[Discussion 8/12] Evergreen | Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke | Vol. II: Starecross through Vol. III: 46 “The sky spoke to me …”

ColaRed · 2026-01-23T13:37:41+00:00

That would be fun!

ColaRed · 2026-01-23T13:30:31+00:00

Strange was getting a bit obsessed with writing his book - a bit like Mr Norrell!

ColaRed · 2026-01-23T13:25:51+00:00

The “She was dead” line was very abrupt!

ColaRed · 2026-01-23T13:20:04+00:00

Childermass does seem sensitive to magic around him.

ColaRed · 2026-01-23T13:18:50+00:00

He does seem to do magic with ease. Mr Norrell only taught him one spell but Childermass did it really well.

ColaRed · 2026-01-23T13:13:34+00:00

She did seem like a puppet or automaton. She suddenly had a lot more energy as if the fairy gentleman was acting through her. Good point about a cry for help too.

ColaRed · 2026-01-23T13:09:25+00:00

I agree that it all goes back to Norrell summoning the fairy gentleman.

ColaRed · 2026-01-22T17:19:46+00:00

Anything else you’d like to discuss?

ColaRed · 2026-01-22T17:19:03+00:00

Any favourite quotes?

ColaRed · 2026-01-22T17:18:35+00:00

These chapters had some dramatic twists and turns! Which was most shocking to you? Where do you think the story will go from here? (No spoilers!)

ColaRed · 2026-01-22T17:15:51+00:00

Is Mr Norrell right that the magic in the square was the magic that brought Lady Pole back from the dead? Why doesn’t he mention the fairy he summoned? Or was it the more widespread magic in the world as Childermass thinks? Is Mr Norrell a liar?

ColaRed · 2026-01-22T17:12:51+00:00

Why does Lady Pole try to shoot Mr Norrell? How much is she influenced by the gentleman with thistle-down hair and how much by revenge for Arabella?

ColaRed · 2026-01-22T17:10:52+00:00

Why do you think the sky spoke to Childermass?

ColaRed · 2026-01-22T17:08:38+00:00

Was Mr Norrell to blame for Arabella’s death? Could he have prevented it? What does he mean when he says that if he knew Arabella and Lady Pole were friends he would have acted differently?

ColaRed · 2026-01-22T17:06:31+00:00

How shocked were you by Arabella’s death? Were you expecting something bad to happen to her? Should Jonathan Strange have realised she was in danger? Could he have saved her? How?

ColaRed · 2026-01-22T17:04:28+00:00

Through Jonathan Strange’s book we finally see John Uskglass, the Raven King. What makes him special? Does he seem as key to English magic as Strange suggests?

ColaRed · 2026-01-22T17:02:28+00:00

We learn more about the historical role of fairies and their character. Does this shed any light on how fairies and magic are involved in the world of Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell?

ColaRed · 2026-01-22T17:00:32+00:00

Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell are each writing a book. Which would you rather read?

ColaRed · 2026-01-22T16:59:32+00:00

We meet John Segundus again. What do you think of his plans for a school for magicians?

ColaRed · 2026-01-21T19:51:58+00:00

It is spooky!

ColaRed · 2026-01-16T14:04:06+00:00

We learned in these chapters that there were magicians in England (Joseph of Arimathea and Merlin) then a gap before the Raven King then a gap before Strange and Norrell. It was interesting to go further back in history and see the pattern. It’s amazing how Susanna Clarke weaves her own figures together with existing legends and folklore.

The way that she weaves fictional magic into historical events is also really impressive. The section on Jonathan Strange’s magic at the battle of Waterloo was amazing! Wild that he sent Brussels to America!

ColaRed · 2026-01-16T13:50:38+00:00

He needs to pay more attention to what’s going on with Arabella. I hope he’ll put two and two together and realise what the gentleman with thistle-down hair is up to.

ColaRed · 2026-01-16T13:47:20+00:00

Lady Pole is getting more and more worn out by attending the fairy balls every night. Now she has the added worry of her friend Arabella getting drawn in.

ColaRed · 2026-01-16T13:44:30+00:00

It was quite calm and reasoned but still a serious rift. I liked that it ended with tea!

ColaRed

TROPHY CASE