The Ladies of Grace Adieu and other stories by Susanna Clarke

The Ladies of Grace Adieu and Other Stories is another masterpiece by Susanna Clarke. It is a collection of eight short stories set mostly in England in the early 19th century. The stories are absolutely magical. Characters include Mary Queen of Scots, the Duke of Wellington, Jonathan Strange, and John Uskglass (the raven king) among others. Each story has that wonderful, magical charm that she put into every page of Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell. Fairies appear in many of her stories. I love her fairies because they are not your traditional fairies. One of my favorite stories in this collection is "Tom Brightwind or How the Fairy Bridge was Built at Thoresby". In this story, her fairy, Tom Brightwind, is six feet tall, has somewhat of a malicious side and has no wings at all. Another favorite is "On Lickerish Hill", which is Susanna Clarke's version of Rumplestiltskin.

What makes this book even more magical is Charles Vess' illustrations. The whole package of the book makes you feel like you hold a treasure in your hand. The cover is designed beautifully, the stories are magical, the pages of the book are antiqued, and the illustrations are just gorgeous. I feel special for owning a copy of the book. Charles Vess' illustrations are very Victorian looking and go wonderfully with the stories. I felt as if I were reading an old book of fairy tales from the 19th century complete with illustrations of the time and all. It's very easy to forget that this book was published in 2006.

Clarke truly is a master of her genre. She spins tales that become classics as soon as they're written and her use of the english language is simply beautiful. I can't wait to see what we can expect from her in the coming years. She has announced that she has somewhat of a sequel to Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell in mind, though it will probably take place after Strange and Norrell are long gone. I'm sure that whatever her brilliant mind produces next, it will be just as much of a pleasure to read as her first two books have been.

Good things come not only in small packages but sometimes in unique ones as well. The first thing a reader of Susanna Clarke's latest work, THE LADIES OF GRACE ADIEU, will notice is that the publisher flaunted contemporary convention by offering this hardcover without the obligatory dust jacket. The cover image is pressed directly onto the book: viney pink flowers on a dark gray background. The design immediately sets the book apart. And once the cover is opened and the spine cracked, the contents will surely continue to surprise and please readers.

THE LADIES OF GRACE ADIEU is written in the same genre-challenging prose of Clarke's previous bestselling book, JONATHAN STRANGE & MR NORRELL. It is not historical drama, though it's mostly set in 18th and 19th century England. It is not quite fantasy, though it's mostly concerned with magical and mystical creatures. And it's not a collection of fairy tales, though it's concerned with fairies. Or, more properly, Sidhe, as we are told in the introduction by Professor James Sutherland (another character of Clarke's). The Sidhe, Sutherland explains, "impinge upon our quotidian world" and Clarke's tales "create a sort of primer to Faerie and fairies."

All the stories are whimsical yet have a dark and deadly serious undercurrent; they are about the romance and appeal of magic but also its danger. Some tales in the collection are, of course, more successful than others. The title story is one of the best; in it, readers meet three women in the small village of Grace Adieu in Gloucestershire.

These ladies are more powerful than they first appear and wise in traditional magic and the ways of the Raven King. When the famed and charming magician Jonathan Strange shows up in the village, they challenge him in unexpected ways. More importantly, they are able to thwart the evil plans of Captain Winbright, the legal guardian of young Ursula and Flora, with whom Miss Tobias, one of the three titular ladies, is charged with raising. This first tale sets the stage for the rest: a world of spells and magic, enchanted woods and houses, figures both charming and diabolical. Even Mary, Queen of Scots makes an appearance.

Clarke's writing is beautiful and engaging, and her stories blend wit and darkness. However, while all the tales and characters are interesting, they are not always very original (Clarke's version of Rumpelstiltskin, for example). Furthermore, they are often just too short. It would be lovely to be able to lose yourself in these fantastic and colorful tales, but the book offers eight stories in fewer than 250 pages. Once you begin to get swept up in the plot and setting, it is off to the next.

Still, THE LADIES OF GRACE ADIEU is very readable and quite enchanting overall. Charles Vess's Victorian line drawing illustrations lend to the specialness of the volume. If nothing else, this book will keep Clarke's readers happy until her next full-length novel and create some new fans along the way. Her voice is unique and hard to define, and it might stray a bit too far off the beaten path to make this book recommendable to all readers. But those seeking literary adventure and huge imagination, coupled with a precise and unforgettable writing style, will find much to enjoy here.

--- Reviewed by Sarah Rachel Egelman

Susanna Clarke has a formidable imagination, as anyone who has read her novel, "Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell," can attest. In "The Ladies of Grace Adieu" she turns out eight delightful entertainments that show the multi-faceted nature of magic and its users, as well as some brief (fictional) footnotes providing historical details of English magic (a device also used to splendid effect in her "Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell"). The stories have an impressive range, showing how magic can be used for good, bad, and indifferent effects, and the different reactions people have to the art. Some characters fear magic, others courageously challenge it, some find ways to use it for their own gain, and still others are driven mad by the pursuit of it. Ms. Clarke's narratives eloquently take on the form of old English writings -- and her academic asides seamlessly compliment the fictional universe she has created. I admit to thinking that her novel was overly long, but my respect for her ability compelled me to experience her next work -- and short stories prove to be a great form for her to show off her unique vision and explore it in a more rounded way (fans of "Strange and Norrell" will be glad to know that Strange himself puts in an appearance, as does the elusive Raven King, John Uskglass). Truly, she is a writer of enormous talent and limitless creativity. I am utterly in awe of Ms. Clarke, and eagerly await whatever flight of fancy she comes up with next.

The moment I finished Susanna Clarke's wonderful first novel "Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell", I wished that there was more of it. It was a long wait, but finally the fans of Clarke's magically-soaked nineteenth-century Britain have a sequel - of sorts. Clarke presents eight short stories concerned with the presence of Faerie in England, and its influence on human inhabitants, all set in the same universe (with the same magical structure) as her previous work. However, it's more of a companion piece than a sequel, considering it does not continue the story told in her novel, but expands on several of its ideas and subplots.

This is particularly the case in the title story, "The Ladies of Grace Adieu", in which we find out why Jonathan Strange was so eager to remove his brother-in-law from the province of Gloucestershire (as mentioned in footnote 2, chapter 43 of "Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell"). The ladies in question are Mrs Field and her step-niece Miss Cassandra Parbringer, who are close friends with Miss Tobias, a young governess who is the warden of two young heiresses in a wealthy estate. When the women are confronted by both a gold-digging young captain and a suspicious Jonathan Strange, they take matters into their own hands - calling up their own magical arts.

It is a mysterious, charming and beautifully written story, capturing what her fans love best about Clarke's work: her delicate prose, her sense of humour, her grasp of the darker side of Faerie, and her refusal to tell the reader everything. Instead, we are given precisely what we need to make sense of the story, whilst many of the details are left mysteriously obscure. It is also the story that is most dependent on a reader's prior familiarity with "Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell", and though it is not essential that the masterwork be read first, it's certainly recommended.

"On Lickerish Hill" is an intriguing retelling of the Rumplestiltskin story, told in first-person narrative by a young wife who secures the help of a faerie-creature in completing the demands set to her by her husband. But can she pay the price demanded of her? Its most memorable feature is its use of Suffolk dialect to tell the tale. Here's an example of the prose used in the opening sentence:

"When I waz a child I lived at Dr Quince's on the other side of Lickerish Hill. Sometimes in a winters-twilight I have look't out of Dr Quince's windowe and seen Lickerish Hill (where the Pharisees live) like a long brown shippe upon a grey sea and I have seen far-awaie lights like silver stares among the dark trees."

The third story again pits a young woman against the tricky and selfish nature of Faerie, in the bittersweet and sometimes disturbing "Mrs Mabb". This time, a young woman called Venetia Moore is on the hunt for her lost love after the elusive Mrs Mabb steals him away. Hearing different accounts of her rival wherever she goes, Venetia goes on the hunt for the house in which she believes her sweetheart is being held prisoner, whilst her family worries for her personal sanity. With some creepy examples of memory-loss and the world bending into Faerie before one's eyes, Clarke certainly presents a feisty and brave young heroine, one prepared to brave the perils of a powerful faerie to win her beloved back.

"The Duke of Wellington Misplace his Horse" is a story of particular interest to anyone who has read Neil Gaiman's "Stardust", a story set in a village called Wall that was situated (aptly enough) near the wall that separates our world from Faerie. In this mostly-humourous tale, the Duke of Wellington chases his horse Copenhagen into Faerie where he happens upon a cottage. Inside is a young woman, embroidering a rather remarkable tapestry...

The next two stories are the longest ones to be found in the collection, and consequently my favourites, since Clarke has plenty of time and space to develop certain aspects of the story. "Mr Simonelli or The Fairy Widower" is told in journal-form by Mr Simonelli himself, who has been tricked by a rival-colleague of Corpus Christi College to accept an unsuitable position as clergyman in the country. He has not long arrived when he finds himself introduced to the enigmatic John Hollyshoes, a hitherto unknown relation to Simonelli. Finally understanding where his foreign appearance comes from, Simonelli sets himself against his fairy cousin, matching his fairy wits against his cousin's in order to secure the safety of his newfound community.

"Tom Brightwind: How the Fairy Bridge was Built at Thoresby" chronicles one of the adventures of the fairy-prince Tom and his unlikely friend David Montefiore, a Jewish physician. When David is called away to a patient, Tom tags along and the two are sidetracked at the village of Thoresby, which is in desperate need of a bridge. Tom takes up the challenge, promising to build the bridge in one night (whilst paying a visit to the magistrate's barren wife). It is a wonderful story about the personality of faeries and their relationship with both other faeries and human beings. Furthermore, it once more makes use of Clarke's famous footnotes, which are tidbits of knowledge scattered throughout "Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell" and always fun to divulge in.

"Antickes and Frets" explores the life of Mary Queen of Scots after her imprisonment and her dangerous game of cat and mouse with both Queen Elizabeth and the new mistress of her jail-house, Countess Shrewsbury. Although it's an interesting magical spin on the monarch's life, it has little to do with Faerie itself, save in the character of the Countess. Presumably she's a witch or sorceress of some kind, but in this case Clarke's decision to leave certain aspects of the tale untold is more frustrating than aptly enigmatic.

Finally, Clarke uses the core concept from her previous novel as the centre of the last story: John Uskglass, also known as the Raven King. "John Uskglass and the Cumbrian Charcoal Burner" pits the king of all magicians, the mortal child who was raised by fairies, the most powerful medium between earth and Faerie against a simple charcoal burner who calls upon various saints to seek revenge against the perceived slights done upon him by John Uskglass. It's not the strongest story in the collection, and sadly the enigmatic and powerful Raven King is (being the butt of the joke in this particular story) is sold a little short, and not at all the character as he appeared in "Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell".

What makes Clarke's stories (and novel) so appealing is her attention to scholarly detail. For example, all of the short stories are preceded by an introduction by (the fictional) Professor James Sutherland, Director of Sidhe Studies at the University of Aberdeen, who has organised this collection for our benefit, in the hopes that it will shed further light on the relationship between Faerie and humanity in this period. He mentions the work of other scholars in his field, the disagreements that arise in interpreting certain fairy lore, and the possible discrepancy between reality and the stories told (according to him, Mr Simonelli's journals should be read with a pinch of salt, considering that Simonelli abridged them several times). All of the work is given context in either history or folklore, and is often footnoted, which of course gives it a realistic depth that makes you feel as though the world of faerie really is being studied! Clarke doesn't just present Faerie, but the imaginary research that goes on by scholars *into* Faerie, and it makes her stories even more enjoyable to read.

Clarke doesn't just write fantasy, as her character portraits are vivid and sympathetic (though obviously not quite as in-depth in short stories), as are the human relations found throughout the stories. Friends, parents, sisters, rivals, family members - all these relationship are wonderfully captured throughout, between both human and faerie individuals. She's also quite a humourous author, and is obviously a fan of Jane Austen's precise, delicate prose. Clarke perfectly captures the form and feel of an Austen novel, and the manners and decorum of a Jane Austen novel is perfectly balanced against the wildness and danger of Faerie.

This collection is a wonderful companion piece to "Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell", and once again whets my appetite for even more stories from this talented author. Definitely recommended, even to those who don't usually read fantasy.

Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell: A Novel

The Ladies of Grace Adieu is a collection of short stories that Susanna Clarke released as a follow-up to her first novel, Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell. Clarke delivers a variety of tales in this collection, some based on previous tales (such as Rumpelstiltskin) and some of her own creation, all based on the land of Faerie. In this collection, she revisits Johnathan Strange, the Duke of Wellington, and even has a story that takes place in the world of Neil Gaiman's Wall.

I recommend reading each story separately, as opposed to reading the book in one sitting. I give the book 5 stars, but only based on reading my copy in this same fashion, through a recommendation from someone else. I feel that the stories may loose something of their value if all read at the same time, as each of the stories basically deals with the same subject: the creatures of Faerie versus the people of the "real" world. While each story is unique of itself, since each story does in fact deal with something of the same subject each time, reading them altogether may be somewhat tedious.

I enjoyed Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell and felt that this was a suitable follow-up. After reading The Ladies of Grace Adieu, I anxiously await Clarke to whisk me away again to land of Faerie with her next novel.

Having been disappointed with most of what I'd been reading lately, I decided to read this book even though I'm not a short story fan, because Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell is an absolutely brilliant book. And I was in the mood for something I knew would be good.

And it is good. These eight short stories, set in the same imagined England as Clarke's novel, share much of its atmosphere and wit. As is to be expected, they're also very well-written, in the same sort of nineteenth-century language as the novel. I enjoyed them--particularly the title story, "Mrs Mabb," "Mr Simonelli" and "Tom Brightwind," all longer stories dealing with the relationships between people and the magical world.

But I can't say this collection has converted me into a fan of short stories--I find I have little to say about it. They're certainly well-done, but it's Clarke's next novel that I'm really waiting for.

Susanna Clarke made a dazzling debut with "Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell," which was the sort of fantasy story that Jane Austen would have written. Still fresh from her first bestseller, she presents a new array of captivating stories in "The Ladies of Grace Adieu." But expect it to be more whimsical.

The title story takes place in the magical Regency period of her debut: dull Mr. Field remarries after his wife died, and his pretty second wife, his niece, and a friend soon become good friends. When Mr. Strange passes by on a family errand, he discovers that there is more -- these ladies are all magicians, and have quietly escaped the boundaries placed by society.

From there on, Clarke trips through a series of strange, fantastical stories: when a young newlywed finds that her rich hubby expects her to spin flax, she asks for help from a nasty little fairy, who will kidnap her if she doesn't guess his name. Think a Regency "Rumplestiltskin."

Then a young lady tries to regain her boyfriend from the mysterious "Mrs. Mabb"; a Duke changes his destiny with a pair of scissors and a needle; a Jewish doctor and a fairy nobleman travel through England; the Queen of Scots becomes fascinated by an embroidered figure; and a young pastor finds himself enmeshed with a cruel fairy lord. One of the stories is even set in the world of Neil Gaiman's "Stardust."

"The Ladies of Grace Adieu and Other Stories" is more fantasy and less history than the full-length novel, although it leans more heavily on history. But then, most of these short stories may not be in the same universe, and they range from whimsical little fluff pieces to almost-horror.

Clarke still writes with the solid nineteenth-century style, flavoured with shimmering descriptions of "Pharisees" and odd creatures, although Clarke occasionally skimps on just what "goblin babies" look like.
The second story is also amusingly written in much-mispelled English ("...lookes at me with his bewtiful Eyes..."), and Clarke peppers the other stories with older words like "shewed."

There are also some deeper moments, where Clarke approaches the lack of freedom given to women (magical or not) where they only have marriage to a well-off dullard to look forward to. And though the shorter stories are not much more than fables, the longer ones have intriguing characters who are likable in an understated way.

"The Ladies of Grace Adieu and Other Stories" is a solid little collection, more whimsical than Clarke's first book. Very pleasant Regency "Pharisee" tales.

I love folklore and fairytales, and I love strong female characters. So it's no surprise that I love love love The Ladies of Grade Adieu & Other Stories. This collection of eight short stories by Susanna Clarke puts a fresh, dark spin on the world of Faerie. Aside from the stellar writing, the beautifully executed illustrations by Charles Vess make this book a treasure.

The characters in this book range from vengeful queens, to impish sprites, to the great Raven King himself. Even Johnathan Strange and Mr. Norrell (from Susanna Clarke's previous novel) make an appearance in one tale. Each story is very different, yet so familiar because of the timeless folkloric style. If you've ever read one of Andrew Lang's fairy books (e.g. The Red Fairy Book), you would not be surprised to find any of these stories among them although are often written as memoirs and dialect.

Although it is very difficult to choose a favorite, I really loved "On Lickerish Hill" and "Mrs. Mabb." "On Lickerish Hill" tells the story of a young girl who marries abover her station and accomplishes magical tasks with the aid of a fairy. This particular one is actually based on a Suffolk tale called Tom Tim Tot, which is a variant along the lines of Rumplestiltskin. "Mrs. Mabb" tells the story of a young girl who seeks to wrest her intended from a faerie spell. Both have that fascinating mix of strangeness and familiarity that we find in the best fairytales-- the magic is so peculiar but the story feels like something the reader has known forever.

I sincerely hope that more books like this become available. This blend of old-- dare I say, "olde"-- and new seems to be a trend in literature as we seek to refresh our favorite works. At this, Susanna Clarke is masterful, and The Ladies of Grace Adieu & Other Stories is a gem.

With the tremendous success of 'Harry Potter,' there should be no questions that other publishers would also add magical books to their line. Susanna Clarke's addition to this genre started with 'Johathan Strange and Mr. Norrel.' The publisher suddenly found that he had a hit on his hand. Next those who like Strange/Norrel needed a short term fix while waiting for the next novel. And the quick answer was to get this book together from stories that Ms. Clarke had written before.

It's a very good fix. The stories are set in nearly the same magical world. While most of them have a different set of characters and stand alone stories, a couple cover points at least mentioned in Strange/Morrel. Taken together, these stories show the thinking that Ms. Clarke was going through as she developed her ideas of a magical England.

Since everything that Ms. Clarke has written, up until now, has been published, these stories will just have to hold you until the next novel is published.

My first introduction to Susanna Clark and I must say I thoroughly enjoyed her book. Some clever wit likened the prose to 'Jane Austen meets the Grimm brothers' and I have to agree.

This is a collection of eight good old-fashioned English fairy tales, written in a style and language that many Austen fans would recognise. Lovers of faerie and fantasy would appreciate the almost historical manner of their telling. Clark gives a new twist to the Rumpelstiltskin tale and Shakespeare's Queen Mab. She even sets one in a Neil Gaiman universe.

Not everything is sunshine and rainbows; like Grimm's tales, there's a darker undercurrent afoot. Fairies are not the 'little people', or 'fair folk' we remember from childhood tales. They are lustful, mean-spirited and cunning. Their interactions with humans nearly always spell disaster for ordinary folk. But this book is far from that. It's a quick easy read, done in one long afternoon.

Susanna Clarke won me over with Strange & Norrell, which I confess is my "favorite book that I hate" (it was painfully verbose at times, and rambling at others, but somehow it was also highly enjoyable). It should be no surprise that her short stories are the best of both worlds: the same highly literate representations of Fairy, the same well-crafted world of magic and wonder... but condensed nicely into more easily consumable portions. More adult than the lovable and whimsical Stardust by Neil Gaiman, but as easy to digest.

I give 2 enthusiastic thumbs-up, or five stars, or whatever (I'd give five thumbs-up if I had five thumbs).

from the very first paragraph we were enchanted...
dear lovers of faery lore and magic,
... by these stories written by the author of Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell: A Novel. If you loved that book, which these elves did, you will surely enjoy these charming stories, written in the same period and of the same cloth, so to speak. The first and title story involves Jonathan Strange and the Ladies of Grace Adieu and the last the Raven King, and between them the book is filled with magic, the sidhe (faery folk) and beautiful writing, which is a great magic in itself. We hope she writes more, much, much more.
kyela,
the silver elves
authors of Elven Silver: The Irreverent Faery Tales of Zardoa Silverstar

Being merely mortal, I will not attempt to accurately encompass the sublimity of this work with words; I have not the art. Suffice to say that it expands the world of Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell a smidgen, and for those of us who love that book and wish to inhabit that world, this is reason enough to treasure this book. A caveat: the Kindle version is execrable and should be avoided. There are bizarre spelling and format errors that ruin it entirely. Read the paper and ink version!

The Ladies of Grace Adieu was a pleasant read. The fairy tale stories were literally fairy tales, and a completely revolutionary idea that I think deserves praise. Although the book was not as good as Jonathan Strange as Mr. Norrel (ironically, although JS and Mr.N was around 800 pages and this is a quarter of that, I felt like these stories dragged on more than the novel's). But, in all respect, Susanna Clarke has the potential to be on the best writers of our time. Her sceneries are beautifully crafted, her ideas unimaginably good, and the depth of her vocabulary is tremendous. She is truly a great writer, and I think is one of only two authors who have effectively been able to convey magical life to the public. The only other author is also a female and English (and a billionaire if it has any relevance). Clarke has complete control of her writing style, it is unimaginably well developed and her own, and has made the epic novel something enjoyable. Read her, I really hope you agree.

The eight short stories in this collection are set in the same England as Clarke's popular novel Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell (which I have not read), an England in which magic is at least nominally present and faeries are human-like creatures with very considerable powers. All but one of the stories, which range in length from a few pages to 45 pages, have been previously published over the last ten years in various anthologies such as Starlight 1, 2, and 3, and Black Swan, White Raven and Black Heart, Ivory Bones.

Although the leadoff story, which gives the book it's title, concerns Dr. Strange and a trio of witches, the bulk of the stories (and certainly the more memorable ones), revolve around the capricious doings of various powerful fairies. A somewhat less powerful fairy is at the heart of he second story, "On Likerish Hill", which riffs on the Rumplestilsken story. The third story, "Mrs. Mabb", is an excellent old-fashioned tale about a poor young woman whose fiancee has been ensorcelled by a fairy queen. "The Duke of Wellington Misplaces His Horse," is a comic interlude featuring the famous hero of the Peninsular and Napoleonic Wars, and how he survives an accidental visit the the Fairy Kingdom.

Another longer, and somewhat more engaging story is "Mr. Simonelli or the Fairy Widower", in which a Cambridge scholar turned local rector matches wits with the local fairy lord. Another long and fairly decent story is "Tom Brightwind or How the Fairy Bridge...," in which a Jewish doctor and fairy lord making their way cross-country stumble upon a village severely in need of a bridge. What happens is somewhat obvious, but it's a story well told. The seventh story, "Antickes and Frets" is a somewhat perfunctory one about Mary Queen of Scots and some magical embroidery. The final story, which appears here for the first time, is the brief "John Uskglass and the Cumbrian Charcoal Burner". It's another classic story, this time of a lowly woodsman taking on a fairy lord, matching prayers to the saints again fairy magic.

On the whole, the collection should be of great interest to fans of Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell and of intermittent interest to those unfamiliar with Clarke's work. The prose is generally highly formal and stylized, which matches the tone of the stories but becomes somewhat tiresome over the course of a book. Similarly, the plots of the various stories often cover the same ground (humans matching wits with fairies), so that reading the book straight through becomes a touch tedious. Taken individually, each story has something to recommend it, and I suspect that they would feel much more distinctive in their original appearances, alongside the works of many different kinds of writers. in that vein, perhaps the best way to approach this book is to read a story of month or so, mixing it up with other kinds of reading so that Clarke's voice retains its distinctive nature.

This is a great addition to the universe Ms. Clarke created in her novel Jonathan Strange, et al. I especially love the little cross-over with Neil Gaiman's work in The Duke of Wellington Misplaces his Horse. All the stories are fantastic, and have their own air of authenticity to them, but they go rather fast. After spending almost a year reading Jonathan Strange, this is not quite enough to tide me over... I can't wait to write a review of her next book. Susanna Clarke has become one of my favorite authors, and I highly recommend her work.

The ladies of Grace Adieu and other Stories introduces readers to a world where charm is always tempered by eeriness and picaresque comedy is always darkened by the disturbing shadow of magic. I had a wonderful time reading this book and I believe that others will too. ***** 5 Bright Stars

With "The Ladies of Grace Adieu and Other Stories," Susanna Clarke weaves history, legend and myth to give us one of the best collections of supernatural tales since the days of Arthur Conan Doyle and Joseph Sheridan LeFanu. Each of her stories contains a hearty dose of magic, mystery, melancholic atmosphere and witty dialogue, all of which combine to cast their own spell over the reader.

Clearly Ms. Clarke has done her research, as evinced by the numerous details and nuances given the Otherworld and its inhabitants. Many of the tales show the firm influence of her predecessors in the genre as well. Her story "Mr. Simonelli or the Fairie Widower" gives a strong nod to Mr. LeFanu's "Laura Silver Bell". There are also homages to Mr. Gaiman and John Aubrey. However, it must be said that each of these improves on the original in terms of scope, detail and entertainment value. Lady Wilde and Lady Gregory would be proud!

All in all, this collection is a delight which kept me reading up until the wee hours of the morning. Definitely recommended.

The Ladies of Grace Adieu was a pleasant read. The fairy tale stories were literally fairy tales, and a completely revolutionary idea that I think deserves praise. Although the book was not as good as Jonathan Strange as Mr. Norrel (ironically, although JS and Mr.N was around 800 pages and this is a quarter of that, I felt like these stories dragged on more than the novel's). But, in all respect, Susanna Clarke has the potential to be on the best writers of our time. Her sceneries are beautifully crafted, her ideas unimaginably good, and the depth of her vocabulary is tremendous. She is truly a great writer, and I think is one of only two authors who have effectively been able to convey magical life to the public. The only other author is also a female and English (and a billionaire if it has any relevance). Clarke has complete control of her writing style, it is unimaginably well developed and her own, and has made the epic novel something enjoyable. Read her, I really hope you agree.

The eight short stories in this collection are set in the same England as Clarke's popular novel Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell (which I have not read), an England in which magic is at least nominally present and faeries are human-like creatures with very considerable powers. All but one of the stories, which range in length from a few pages to 45 pages, have been previously published over the last ten years in various anthologies such as Starlight 1, 2, and 3, and Black Swan, White Raven and Black Heart, Ivory Bones.

Although the leadoff story, which gives the book it's title, concerns Dr. Strange and a trio of witches, the bulk of the stories (and certainly the more memorable ones), revolve around the capricious doings of various powerful fairies. A somewhat less powerful fairy is at the heart of he second story, "On Likerish Hill", which riffs on the Rumplestilsken story. The third story, "Mrs. Mabb", is an excellent old-fashioned tale about a poor young woman whose fiancee has been ensorcelled by a fairy queen. "The Duke of Wellington Misplaces His Horse," is a comic interlude featuring the famous hero of the Peninsular and Napoleonic Wars, and how he survives an accidental visit the the Fairy Kingdom.

Another longer, and somewhat more engaging story is "Mr. Simonelli or the Fairy Widower", in which a Cambridge scholar turned local rector matches wits with the local fairy lord. Another long and fairly decent story is "Tom Brightwind or How the Fairy Bridge...," in which a Jewish doctor and fairy lord making their way cross-country stumble upon a village severely in need of a bridge. What happens is somewhat obvious, but it's a story well told. The seventh story, "Antickes and Frets" is a somewhat perfunctory one about Mary Queen of Scots and some magical embroidery. The final story, which appears here for the first time, is the brief "John Uskglass and the Cumbrian Charcoal Burner". It's another classic story, this time of a lowly woodsman taking on a fairy lord, matching prayers to the saints again fairy magic.

On the whole, the collection should be of great interest to fans of Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell and of intermittent interest to those unfamiliar with Clarke's work. The prose is generally highly formal and stylized, which matches the tone of the stories but becomes somewhat tiresome over the course of a book. Similarly, the plots of the various stories often cover the same ground (humans matching wits with fairies), so that reading the book straight through becomes a touch tedious. Taken individually, each story has something to recommend it, and I suspect that they would feel much more distinctive in their original appearances, alongside the works of many different kinds of writers. in that vein, perhaps the best way to approach this book is to read a story of month or so, mixing it up with other kinds of reading so that Clarke's voice retains its distinctive nature.

This is a great addition to the universe Ms. Clarke created in her novel Jonathan Strange, et al. I especially love the little cross-over with Neil Gaiman's work in The Duke of Wellington Misplaces his Horse. All the stories are fantastic, and have their own air of authenticity to them, but they go rather fast. After spending almost a year reading Jonathan Strange, this is not quite enough to tide me over... I can't wait to write a review of her next book. Susanna Clarke has become one of my favorite authors, and I highly recommend her work.

The ladies of Grace Adieu and other Stories introduces readers to a world where charm is always tempered by eeriness and picaresque comedy is always darkened by the disturbing shadow of magic. I had a wonderful time reading this book and I believe that others will too. ***** 5 Bright Stars

Simply magnificent! True in style and vocabulary to all that one might except to meet when the lands of that horrifying elvenking and all his darkness and indifference spill out into the victorian code of conduct. heroisme and fairytale in a grimm and great univers, that the brothers Grimm and the elders of the folklore would do backingvocals to for free. Gloom meets enlightenment, husky hills and cool english reasoning clash on these pages, and you might not be the same afterwards.

Not as mindblowingly good as Jonathan Strange, but still a charming, enjoyable read. The strongest stories are, IMO, The Ladies of Grace Adieu, On Lickerish Hill, and Mr. Simonelli, or the Fairy Widower. In general I love Ms. Clarke's work & wish she would write more!

This rating is for the kindle version only. I just requested a refund for my kindle purchase. Apparently there's no effort whatsoever in making the electronic version of the book. There are way too many spell errors, especially for a wannabe magician!