Johnathan Strange and Mr. Norrell, Volume III

I have slowed down on the reading lately and have finally gotten to the third volume of Johnathan Strange and Mr. Norrell. I am now about two thirds through this thick and fascinating novel.

Volume III, John Uskglass

“It is the contention of Mr. Norrell of Hanover-square, that everything belonging to John Uskglass (The Raven King) must be shaken out of modern magic, as one would shake moths and dust out of an old coat. What does he imagine he will have left? If you get rid of John Uskglass you will be left holding the empty air.’

Johnathan Strange, prologue to The History and Practice of English Magic, pub., John Murray, London, 1816”

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

The Raven King as a Child

"When King Henry ask the boy his name the boy’s response was that he did not have one¹.

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¹When John d’ Uskglass was a child in Faerie, the Sidhe (those who adopted him as their own), called him a word in their own language which means “Starling”. John d’ Uskglass was a name the boy took from his father, but in the early part of his life he was known by many titles his friends and enemies gave him: the King; the Raven King; the Black King; the King of the North."

Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, Susanna Clarke

More Mention about John Uskglass’s Early Years

A Host of Characters

“The Raven King resigned over his domains for over three hundred years, his kingdom being part of Faerie, Northern England, and lands beyond (a land on the far side of Hell). At the age of fourteen he had already created the system of magic that we employ today. Or rather, that we would employ, if it had not been lost. His was a perfect blending of fairy magic and human organization-their powers were webbed to his own terrifying purposefulness.”

Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrel, Susanna Clarke

Les Cinque Dragownes

Les Cinque Dragownes was a tribunal created by John Uskglass, during the middles ages to help in the regulation of English magic.

The crimes the Cinque Dragownes tried were the following:

1. Evil Tending: magic with an inherently malevolent purpose
2. False Magic: pretending to do magic or promising to do magic which one either could not or did not intend to do
3. Selling magic articles, like rings, hats, coats, shoes, etc. to people who could not be expected to control those powerful articles
4. Pretending to be a magician or pretending to act on behalf of a magician
5. Teaching magic to a unsuitable person

Johnathan Strange & Mr. Norrell, Susanna Clarke

Post #52

Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell-Final Thoughts

I have finely completed my reading of Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell. I haven’t been reading as much as I normally do and most of my winter’s reading list will be moved to my spring reading.

The book, the first by Susanna Clarke, was over 1000 pages with some very fine print.

The book is divided into three volumes:

Volume 1: Mr. Norrell: I found the first volume interesting and good reading.

Volume 2: Jonathan Strange: it started off interesting, but got bogged down with a lot trifling details, or was it I who got bogged down?

Volume 3: John Uskglass: the last and most interesting and I found myself reading through this section at a good clip. It was hard to put the book down at this point.

Overall the book was interesting and a very good read. You might have noticed I made many posts from this text. (I still a few more posts to make, just need to get them transcribed).

Having seen the BBC TV series and as frequently is the case, the book provided more detail and gave me a more intimate understanding of its characters.

Agrace

When Strange had successfully conjured up his first Fairy, he thought we would have his questions about magic answered. “How would I go about turning myself into a bear? Or a fox? What are the names of the three magical rivers that flow through the Kingdom of Agrace?1” And although Strange asked the fairy these question the fairy would not even answer one of his questions.

Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrel, Susanna Clarke

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1Agrace is the name sometimes given to John Uskglass’s third kingdom. This kingdom was thought to lie on the far side of Hell.

Books on Magic by Peter Watershippe

“The Faire Withering, published in 1444, is a remarkable book that features a detailed account on how English magic declined after John Uskglass left England. Although the text contains many precise accounts of spells, many reviewers consider this text to be an angry book, but not so as Watershippe’s two other books:

A Defense of my Deeds while Wrongfully Imprisoned by my Enemies in Newark, 1459-60
Crimes of the Faire King, 1461?"

Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, Susanna Clarke

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Interesting Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell entry on Board Game Geek

I cannot say I know what to make of the "The History and Practice of English Magic" page other than it is some sort of game based off Susanna Clarke's novel; an interesting find, at any rate...seems to be a complete list of all the texts mentioned within the Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell novel.