JONATHAN STRANGE & MR NORRELL 20th Anniversary Edition

Richard Armitage narrates the 20th Anniversary Edition of this sprawling fantasy with elegance. In 1806, the slightly pompous and painstakingly precise Mr. Norrell emerges from rural obscurity to proclaim himself the last true magician in England. As an epic story of the Napoleonic Wars and wizardry unfolds, audacious Jonathan Strange becomes, first, Norrell's pupil and, then, his greatest rival. Armitage adapts his resonant tones to deliver a wide array of regional English accents, most notably the soft Yorkshire cadence of Mr. Norrell. He also deftly incorporates the print novel's extensive footnotes into the audio. This production detail somewhat interrupts the flow but will reward attentive listeners who enjoy the references to Norrell's beloved magical tomes. V.E. Schwab enthusiastically narrates her introduction to the new edition. N.M. © AudioFile 2025, Portland, Maine [Published: JANUARY 2025]