Sunday Story Ratings #04: Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell

[aesmael]

Originally published at a denizen's entertainment. You can comment here or there.

 

Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke

Originally published 2004; this edition 2005

Publisher: Bloomsbury

 

M

(H, L, D, V, Dis)

Strong Supernatural Themes

Minor Coarse Language

Mild Drug Use

Violence

Disturbing Themes - Not Otherwise Specified

 

Representations

Gender:

The majority of characters are male. Only rarely is there a female perspective.

Sex:

Scarcely alluded to, although there is a presumption of heterosexuality.

Race & Ethnicity:

One character is black English by way of Jamaica, the rest are white English (or non-human white). Various non-English or non-white characters appear briefly, with little detail, as background or asides.

Disability, Physical Diversity and Health:

A character dies of mysterious illness, but otherwise sickness has less presence than might be expected from early 19th century England. Madness is a strong, recurring theme from a magical perspective. Some presence of soldiers disabled or maimed by war.

 

Awards

Nominee: British Science Fiction Award, Novel

Nominee: International Horror Guild Award, Best First Novel

Winner: World Fantasy Award, Best Novel

Winner: Mythopoeic Fantasy Award for Adult Literature

Winner: Hugo Award, Best Novel

10th Place: Locus Poll Award, Best Fantasy Novel

1st Place: Locus Poll Award, Best First Novel

Nominee: Nebula Award, Best Novel

 

 

Forgot to post this for a couple of weeks, oops. Definitely enjoyed the reading of it. Toward the end I felt that, while To Reign in Hell is a tragedy and The Dark Room is a thriller, Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell is a storm. Am not surprised it received so much acclaim.

 

(but I don't do reviews. let's just say it was a slow start, but a very worthwhile start. and the back cover summary bore very little resemblance to the story at any point, when I bothered to look at that. there was plenty that was haunting and unsettling, but by the end I was left with a wistful smile. something I really needed from a story by then.)

 

Am also experimenting with broadening the classifiable elements as well, since I think this novel had some... impactful content that isn't covered under the Australian rating scheme. Am already adding my own eccentric flourishes with the supernatural content / themes (although that is something I have seen used on film and television) and counting alcohol and tobacco as drugs for rating purposes. Although at least on this occasion it doesn't carry the final rating on its own, as the Battle of Waterloo was plenty serious on its own. Oh, whatever. I suppose broadcasters tend to use something like "Horror elements" for stuff like that, but I neither want to nor feel it would be particularly fitting.

 

End post now, before flailing.