The Ladies of Grace Adieu

In this first collection of short stories, Susanna Clarke returns to the world she created in her first novel, the excellent "Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell", with more stories about the world of Faerie and England. Jonathan Strange visits his wife's brother in the town of Grace Adieu and discovers there three women who secretly practice magic and deal with any menaces that come to their town with strict severity. A re-telling of the folk tale "Tom Tit Tot" is the basis for "On Lickerish Hill" where Clarke employs rural dialect in the telling of a young woman who, in return for a favour from a faerie, must guess his name within one month or else she will become his.

My favourite was probably "Mr Simonelli, or The Faerie Widower" which is about a priest called Mr Simonelli who goes to the town of Allhope to be the new rector there and finds that the town is ruled by a mysterious fellow who lives outside the town in a ramshackle house, whose name is John Hollyshoes. The setting and the air of desolation within an isolated countryside town brought to mind the work of the Bronte sisters, especially Emily, and adds to the atmosphere of blasted heaths and doomed country folk. Who will help them? Mr Simonelli to the rescue! I thought this story was most effective as even though it's set within Clarke's world of faeries and magic and England in the regency period, it stands apart from her novel and could be read by somone unfamiliar with her work and still enjoy it.

"Tom Brightwind, or How the Fairy Bridge was Built at Thoresbury" is another cracking read as is "Mrs Mabb" both of which feel like they had been cut from Clarke's novel and resurrected here but are still pleasures to read nonetheless. The shorter stories, "The Duke of Wellington Misplaces his Horse" and "Antickes and Frets", are both about embroidery and are the less energised of the tales but fit in well between the longer tales as breathers. Both stories are about real people as well, the Duke of Wellington and Mary, Queen of Scots.

There are eight stories in this collection (more! more!) and the first seven have been published before, though I'm glad they were reprinted in this volume as I had no idea that she had had published short stories. The eighth is an unpublished story called "John Uskglass and the Charcoal Burner" which is about a charcoal burner and his pig Blakemore who thwart John Uskglass, The King of the North, and shows Clarke's comedic side in putting down probably the coolest character in her world.

As for the illustrations, they are a wonder, I am going to see about getting some books by Charles Vess, so wonderfully does he draw. And the cover of this book! So eye catching, so classy, so understated yet outstanding! In design and spirit they recall Aubrey Beardley's iconic work. One of the best designed covers I've seen this year.

Clarke writes about magic but she needs none to enchant the reader, using only her skill as a writer and her unique imagination to burn the story into your mind and float into your dreams. A highly recommended read and I'm not the only one who hopes that the sequel to "Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell" won't take her nearly as long as her first book (which I think was around ten years). Meanwhile, books like this are designed to stop the hunger but I for one am only made hungrier for more. Keep it up and keep them coming, Ms Clarke!

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.

Susanna Clarke's epic fantasy novel "Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell" made a huge splash in the literary community, with her captivating brand of Jane Austen meets Neil Gaiman writing, with a nod to historical fiction. She focuses on the other equally magic folk, especially the female magicians who are not highly regarded in the chauvinistic arena, in this collection .

I was entertained by the title story and also the last in the collection,"John Uskglass and the Cumbrian Charcoal Burner" for the way much-loved characters from the previously mentioned novel are outwitted by the powers of the more lowly in station, especially by unassuming women, and at times, not even those with any magic.

"Mrs Mabb", a story about how an ordinary young woman overcomes a mysterious and elusive love rival despite the odds not being in her favour, is one of the more intriguing stories in this collection. Elsewhere, there is the retelling of the Rumpelstiltskin tale in "On Lickerish Hill" and also Queen Mary of Scots's wicked embroidery for Queen Elizabeth in "Antickes and Frets", where the interesting mesh of fact and lore makes the stories come alive.

Clarke handles the genre well, which can be a tall order, considering how she makes the magical seem ordinary and believeable, and showing that the magical world can exist alongside and in the real world, which makes these tales even more fantastical, and puts her above other run-of-the-mill fairy tales.

While Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell is not required reading for this short story collection, it provides a fuller and more complete background to the stories you are reading, nevertheless, one can certainly enjoy them and understand what's going on without having read the aforementioned 600+ page book.

Clarke spent a decade writing Jonathan Strange, so it is not surprising that in her spare time she wrote some stories set in this magnificent world, which while not directly involved in the actions and events of her opus, do play by its rules and restrictions. Some of the stories may even have been cut from the massive manuscript that was Jonathan Strange and now find themselves in this collection, finally in print.

These eight stories run the gamut of what Clarke might want to tell about her world, from what a couple of ladies with magical ability must do (from the title story); to a tale of Mary, Queen of Scots; to a story involving the same Jonathan Strange of her book. What links all these stories together is the reality of magic, whether the characters in the stories choose to accept its existence or not. The result is a delightful, seemingly romantic, and entertaining change to the glut of fantasy filling the book world these days. Magic in Clarke's world cannot be done by everyone; it is subtle, exhausting, and hard to do. Like the Bartimaeus Trilogy, Clarke's magical world presents something new and therefore captivating in its own way.

While my complaint of Clarke is that she can often be long winded and due for some heavy editing - both in this collection and in her weighty novel - in the end one is left with the wonderful feeling that one has just read something special and will delight in reading it again some day. Not to mention Ladies of Grace Adieu also features mesmerizing black and white illustrations by Charles Vess (who illustrated Neil Gaiman's Stardust), the book is a worthy addition to anyone's library. The question remains now: how long will it be before Clarke publishes another collection or novel? Does she have a box full of cut stories and material from Jonathan Strange waiting to be viewed by a reader's eyes? Only time will reveal this truth.

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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!

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!

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.

After I saw the television adaptation of Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell, I borrowed the book from a friend and absolutely loved it. This follow-up of short stories did not disappoint; I gobbled it up. I hope some day to see a television adaptation of these stories, as well. And I truly hope Ms. Clarke publishes again some day!