“The Bishop of Durham Attempts to Surrender the City” by Susanna Clarke

This is a delightful return to the world of Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell, in the form of an illustrated children’s book telling a story from the first days of the reign of John Uskglass, the Raven King.

The city of Durham was besieged during the Raven King’s conquest; not by armies, but by forests that will let no one pass and the River Wear sinking any boats that try to cross. Food running low, the titular Bishop steps outside of the gates and announces (to the trees and birds, the only ones there) that the city is prepared to surrender. He and his retinue are allowed to pass, and he makes his way to the new king in Newcastle. And this is where the “attempts to surrender” comes into it - the fairy court surrounding the Raven King isn’t exactly helpful in assisting the bishop to reach the young monarch to pay homage.

This took me about 30 minutes to read. It’s definitely a children’s book, told simply and accessibly. As a lover of JS&MrN I simply adored this view into the early days of the Raven King, but I don’t think it’s necessary to have read JS&MrN to appreciate this book.

The illustrations (by Victoria Sawdon), which take the form or medieval-style marginalia on every page and with bigger pieces between the chapters, are wonderful.