Said Childermass, stung. “That is not so very trifling is it? Norrel is a clever man and Strange another. They have their faults, as other men do, but their achievements are still remarkable. Make no mistake; I am John Uskglass’s man; or would be, if he were here. But you must admit that the restoration of English magic is their work, not his.”“ Their work, scoffed Vinculus! "Theirs? Do you still not understand? They are the spell of John Uskglass’s doing. That is all they have ever been. And he is doing it now!”

Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrel, Suzanna Clarke

Post #51

John Childermass's Spells

Chauntlucet: an ancient spell which encourages the moon to sing. The song is said to be very beautiful and can cure leprosy or madness in anyone who hears it.

Daldalus’s Rose: a complicated procedure used to preserve emotions, vices, and virtues in amber, honey, or beeswax. The Daldalus’s Rose also had a huge number of other applications: it could be used to disperse courage to oneself or to inflict cowardice on one’s enemies. It could also provoke love, lust, nobility of purpose, anger, jealously, ambition, and self-sacrifice.

Unrobed Ladies: it is not what you might expect. Unrobed Ladies are a woodland flower used in a spell to bind a fairy’s spell.

Stokesey Vitrification: used to turn objects and people into glass.”

Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell, Susanna Clarke