Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell (20th Anniversary Edition) Audiobook By Susanna Clarke cover art

Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell (20th Anniversary Edition)

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Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell (20th Anniversary Edition)

By: Susanna Clarke
Narrated by: Richard Armitage
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About this listen

"Richard Armitage...steps in and sweeps us away on his deep, velvety voice, one much worth the marathon listening time. Listeners will know they are in for a treat immediately as they hear his voice change between reading the front matter and the first moments of the novel...this new edition offers improved sound quality, Schwab's narration, and a standout delivery from Armitage. A must-buy."—Booklist

This program is read by Richard Armitage, with a new introduction written and read by V.E. Schwab.

Winner of the World Fantasy Award, the Hugo Award, and the Locus Award for Best First Novel

At the dawn of the nineteenth century, two very different magicians emerge to change England's history. In the year 1806, with the Napoleonic Wars raging on land and sea, most people believe magic to be long dead in England—until the reclusive Mr Norrell reveals his powers, and becomes a celebrity overnight.

Soon, another practicing magician comes forth: the young, handsome, and daring Jonathan Strange. He becomes Norrell's student, and they join forces in the war against France. But Strange is increasingly drawn to the wildest, most perilous forms of magic, straining his partnership with Norrell, and putting at risk everything else he holds dear.

A Macmillan Audio production.

©2024 Susanna Clarke (P)2024 Macmillan Audio
Action & Adventure Gaslamp Historical Movie, TV & Video Game Tie-Ins Funny France Magic Users
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Critic reviews

Time Magazine #1 Book of the Year « Book Sense Book of the Year « People Top Ten Books of the Year « Winner of the Hugo Award « A New York Times Notable Book of the Year « Salon.com Top Ten of 2004 «Winner of the World Fantasy Award « Nancy Pearl's Top 12 Books of 2004 « Washington Post Book World's Best of 2004 « Christian Science Monitor Best Fiction 2004 « San Francisco Chronicle Best Books of 2004 « Winner of the Locus Award for Best First Novel « Chicago TribuneBest of 2004 « Seattle Times 25 Best Books of 2004 « Atlanta Journal-Constitution Top 12 Books of 2004 « Village Voice "Top Shelf" « Raleigh News & Observer Best of 2004 « Rocky Mountain Newscritics' favorites of 2004 « Kansas City Star 100 Newsworthy Books of 2004 « Fort Worth Star-Telegram 10 Best Books of 2004 « Hartford Courant Best Books of 2004

“Clarke's imagination is prodigious, her pacing is masterly and she knows how to employ dry humor in the service of majesty.”—The New York Times on Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell

“What kind of magic can make an 800-page novel seem too short? Whatever it is, debut author Susanna Clarke is possessed by it.”—USA Today on Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell

“Utterly enchanting. [Clarke's] union of historical fiction and fantasy is fresh, it is surprising, and it will appeal to those who want nothing more than to be carried away to a world crafted by a superb storyteller.”—Denver Post on Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell

What listeners say about Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell (20th Anniversary Edition)

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Perfect pairing of story and reader

Fantastic audiobook production of one of my all-time favorite novels. Armitage’s delivery suites Clarke’s wry, period writing style perfectly, and he captures the diverse characters’ personalities masterfully.

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Top Tier Book

I have not read JSaMN since not long after it came out, so this listen was very much like reading it for the first time, again. It’s such a great read and Mr Armitage only adds to the experience. A deliberate, and intricate story told with humor and beautiful language. Such world building! The lore! The magic!

I dare not attempt to summarize. But…Alternate history? England? Magic. Napoleon. Gothic tale. Lord Byron. Prophesy! Reason! Unreason! Faerie! A Raven King!

And I cannot speak highly enough of Richard Armitage’s narration. So distinct, so rich, so good.

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Performance makes it worthwhile

This novel has a slow start. So much so I almost put the book down. But Armitage's narration kept me engaged enough. Once we meet Steven Black the story really picks up and captivates you. The language is beautiful and the world the author paints gorgeous. Hang in for the first 10 hours and be rewarded with fairies of the old world.

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36 hours may not have been enough

It is hard to know where to start. This is a marvelous book and the narration is superb. It does not get better than this in the audiobook universe. If you're up for a long listening experience, it might be worth a cross-country trip just for an excuse. The world created by the book, skillfully shoehorned into our own, is a fabulous work of the imagination, very convincing, and hard to leave. Richard Armitage's narration . . . to listen to 30 or so hours of a book and STILL enjoy it every time Mr. Norrell speaks, because of his accent and manner of speaking . . . he is one of the rare narrators who manages to hold onto 50 distinct voices and never gets on the readers' nerves. His women's voices are particularly well done.
I had my doubts whether anyone other than Dickens could hold my attention for this long, and this one sure did. Highly recommended.

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Captivating Storytelling

This story moves very slowly and subtly and at first I wasn’t sure how engaged I was with it. But it had enough intriguing details that suddenly I discovered I was hooked and dying to know where the story would go. It’s a fascinating and endlessly creative story but you have to be ready to treat this book like a slow, scenic walk. You can’t be in a rush, but you will be rewarded.

Mr. Armitage never disappoints. His reading and performance were exceptional, adding so much to the experience of the book.

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