(no subject)

Originally posted here on Tumblr.

They’re never explicitly mentioned in the novel, but the Enclosure Acts are a highly relevant part of its historical context, and I don’t think this is a coincidence. What it’s implied the gentleman with the thistledown hair historically did to magic (and, arguably, what Norrell tries to do) is a form of enclosure, and the book’s ending effectively represents a restoration of the true and rightful magical commons.

Tags: this is a meta essay that i'm not writing because, a) it would require more research than i have time to do, b) it would get more overtly political than i'm accustomed to being on this blog, so have this instead, i like to think that the anti-enclosure rioters in this universe (much like the machine-breakers), flew the raven-in-flight and claimed the support of the raven king