Susanna Clarke

Susanna Clarke March 2006

Susanna Clarke (born 1 November 1959) is a British author best known for her debut novel Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, a work of historical fantasy. Clarke's writing is characterized by its intricate plotting, rich historical detail, and a distinctive blend of fantasy and realism.

Early Life and Education[edit | edit source]

Susanna Clarke was born in Nottingham, England. She is the daughter of a Methodist minister, and her family moved frequently during her childhood. Clarke attended St Hilda's College, Oxford, where she studied Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE).

Career[edit | edit source]

After graduating from Oxford, Clarke worked in various publishing roles, including a position at Simon & Schuster in Cambridge. She also spent two years teaching English as a foreign language in Turin, Italy, and Bilbao, Spain.

Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell[edit | edit source]

Clarke began writing Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell in 1993, and it took her over a decade to complete. The novel was published in 2004 to critical acclaim and commercial success. It won the Hugo Award for Best Novel in 2005 and was longlisted for the Man Booker Prize. The story is set in an alternate version of 19th-century England during the Napoleonic Wars and follows the lives of two magicians, Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell.

The Ladies of Grace Adieu and Other Stories[edit | edit source]

In 2006, Clarke published The Ladies of Grace Adieu and Other Stories, a collection of short stories set in the same universe as Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell. The collection includes stories that expand on the world and characters introduced in her debut novel.

Piranesi[edit | edit source]

Clarke's second novel, Piranesi, was published in 2020. The novel is a departure from the style of her first book, featuring a more introspective and surreal narrative. Piranesi received widespread praise and won the Women's Prize for Fiction in 2021.

Personal Life[edit | edit source]

Susanna Clarke lives in Cambridge, England, with her partner, the novelist and critic Colin Greenland. She has been open about her struggles with chronic fatigue syndrome, which has influenced her writing process and output.