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Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell
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Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell - Week 2
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Chapter 7 ends at a very crucial stage, I am intrigued by Mr. Norrell’s zeal to prove himself as well as his magic helpful and respectful .
I have to say there are too many people and too many side doings for my taste. I marvel at the author's imagination and her ability to make it all seem real but she loses me at times with her multitude of imaginative digressions.I'm in Volume 2 so I won't say anything about what happens next but I will say I find the thread about Emma Wintertowne the most compelling.
I’m really enjoying this and am forcing myself not to read ahead so that I can enjoy the anticipation! I like how Mr Norrell is so naive in London society and an easy prey for Drawlight to manipulate, but at the same time he’s not going to perform the party tricks that Drawlight wants. There’s a lot of sly humour in this section that I enjoyed.This all led up really well to the Emma Wintertowne scenario, looking forward to seeing what will happen next.
Mod
It is probably too early for me to talk about what I liked and disliked about the book as a whole, but I did think her command of the detail of her fictional world was very impressive, as was the well researched grounding in the history of the period.
I found this section to be a bit tedious as I was expecting more of a plunge into the actual practice of magic, but it looks like that may be forthcoming with Miss wintertowne! Do you guys like the protracted footnotes with side stories or find them distracting? I can't decide.
Mod
I find the footnotes entertaining. For me, they add to the overall building of the fantasy world.
I like the footnotes, too. I also enjoy that the author uses spellings like "connexion", "chuses" etc. It's how Jane Austen spelled those words and for me it makes the book feel more grounded in the Regency period.
Surprisingly, the footnotes work fairly well in audio. I enjoy them overall but agree some seem intentionally tedious, as Hugh described. .I took a break from this for a few weeks after starting early so will pick back up. Mr Norrell’s naïveté in this section endeared me to him.
I hadn't read for a while as was finishing a uni assignment so I'm just catching up. I must say some of the footnotes I enjoy and others I realise I'm not paying attention to and my mind is just wandering off. I'm really intrigued by the Raven King - I know he is a historical character but I feel like there is some foreboding that he will come back in some way in the story either literally (is the Miss Wintertowne coming back from the dead laying the groundwork for him coming back from the dead?) or just in some other significance. Is the name Wintertowne significant in some way? Is there a Venice connection there?
I will carry on reading and catch you all up in the next 2 weeks' discussions.
Chapter summaries (which are full of spoilers and probably far too long):
(view spoiler)[
4. The Friends of English Magic
Mr Norrell is the dullest man in Yorkshire. Childermass tells him several things he knows, and advises him to go to London. Norrell agrees with most of what he says, but wishes he hadn’t asked Segundus to write to the Times as he feels he will get the facts wrong. He cites the case of a Captain Baines, who was said to have continued giving orders on his ship as his leg was being amputated. Segundus’s letter is published (entitled “Extraordinary Occurrences in York: An Appeal to the Friends of English Magic”), to great interest, and Norrell decides to go to London. Childermass finds him a house in Hanover Square. Norrell finds it small compared to his Yorkshire home, especially the library. Norrell is invited to a party by a Mrs GODESDONE to meet her friend Mr DRAWLIGHT. Norrell is minded to refuse but Childermass talks him round. They arrive and find a large group of around 100 people. Norrell finds nobody to talk to but listens to conversations in which he is mentioned. Giving up on finding anyone to talk to, he finds a bookcase and starts reading. He hears two men discussing his absence Norrell introduces himself to them, having discovered that they have seen Childermass and had assumed he was the magician. DRAWLIGHT introduces himself and introduces his friend LASCELLES.
5. Drawlight
The next morning Norrell talks to Childermass about Drawlight. Childermass assures him that Drawlight is not the agent of a magician, and cannot harm him. Childermass has discovered that Drawlight is an idler, gambler and drinker. Drawlight comes to visit them. Norrell explains that he has come to London to practice magic but finds social life hard. Drawlight offers to help. Norrell agrees to go with Drawlight to another dinner, and this goes well, so he employs Drawlight as a guide to London society. Drawlight advises him on the décor of the house and takes him to a shop. Lascelles questions Norrell about magic. Norrell says there are no magicians in London, but is told there are plenty at street corners, led by VINCULUS, Norrell declines Drawlight’s offer to take him to see Vinculus. A Mrs Littleworth asks Norrell about the Raven King. Norrell admits that he existed but claims his influence on English magic was deplorable. Norrell denies using faerie servants. [there are lengthy footnotes here about the Raven King]. Drawlight starts to get bored with Norrell and spreads his own inventions about Norrell’s exploits, which become popular. Norrell also gets restless, and asks Drawlight if the Prime Minister Lord Portland has been informed of his arrival in London. Drawlight declines to introduce Norrell to his own contacts in government, but Norrell manages to use a chain of contacts to obtain an interview with Sir WALTER POLE, a government Minister.
6. “Magic is not respectable, sir.”
The Cabinet and Walter Pole are described. Pole has a famous expression of surprize. He has significant debts. Pole is pleased that Norrell is not his idea of a practical magician, to which Norrell says he is, but unlike the others he is no charlatan. He offers his help in the war against the French. He sees an ill young woman on a sopha in the corner, who is introduced as Miss Emma WINTERTOWNE, Pole’s fiancée, a rich heiress. Her mother Mrs Wintertowne tells Norrell about her bad experience with a magician and her mistrust of faerie magic. Emma speaks up for magicians. Pole rejects Norrell’s offer of help, and leaves him wondering if he should have demonstrated some magic, but thinks that Mrs Wintertowne wouldn’t have approved.
7. An opportunity unlikely to occur again
Drawlight arrives at Norrell’s house and informs him that Emma is dead. He reports that no physician was allowed to see her because of Mrs Wintertowne’s distrust of the profession. Norrell thinks about how dangerous it might be to attempt to bring her back from the dead. Drawlight advises him to try, but Norrell worries about the possibie consequences. Drawlight goes to see Sir Walter, reporting that he was initially against the idea but was talked round by Mrs Wintertowne. They summon Norrell. They arrive, and Norrell asks to speak to Sir Walter privately, and tells him he thinks he can bring him good news. He insists on seeing Emma alone. Mrs Wintertowne want to go too, and Drawlight and Lascelles join Norrell in going to Emma’s room.
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