Jonathan Strange's remarkable magic has helped England win the Battle of Waterloo, and he returns to England to write a book, much to Norrell's displeasure. But his life is destroyed when Arabella seemingly dies and no magic can restore her to life.
Strange finishes his book in tribute to her, but learns that Norrell is intent on destroying it. Furious, Strange confronts Norrell, but is arrested. He uses his magic to escape from jail, determined to access the madness that will allow him to see the fairy world.