I obsessively love the novel by Susanna Clarke. (I so wish she'd write another). The book is a whimsical set of fairy stories tied together with a through narrative, but what underpins it is a lost and haunting mythology of England where a legendary figure towers over all magical events - The Raven King.Dramatising such an expansive work of creative genius could've destroyed the tone and atmosphere of the original book; but no, it was beautifully rendered in almost every way.However, were I at the helm, I might've altered a detail or two. Like mumbling actors! Paul Kaye was engaging as Vinculus but the director could've told him to speak clearly because his lines are utterly vital - they're prophesies. Also, some of the casting was arguable - for example, Alice Englert as Lady Pole seemed unsympathetic and unrefined. I imagined that character as being the perfect Regency young lady, like Jane Bennet is in 'Pride and Prejudice' and for that reason, her vulnerability to peril is made more tragic. But on the other hand, it didn't occur to me that Childermass should be cast with a gravelly-voiced Heathcliff type. Enzo Cilenti became the sexy Poldark of the piece and it worked well.But all in all - it was the best TV adaptation I've seen in years. If only The Raven King were real and could return again to rescue England from the other drivel that passes for televisual entertainment these days.

My review contains mild spoilers: "Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell," Susannah Clarke's clever alternate history novel set in England during the Napoleonic wars, was no literary gimmick in the manner of "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies" or "Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter." It was an impressive piece of fantasy literature which served as the basis for the outstanding 2015 BBC mini-series of the same name.If anything, the 900+ page story, adapted into a 7-part mini-series, seems like the prologue to a larger tale. I am reviewing the mini-series, and am hoping with many other viewers, and readers, that there will soon be a sequel.The central conflict in the story, from my perspective, concerns the pursuit of knowledge. Norrell and Strange have diametrically opposed attitudes to magical knowledge: While Norrell is inclined to keep secret, and hoard, magical knowledge, Strange thinks that knowledge should be dispensed freely to everyone who desires to use it, without sufficient awareness of the possibility that some might misuse it. The story's chief villain, the Gentleman, dispenses knowledge selectively, and, also controls how others employ it, magically manipulating them to prevent them from revealing what they know.Eddie Marsan is brilliant as Gilbert Norrell, conveying the character's fearfulness, timidity, and selfishness, while revealing occasional glimpses of a more childlike, winsome personality that make it impossible for us to completely hate him even when he continually does the wrong thing. Bertie Carvel exudes offbeat charm (and sex appeal) as Jonathan Strange, the more adventurous, impulsive, and generous of the two magicians, but also the one whose arrogance in the pursuit of magical knowledge recalls the story of Baron Frankenstein. As for the supporting characters, I particularly liked Enzo Cilenti (also sexy) as Childermass, Paul Kaye as Vinculus (though I couldn't really distinguish his character from the one he plays on "Game of Thrones") and Alice Englert, as Lady Pole. (Is Englert really Jane Campion's daughter? Wow!)Samuel West, as Sir Walter Pole was good, as he always seems to be, in yet another thankless role, and Ariyon Bakare, Charlotte Riley, and Vincent Franklin were all excellent as Stephen Black, Arabella Strange, and Drawlight. I must confess I was not wild about Marc Warren, as the Gentleman (with the Thistledown Hair). Although he was good at conveying the character's malevolence, I never really believed he was from a different world, as he didn't seem in the least uncanny. One reviewer described him as "like Sting dressed as a Q-tip for Halloween" – he reminded me of a bad Malcolm McDowell imitation, dressed in a mix of glam and grunge. Without giving away plot points, I think the story's conclusion left plenty of room for a sequel. Now that magic has returned to England, I can't wait to see what happens next!

I enjoyed this book (it's one of my sons' top three books ever) and bringing this to the screen is a masterpiece of casting, use of sets, costume and effects. This would have been great on the big screen. I watched this with my wife who is not into fantasy type books or films and her summary at the end was "I loved it!" Eddie Marsans portrayal of Mr. Norrell is a masterpiece of characterisation but there are no weak portrayals anywhere in this. I've only given 9 stars rather than 10 because of the modern curse of sound recording and accent whereby realism takes precedence over clarity and there are a few lines where it's easy to miss what has been said and I found myself going back to listen again. This is infrequent enough to be only a minor criticism. Overall, even for no fantasy lovers, this is well worth watching.

Having anticipated this show for quite some years, I was anxious about what the BBC would make of my my favourite book. However, I had no need to worry, as they captured the tone of Susanna Clarke's masterpiece of a novel perfectly: dark and creepy, yet at the same time eerily beautiful. All of the cast are superb, never have I seen actors bring such life and vibrance to a character as Enzo Cilenti has done to the relatively small role of Childermass. Bertie Carvel is also an astounding Jonathan Strange, played perfectly alongside satisfyingly mousy Eddie Marsen as Mr. Norrell. Very pleasing performances by Charlotte Riley and newcomer Alice Englert as the two female leads. The combination of music and setting brings a wonderful charm to this work of art, creating an enchanting atmosphere. All in all 10 out of 10.