Entertainment · TV & Streaming · 3 hrs ago
BBC’s Seven-Episode Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell Brings Magic to Regency Britain
The BBC adapted Susanna Clarke’s novel into a seven-episode fantasy series called Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell.
Set in early 19th-century Britain, it follows two magicians: the reserved Mr Norrell and the charismatic Jonathan Strange.
Their growing rivalry unfolds as magic returns to Britain, where Norrell makes a dangerous bargain to bring a politician’s dead fiancée back to life.
Strange uses his abilities to help Britain during the Napoleonic Wars, including by reanimating dead soldiers.
The story mixes historical settings with eerie magic, and explores ambition, grief and the pressure to appear respectable.
The novel’s length and dense footnotes made it difficult to adapt, but the BBC series won a 2016 BAFTA for Special, Visual & Graphic Effects.
The sources describe no further plans for the series.
The BBC adapted Susanna Clarke’s 800-page novel Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell as a seven-episode series.
The story follows two magicians, Mr Norrell and Jonathan Strange, who become rivals in early 19th-century Britain.
Norrell resurrects a politician’s dead fiancée through a bargain with a dangerous fairy.
Strange uses magic to support Britain’s efforts during the Napoleonic Wars.
The series won the 2016 BAFTA for Special, Visual & Graphic Effects.
- Who
- The series follows magicians Mr Norrell and Jonathan Strange.
- What
- The BBC adapted Susanna Clarke’s novel as a seven-episode fantasy series.
- When
- Not stated.
- Where
- Early 19th-century Britain.
- Why
- The story explores magic, respectability, grief and ambition.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
New Line Cinema optioned the novel, but the project later moved to the BBC after the company faced financial difficulty.
The British Film Institute named the series one of the 10 best British TV shows of the year.
The series won the BAFTA for Special, Visual & Graphic Effects.
- Episodes
- Seven
- Source novel
- Susanna Clarke’s 800-page Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell
- Setting
- Early 19th-century Britain
- BAFTA award
- 2016, Special, Visual & Graphic Effects
- British Film Institute recognition
- One of the 10 best British TV shows of 2015
What people are saying
I loved the book and I loved the adaptation. It does not need to be one or the other.