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Content snapshot
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Violence
Some
Fairy magic causes disturbing harm; war is depicted; a character is trapped in an alternate existence
Language
None
No profanity; Clarke mimics 19th-century prose style
Sexual Content
Barely any
Brief romantic content
Substance Use
None
No substance use
Emotional Intensity
Some
The fairy world is psychologically disturbing; a long-term imprisonment in another reality is distressing
What this book is about
In early 19th-century England, the reclusive Mr. Norrell becomes the first practicing magician in centuries, then reluctantly takes on Jonathan Strange as a pupil. As their differing philosophies about English magic come into conflict, and Strange ventures into the fairy realm, Clarke's debut becomes a rich, deeply researched novel about power, ambition, and the price of knowledge.
Notes for sensitive readers
Reader-flagged moments and themes that may affect your experience.
A character trapped by fairies in a disturbing parallel existence for years
Dark fairy magic and its consequences
Themes of obsession and intellectual rivalry
Reader Verification
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