This Fantasy Series With 92% on RT Is the Most Overlooked British Gem Ever

Susanna Clarke's historical fantasy Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell is as English as rain, tea and Sherlock Holmes.

And it is absolutely right that it was filmed by the BBC, with the participation of British actors, preserving both the letter and the spirit of the original.

What Is Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell About?

England at the beginning of the 19th century. But the history of this England, according to Susanna Clarke, is alternative. Three hundred years ago, the country was ruled by a certain Raven King, a powerful sorcerer who commanded the elements and the elves.

Magic was once commonplace in Britain, and at the beginning of the story it is only gone because with the departure of the Raven King, people somehow forgot how to cast spells.

The situation is changed by the main characters: the grumpy hermit Gilbert Norrell and his student, the young but talented Jonathan Strange. The two revive English magic, with Strange even using it to help the country in the war against Napoleon.

Susanna Clarke's Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell Was a Big Hit

Published in 2004, Susanna Clarke's epic novel immediately became a cult classic and was showered with awards. Readers loved how sophisticated it was, full of historical and literary allusions, stylized as 19th-century prose, and even mixed with Celtic mythology.

Fans sighed: why don't filmmakers make a movie out of this masterpiece? Finally, the BBC paid attention to the book. And they transferred it to the screen – diligently, close to the original, with good actors. Probably nobody could have done it better.

Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell Cast Is Impeccable

The casting here is perfect. Bertie Carvel is the Jonathan Strange we need. This is the kind of character viewers will fall in love with. Strange is both a slob and a smart aleck, combining the eccentricity of Doctor Who, the intelligence of the BBC's Sherlock Holmes, and the cuteness of a puppy.

Eddie Marsan's performance makes the unsociable Norrell understandable and likeable, even when he does not do the best things.

His weary smile never lets you forget that Norrell is not a villain or a scoundrel, but simply a man who knows too many dark secrets and wants to protect others from them.

Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell may not have all the literary charm of its source, but it remains a unique fantasy – surprisingly realistic, yet fabulous and phantasmagorical.

Where to Watch Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell?

Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell is available to stream on Prime Video.