Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell

The reclusive Mr Norrell, who claims to be a magician, is discovered. He offers the government his services but politician Sir Walter Pole refuses to align himself with such disrespectable arts. This is until however, Mr Norrell makes a dangerous pact with a mysterious man to restore Sir Walter's sickly fiancé to life, proving magic to be respectable again.

Mr Norrell's magical illusions baffle the French navy and win him the loyalty of Sir Walter Pole. However, the magic he performed to revive Lady Pole released something unnatural into Sir Walter's home. Jonathan Strange's magical ability grows, and he comes to London to take up an apprenticeship with Mr Norrell, but Norrell is reluctant to share his knowledge.

Arabella Strange discovers that the recently resurrected Lady Pole has become dangerously unhinged, but her letters to her husband about this are being intercepted by Mr Norrell. Jonathan Strange arrives in Spain, and finds that Lord Wellington has no interest in making use of him, until he proves able to conjure up magical roads for Wellington’s armies.

Returned from war, Jonathan Strange joins Mr Norrell to try to help England's mad king, George III, but is frustrated at Norrell's refusal to discuss the magic and legends of the old times. Strange makes an enemy of the gentleman.

Jonathan Strange’s remarkable magic has helped England win the Battle of Waterloo, and he returns to England to write a book, much to Norrell’s displeasure. But his life is destroyed when Arabella seemingly dies and no magic can restore her to life.

Strange discovers the essence of madness that will allow him to perceive the magical lands and summons the Gentleman. He secretly follows the fairy creature into the magical lands. Norrell destroys Strange's book, but his act undermines magic's respectability and the government breaks with him.