The fate of English magic

Originally posted here on Tumblr.

The book quite cleverly obscures the fact that it never conclusively answers the question posed by Mr Segundus in the first chapter.

Why is there no more magic done in England?

We are given, over the course of the story, three different possible explanations for the disappearance of English magic: 1) English magic depended on the alliances made by John Uskglass with the rivers, trees, hills, rain and so on of England; once he was gone, the entire structure went into decline and so the magic built on it no longer works; 2) after Uskglass left England, these alliances were usurped by the gentleman with the thistledown hair, so that their power was no longer available to English magicians; 3) English magicians neglected and ignored the magic that was still present in England, until they lost the ability to do magic at all.

( Read more )

Tags: do i agree with this conclusion? hmmm