The Ladies of Grace Adieu and Other Stories

From the author of the award-winning, internationallybestsellingJonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell,an enchanting collection of stories. Set in versions of England that bear an uncanny resemblance to the world of Strange and Norrell, these stories are brimming with all the ingredients of good fairy tales: petulant princesses, vengeful owls, ladies who pass their time in embroidering terrible fates, endless paths in deep, dark woods, and houses that never appear the same way twice. Their heroines and heroes include the Duke of Wellington, a conceited Regency clergyman, an eighteenth-century Jewish doctor, Mary, Queen of Scots, Jonathan Strange, and the Raven King himself.The Ladies of Grace Adieuis the perfect introduction to a world where charm is always tempered by eerieness, and picaresque comedy is always darkened by the disturbing shadow of Faerie. Susanna Clarkeis the author of theNew York Timesbestseller and multiple award winnerJonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell. She lives in Cambridge, England. From the author of the award-winning, internationallybestsellingJonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell,an enchanting collection of stories. Set in versions of England that bear an uncanny resemblance to the world of Strange and Norrell, these stories contain all the ingredients of good fairy tales: petulant princesses, vengeful owls, ladies who pass their time in embroidering terrible fates, endless paths in deep, dark woods, and houses that never appear the same way twice. Their heroines and heroes include the Duke of Wellington, a conceited Regency clergyman, an eighteenth-century Jewish doctor, Mary, Queen of Scots, Jonathan Strange, and the Raven King himself.The Ladies of Grace Adieuis an introduction to a world where charm is always tempered by eerieness, and picaresque comedy is always darkened by the disturbing shadow of Faerie. "The writing is captivating, the characters charming, and the notion that perhaps there's more to reality than what our senses tell us is, as Clarke might say with a smile, simply enchanting."--Nancy Pearl,National Public Radio "Eight short stories previously published between 1996 and 2004 . . . mostly offered again as careful restorations of late 18th- and early 19th-century compositions . . . They're familiar fairy tales or dovetailed traditional yarns touched up for the purposes of elegant retelling. There is a take on Rumpelstiltskin in 'On Lickerish Hill' and a reprise of the time dilations of fairyland in 'Mrs Mabb.' Needlework pictures come to life in another slightly derivative tale called 'The Duke of Wellington Misplaces His Horse.' Two more stories venture further back in the historical timeline, with Tudor and vaguely medieval settings . . . The prose, though, is consistently flawless and beautiful. Reading Clarke is like inspecting some wonderful antiquated craft, such as marquetry or fine hand embroidery."--Graham Joyce,The Washington Post Book World "The eight stories inLadies of GraceresembleJonathan Strangein that fantastical creations change history, the 19th century takes on a modern spin, and charm and sophistication ooze off the pages. Here, Susanna Clarke casts a close eye on women, from fairies to damsels in distress--who, not surprisingly, tend to save themselves."--Bookmarks Magazine "Revisiting characters and landscapes she created in her best-sellingJonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell, Clarke has crafted eight quirky and devious stories to delight her fans. In the title story, Mr. Strange himself reappears and tangles with three country witches . . . In 'The Duke of Wellington Misplaces His Horse,' the redoubtable hero follows his hors

Susanna Clarke is the author of the New York Times bestseller and multiple award winner Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell. She lives in Cambridge, England.