Set in an alternate England, a society of magicians, capable of only theoretical discussions, is shocked when Mr. Norrell demonstrates his true magical powers. Norrell is a scholar, with a disciplined approach to magic and a disdain for most historical magicians of England. His pupil, Jonathan Strange, is in many ways his opposite, a romantic with a more slapdash approach.

I really cannot praise this book enough. It gripped me from the very beginning and kept in its grasp until the end of its over 1000 pages. Clarke has created an immensely detailed world, including many footnotes to its fictional history. To me, the story wasn't anywhere near the main point here: I could have read this book and been happy even if things didn't come together in the end. It was just such a joy to read, I didn't always even care that there was a story being told, I just enjoyed the descriptions of the people and their interactions and conflicts. Norrell and Strange form such a great teacher-pupil pair, though maybe a bit clichéd: the pupil surpasses the teacher and the insecure teacher is jealous.

I took this book from the meeting of finnish bookcrossers at Suomenlinna in the beginnig of June. I have always wanted to read this book.