thoughts on ‘The Ladies of Grace Adieu’

Originally posted here on Tumblr.

• It’s something to keep in mind about Jonathan Strange’s character that he knows (or at least, has been told and is probably fairly certain) that John Uskglass appeared to these women and helped them. I mean, I don’t want to gloat, but I think it certainly informs his motivations in the later part of Strange & Norrell, and is obviously very relevant in the last few chapters.
• Cassandra Parbringer/Mrs Field OTP. Also Jane Tobias/Emma Pole. I’m convinced they all get together after the ending of Strange & Norrell and form a society of female magicians, together with Flora Greysteel and Miss Redruth and various others. I’m also convinced that Jane Tobias doesn’t really die in 1819 but disappears into some magical realm where she and Emma live happily ever after. (Look, I can headcanon what I want).
• The story that Cassandra tells about the child John Uskglass, and the later scene that calls back to it (why should I be afraid?) have the same sort of odd mixture of eeriness and bleakness and comfort and depth about them that some of the best parts of Strange & Norrell have. I love this thing very much.