This historical drama series is an adaptation of the international best-selling novel by Susanna Clarke. The story is set in 19th-century England during the Napoleonic Wars, a time when practical magic has largely fallen by the wayside. But the practice is resuscitated by two men -- Gilbert Norrell, a reclusive but highly skilled magician, and Jonathan Strange, a young and handsome novice who is exploring his capabilities. The relationship between the men intensifies as they battle to become England's greatest magician.