Susanna Clarke
Susanna Clarke is an award-winning British writer best known for her pioneering debut novel, Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell. The novel tells a sparkling story of two magicians in early 19th century England, entwined in a battle of dark and light magic, and populated with memorable characters including the mysterious gentleman with thistle-down hair. This bestselling debut earned Clarke the prestigious John W. Campbell Award, Hugo Award, and World Fantasy Award, among others.
Born in 1959 in Nottingham, England, Clarke attended St. Anne's College, Oxford where she pursued her studies in English and philosophy. After graduating, she went on to write her master's thesis on the works of 18th century satirist and poet, Alexander Pope.
After leaving university, Clarke worked briefly in a bookshop before beginning an editorial role at in a publisher's office. Here, she developed her skills in the trade, learning invaluable lessons in editing and storytelling. Her employment in publishing eventually came to an end, however, and she worked in a variety of other jobs, from illustrating fantasy books to being a housekeeper.
During her spare time, however, Clarke had slowly been crafting her own novel for many years, eventually finding time to focus on it when she was ill in 1995. This novel was Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, and upon completion, Clarke was overjoyed when it was accepted for publication in 2003 – six years later.
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell quickly became an international bestseller, and attracted both popular and critical acclaim. It was featured on the cover of Time Magazine, made into a miniseries, and won the World Fantasy Award for Best Novel. More importantly, the novel established Clarke as a force to be reckoned with in the fantasy genre, and an undeniable champion of magic realist storytelling.
Since the success of Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, Clarke has gone on to write other works including The Ladies of Grace Adieu, which is a collection of stories set in her "faerie world". She has also worked on the concept for a long-awaited sequel to Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, which she has been working on since 2007.
In addition to her books and other writing projects, Clarke is also an active member of the British fantasy community. She contributed to Neil Gaiman’s Duran Duran charity book Are You Not of Interest? in 2008, and has participated in several seminars, Tedx events and other literary talks. Her talent and commitment to literature was once again recognized in 2016 when she received an honorary doctorate from Anglia Ruskin University.
Today, Susanna Clarke is known far and wide for her contribution to the fantasy genre. Her much-loved debut novel, Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell has opened the door to a world of magic and wonder, which readers can happily lose themselves in for hours. It is a thrilling feat of storytelling, and one which continues to captivate readers of all ages to this day.
