Reading the Chunksters discussion

With this section we reach the halfway point, which covers chapters 32 to 35. Strange meets the King, and starts to detect a link between madness and magic. Stephen has more adventures with the gentleman with thistledown hair, and Strange is tempted into demonstrating magic.

Chapter summaries (beware spoilers):
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32. The King

A group of nobles comes to see Norrell about the King’s madness. Norrell says he cannot help, but they ask Strange, who wants to try. His problem is that the King’s doctors, the Willis brothers, keep him in strict isolation and control who sees him. Strange travels to Windsor Castle, and casts spells to ensure he can enter undetected. He sees a picture of two kings, Edward III and John Uskglass, the magician king of Northern England. He persuades the reluctant servants to allow him into the King’s chamber. The king looks past him and addresses someone Strange can’t see about Lost-hope. Strange persuades the King to come outside with him. They find their way out into the park. The King’s doctors come out and argue that he needs to come in. They explain their three principles of his treatment, which Strange thinks are inhuman – they are intimidation, isolation and restraint. The King plays a tune on the flute and the park’s stone statues converge on the Willises throwing water on them. This makes Strange uncomfortable, as he is not responsible for this magic.

33. Place the moon at my eyes

Having disposed of the doctors, the King tells Strange of the ruin of his Kingdom, and of the silver-haired gentleman. They here the flute, and the King follows the music towards some trees. Strange tries to persuade him to return to the castle. The flute plays another tune, and the King tells Strange that the tune is for him, and his treatment by his wicked master. Strange starts to see his life in a new light. The King loses his red nightcap. Strange picks it up and forgets everything except the moon. He eventually manages to apply a spell to himself and the King, and to persuade the King to return to the castle and do his duty to England. Strange returns to London, and tells Norrell some of what has happened, but leaves out the magical events. He mentions fairies, and Norrell tells stories about fairies and their relationships with mad people who can see them when others can’t. Strange reports back to the royal dukes that he has failed to cure the King’s madness.

34. On the edge of the desert

Stephen meets the gentleman with thistle-down hair again. They find themselves in a strange town where all of the people are very old, and it changes into a desert, which the gentleman tells Stephen is Africa. He tells of Strange’s visit to the King and how Strange’s interference has upset his plans to make Stephen King of England. He asks Stephen what he should do about the magician. He suggests imprisoning him in a carpet for 1000 years, but fears what would happen after that. He vows to make the magicians wish that they had never taken up magic.

35. The Nottinghamshire gentlemen

While Strange was away at the war, Drawlight and Lascelles were able to resume their influence over Norrell. Drawlight resents Strange’s return. A portrait is made of Norrell and Strange. Drawlight talks about the library at Hurtfew. Strange comes to Norrell to ask a question. Norrell says he is working on calming the storms on England’s East coast, and Strange helps him. Norrell tells Strange of a magical path that connects all of the world’s mirrors. Arabella comes to Strange as he is struggling to finish an article for the Gentlemen’s Magazine. She suggests trees and magic as a topic. Arabella asks Strange about a young lady who has been claiming that Strange is teaching her magic, to which Strange denies all knowledge. Later Strange is playing billiards at a club with Walter Pole, but they are distracted by an argument. Grant is also there. Two country gentlemen arrive asking to use the table. They say that they are farmers from Nottinghamshire who have come to London due to their interest in magic. One says that the other (Tantony) is being instructed in magic by Strange by letters. He quotes some advice that Strange remembers giving, he also remembers that Drawlight heard this. Strange introduces himself to the gentlemen and tells them that they have been duped. The gentlemen don’t believe him, and Grant testifies to his work with the army in Spain, and suggests a demonstration of magic. Pole tells him that Strange will walk into the mirror and will not return to them.
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I've been enjoying these chapters. There's quite a lot of intrigue developing around the Gentleman with the Thistle Down Hair. I have my theories about who he may be - not sure if I'm way off. I like the insidiousness of him visiting Arabella while Strange was away and then of speaking to the mad King. I'm enjoying the storyline about the imposter Strange teaching magic by correspondence.

Holly wrote: "I've been enjoying these chapters. There's quite a lot of intrigue developing around the Gentleman with the Thistle Down Hair. I have my theories about who he may be - not sure if I'm way off. I li..."

I agree with you Holly, the book is getting much more entertaining! It seems like it is a series of interconnected stories with a lot of dry humor and amusing tidbits. I felt terrible for the poor King trapped by the Willis brothers! It will be interesting to see how the King situation plays out, and if there is a transfer of power, and to whom that might be. Sounds like Drawlight is the one who is scheming as the imposter Strange!

I loved the parts with King George III, his awful family and the spells that Strange put on the Willis brothers. I think Clarke mixes up the entertaining and the sinister really well.

Pamela wrote: "I loved the parts with King George III, his awful family and the spells that Strange put on the Willis brothers. I think Clarke mixes up the entertaining and the sinister really well."

Exactly! So far the sinister seems to be playing a lesser role, it will be interesting to see if that changes. If black magic begins to prevail, that could be!

I’m starting 32 now so catching up. I like the interlinking stories style, it helps me I think with such a long book (to have some variety in characters and plot). I’m starting to feel quite invested now, though overall I can’t say this has pulled me in to the extent I would have liked. I’m still more impressed with the feat of imagination, than absorbed in the story. But I’m getting there. Stephen, in particular, is an interesting character/ story line for me.