Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell cover art

Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell

 Preview
Try Premium Plus free
1 credit a month to buy any audiobook in our entire collection.
Access to thousands of additional audiobooks and Originals from the Plus Catalogue.
Member-only deals & discounts.
Auto-renews at $16.45/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell

By: Susanna Clarke
Narrated by: Neil Gaiman, Richard Armitage, V.E. Schwab
Try Premium Plus free

$16.45 per month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $37.99

Buy Now for $37.99

About this listen

Bloomsbury presents Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke, read by Richard Armitage with Neil Gaiman and an introduction by V E Schwab.

The 20th anniversary edition of the fantasy classic.

‘The book I wish I'd written’ R F Kuang
‘Susanna Clarke writes with an intelligence and beauty that seems at times miraculous’ Katherine Rundell

1806. England is beleaguered by the long war, and centuries have passed since magicians faded from view. But one remains: the reclusive Mr Norrell. Proceeding to London, he raises a woman from the dead and summons an army of ghostly ships to terrify the French.

Yet the cautious Norrell is challenged by the emergence of another magician. Young, handsome and daring, Jonathan Strange is his very antithesis. So begins a dangerous battle between these two great men – which overwhelms that between England and France. And soon their own secret dabblings with the dark arts are going to cause more trouble than they can imagine…

'Like Hilary Mantel, Clarke has made the very notion of genre seem quaint' Guardian

©2024 Susanna Clarke (P)2024 Bloomsbury Publishing Plc Fantasy Genre Fiction Historical Magical Realism Movie, TV & Video Game Tie-Ins England Magic Users

Critic Reviews

'Clarke creates a world beyond our wildest imagination that also tells us something profound about what it is to be human' (BERNARDINE EVARISTO)

'What a world Susanna Clarke conjures into being' (DAVID MITCHELL)

'A miraculous and luminous feat of storytelling' (MADELINE MILLER)

'Purely joyful reading' (NAOMI ALDERMAN)

'Admirably inventive, frequently delightful' (MICHEL FABER)
All stars
Most relevant  
It was an epic journey full of magic and mystery. Loved all the footnotes and the stories within a story. Very intricate and detailed. Yes, it was long but enjoyably so !

Awesome adventure into the world of Magic

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Disclaimer: the presence of Neil Gaiman may be of concern. His performance does occur throughout the book, not just an intro. Do with that as you will.

Clarke's novel is one of the best fantasy works of the recent past. This audiobook is equally magnificent. The key is the characters, who are so lifelike but also numerous. The narrator does a splendid job of keeping g everyone distinct, without slipping into pantomime. The Gentleman with the Thistledown Hair is a particular highlight, as is Mr. Norrell.

In short, it's a top-tier version of the tale for those who want to listen.

Stellar

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
wonderful and wonderous. an amazing ride of amazing imagination. oh for another chapter in the story

amazing story

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Richard Armitage does a brilliant job of bringing this modern classic to life. For such a long book, my attention never wavers.

Perfect in every way

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
This is an excellent book that blends rich 19th-century atmosphere with intricate fantasy. Set in an alternate England where magic is real but nearly forgotten. Clarke’s writing style perfectly captures the tone of the era, complete with dry wit, historical detail, and a touch of Gothic eeriness. If you love Austen-esque prose, richly developed characters, and a slow-burning but rewarding plot, this book is a must-read.

Outstanding!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Clarke is a master. I’m already a big lover of fantasy, but this is the first book I’ve read that imbues a historical period with such fantastical magic and lore, and she does so with delightful whit and whimsy. Loved every character: grieving them already (oh, wait, there’s a follow-up: huzzah!). Thank you for writing it!!!

Gripped to the last

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
While Suzanne Clarke world building is fantastic the actual story was arduous and hard to stick with. It felt like it took so long to get to the point and then it was just over with very little resolve.

Pointlessly long

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.