Reading the Chunksters discussion

Time for another instalment - this one covers chapters 36 to 39. Strange uncovers Drawlight's duplicity, Norrell wants to revive a magical court, Strange writes a controversial article, Strange has an uneasy meeting with Norrell and discovers that his wife has been seeing the gentleman with thistle-down hair.

Chapter Summaries (with spoilers)
(view spoiler)[
36. All the mirrors of the world

Hampstead is a village that is becoming a fashionable suburb of London. Drawlight goes there to see a young lady, who demands a meeting with Strange, which Drawlight says is impossible. Strange appears through the mirror and tells Drawlight he has met Tantony. Strange introduces the lady to Strange as Mrs Bulworth. She explains how she married and then fell in love with another man who she hoped to marry after divorcing her husband. Having helped her escape, the man deserted her and she had to return to her father, who imposed strict solitude on her. She recites a list of enemies and the revenges she would like them to receive. The last of them is Lascelles, under whose protection she left her husband’s house. Strange tells her that Drawlight has deceived her, and she sends Drawlight out. Strange tells her he does not do private commissions or hurt innocent people. The lady terminates the interview, and Strange has to walk back to London. On arrival at his house at 2 a.m. he is met by Grant and Walter Pole, and he tells them he has been in Hampstead. He describes his journey through the mirror, explaining that the King’s Roads are in disrepair and full of abandoned shoes. He plans to return the next day. Pole asks him of he has read every book on magic, if he knows where the Roads lead or what lands its bridges cross. He advises Strange to read more before exploring them again. The next morning Strange is still determined to try, but Arabella argues with him and eventually persuades him not to return to them until she has given her permission.

37. The Cinque Dragownes

Lascelles’ house, which was exquisitely furnished 7 years ago has been neglected since then. Lascelles has been appointed as joint editor of “The Friends of English Magic”. Drawlight comes to see him looking pale. Lascelles is annoyed with him for dealing with Mrs Bulworth. He tells Drawlight that Norrell is very angry with him. When Drawlight leaves, Lascelles tells his servant not to let him in if he tries to return. Meanwhile Norrell, Strange and Childermass discuss Drawlight’s treachery. Norrell proposes reviving the Cinque Dragownes, a court that John Uskglass set up to try magical crimes. Childermass points out that this would require 12 magicians, and that there are only two in England. Norrell proposes finding more, suggesting Segundus and Portishead and suggesting Childermass could find more. Norrell thinks hanging is the only just sentence for Drawlight. He is also angry with Strange for using the King’s Roads without consulting him. Strange suggests that they could act more independently of each other, and Norrell is shocked. Norrell takes his proposal for the Dragownes to Lord Liverpool, who declines to help or to grant Norrell any authority over his fellow magicians. The Drawlight case brings Norrell and Strange into public disrepute. For various reasons, Drawlight’s clients refuse to sue him, but other debtors pursue him and he is arrested and imprisoned. Strange tells Arabella that he has written a review of Portishead’s book, and asks the editor of the Edinburgh Review to publish it. He agrees and sends Strange a haggis as a present.

38. From The Edinburgh Review

This chapter reproduces Strange’s review in full. His main point is that it is wrong to deny or downplay John Uskglass’s importance to English magic.

39. The two magicians

Strange eventually calls on Norrell. The meeting starts with an uneasy silence. Norrell says he understands Strange’s position, and admits having had similar feelings himself in the past. Norrell says that he tried to contact John Uskglass but is glad that he failed, and believes Uskglass has deserted England and this is why they shouldn’t depend on him. Strange says that he thinks their collaboration is over, and Norrell pleads with him to reconsider. He offers Strange the keys to the library at Hurtfew. Strange is unmoved, and they take tea together for the last time. When Strange has gone, Lascelles calls on Norrell, who does not want to harm Norrell, but Lascelles warns him that Strange may turn against him. Norrell and Lascelles go on a journey. Strange calls on Walter Pole, who tells him that the Raven King learned magic without books, so perhaps he could do the same. Strange says that he and Arabella will return to Shropshire. Arabella makes a final visit to Lady Pole. Arabella tells Lady Pole of her husband’s love for her, which she admits but says it leaves her cold. Arabella tries to cheer her by saying that she hopes they will meet again in a ballroom, at which Lady Pole shudders. Lady Pole tries to tell her story again, and again finds herself speaking fairy words. On returning to her husband Arabella tells him that the gentleman with thistle-down hair is glad that he is turning towards John Uskglass. Strange goes to the Poles’ house in the hope of finding out more about this gentleman, but finds only a footman who denies all knowledge.
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Hugh, I think you have raced ahead! According to the schedule Week 10 is Chapters 36-39.

Pamela wrote: "Hugh, I think you have raced ahead! According to the schedule Week 10 is Chapters 36-39."

Sorry - you are right - I misread my document. Will edit the first post.

Thanks again for the chapter summaries Hugh, very helpful! In chapter 36, we once again see Strange's magic as partly deliberate and partly haphazard. So far this has not resulted in any great tragedy, but I am surprised that is the case! It seems lucky he ended up in the right place when he stepped through the mirror. In the rest of the section, we see Norrell and Strange embarking on separate paths. I was not terribly surprised by this, Strange seemed annoyed by Norrell from the very beginning and he is probably fairy self-sufficient by now, although I am sure he would have liked to see the secret libraries of Norrell's. Norrell seems susceptible to negative influences, so I fear what this division may mean. I am still not piecing together the significance of Lady Pole in the story, I imagine there is more to come on that front.