Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell

Mr Norrell travels to London from Yorkshire to offer the government his services as a magician. Sir Walter Pole though refuses to align himself with such a disrespectable art as magic. After Sir Walter's sickly fiancée passes away, Mr Norrell makes a dangerous pact with a mysterious Gentleman to restore her to life. Jonathan Strange discovers that he also has magical powers.

Mr Norrell's magical illusions manage to baffle the French Navy and secure him the loyalty of Sir Walter Pole. However, some magic he has used to revive Lady Pole has released something unnatural into Sir Walter's home. Jonathan Strange's magical ability increases so he decides to travel to London to take up an apprenticeship with Mr Norrell.

Pressed into service for the war against France, Strange receives a less than warm welcome from the Duke of Wellington in Lisbon. He soon makes himself useful, but treads dangerous waters by dabbling in dark magic. Meanwhile, Lady Pole is desperate to communicate her and Stephen's plight to Arabella, though she is enchanted against doing so.

A suicidal Lady Pole tries to kill Mr Norrell, but fails and is placed in the care of Segundus and Honeyfoot. Strange discovers a world behind mirrors, and he and Mr Norrell part ways with irreconcilable differences when Norrell refuses to let Strange study ancient magic. Meanwhile, unbeknown to the magicians, the Gentleman has a plan to enchant Arabella.

Strange returns home like a hero after helping to win the Battle of Waterloo, and resolves to write a book on ancient magic - to Norrell's horror. Strange's hopes for the future are shattered by a tragedy in his life, and following a confrontation with Norrell, he flees the country, determined to learn the truth about the fairy world - even if doing so costs him his sanity.

Mr Norrell uses underhanded magic to make Strange's book literally disappear. Isolating himself in Venice, Strange finally manages to summon the Gentleman. Following him to Lost Hope, Strange discovers that Arabella, Lady Pole, and Stephen are under the fairy's spell, but the Gentleman uses all of his strength to cast Strange out and lay a curse of darkness upon him.

Strange returns to England in hopes of uniting with Mr Norrell to bring back the Raven King, defeat the Gentleman and regain Arabella. England is plunged into chaos as ancient magical forces are unleashed. Norrell flees to the safety of his library, but is pursued by Strange. Childermass tries to find a way to save Lady Pole, as Stephen is drawn deeper into the sinister world of the Fairy kingdom.