The Ladies of Grace Adieu and Other Stories

"The Ladies of Grace Adieu and Other Stories" (ISBN 0-7475-8703-5) is a collection of 8 short stories, some of which are set in the same world as the novel of magic, "Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell". It is Susanna Clarke's second book, although some of the stories were previously published in anthologies such as Patrick Nielsen Hayden's "Starlight 1". [ [http://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/01/magazine/01CLARKE.html?ex=1249099200&en=2fea0b3cbfbd17d9&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland Susanna Clarke's Magic Book] , John Hodgman, "New York Times Magazine"]

The collection contains illustrations by Charles Vess.

The following is a quote from the press release:

"The Ladies of Grace Adieu" takes the reader deep into the world of Faerie and some stories feature characters from Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell, including some from the footnotes. Sometimes you find you have crossed an invisible line and must cope, as best you can, with petulant princesses, vengeful owls, ladies who pass their time embroidering terrible fates, or with endless paths in deep dark woods and houses that never appear the same way twice. The heroines and heroes bedevilled by such problems in these fairytales include a conceited Regency clergyman, an 18th-century Jewish doctor, Mary Queen of Scots and Jonathan Strange himself.

Contents

The collection contains eight short stories, seven of which were anthologized previously, plus an introduction.

* Introduction by Professor James Sutherland, Director of "Sidhe" Studies, University of Aberdeen (a fictional person & university course)
* "The Ladies of Grace Adieu" (1996)
** "Starlight 1", edited by Patrick Nielsen Hayden
** "", edited by Ellen Datlow & Terri Windling
* "On Lickerish Hill" (1997)
** "Black Swan, White Raven", edited by Ellen Datlow & Terri Windling
* "Mrs Mabb" (1998)
** "Starlight 2", edited by Patrick Nielsen Hayden
** "The Year’s Best Fantasy and Horror: 12th Annual Collection", edited by Ellen Datlow & Terri Windling
* "The Duke of Wellington Misplaces His Horse" (1999) (set in the world of Neil Gaiman's novel "Stardust", and available online at the author's website)
** "A Fall of Stardust"
** "The Year’s Best Fantasy and Horror: 13th Annual Collection", edited by Ellen Datlow & Terri Windling
* "Mr Simonelli, or the Fairy Widower" (2000)
** "Black Heart, Ivory Bones", edited by Ellen Datlow & Terri Windling
** "The Year’s Best Fantasy and Horror: 14th Annual Collection", edited by Ellen Datlow & Terri Windling
* "Tom Brightwind, or How the Fairy Bridge was Built at Thoresby" (2001)
** "Starlight 3", edited by Patrick Nielsen Hayden
** "The Year’s Best Fantasy and Horror: 15th Annual Collection", edited by Ellen Datlow & Terri Windling
* "Antickes and Frets" (2004, a fictionalized version of the detention of Mary Queen of Scots by Bess of Hardwick and George Talbot, 6th Earl of Shrewsbury)
** "New York Times", 31st October, 2004
* "John Uskglass and the Cumbrian Charcoal Burner" (an excerpt is available online at the author's website)

Footnotes

External links

* [http://www.bloomsbury.com/Authors/Press.asp?id=252&section=1 Press release]
* [http://www.jonathanstrange.com/copy.asp?s=4&id=10 The Duke of Wellington Misplaces His Horse] at [http://www.jonathanstrange.com/ jonathanstrange.com]
* [http://www.jonathanstrange.com/copy.asp?s=5&id=27 An extract of John Uskglass and the Cumbrian Charcoal Burner] at [http://www.jonathanstrange.com/ jonathanstrange.com]