Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell

I came to read this book because someone mentioned it to me as an example of the “alternate history” genre, and I was curious about that. I was drawn in by the world of fairies and by the intricacies of the story, such as footnotes referring to fictional historical works and folklore. When I finished it, I had to go back and read it again right away. The story incorporates a lot of folklore about fairies, and involves two magicians disputing about the proper use of magic, set in the time of the Napoleonic wars. I found myself thinking about whether the book was a social commentary, and if it was, what kind of commentary it was making. I had one half-baked idea about the book offering a commentary on what it means to be English, based on a major event at the end of the book. I'd love to talk about this book with someone.