The Ladies of Grace Adieu and Other Stories in Into the Forest

Apr 29, 2009 Christine rated it really liked it

Shelves: fantasy-historical, diverse-and-women-authors

When I read Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, I formed the impression that Susanna Clarke wrote in the style of Trollope. After reading this collection of short stories, I've changed my mind. She's closer to Austen. There is only one wrong story, "On Lickerish Hill", a retelling of a British version of "Rapunzel".

In general, the stories add to the world that Clarke created in Strange. My favorite by far is "Mrs Mabb". It is the best story in the collection. "Mrs Mabb" about a woman who rescues the ...more

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Mar 01, 2018 Eric Orchard rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fantasy, alternate-history

An incredible book.

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Dec 22, 2011 Danielle The Book Huntress marked it as to-read

Shelves: faerie, started-but-put-down, short-story-collection, library-checkout, historical-fantasy

I decided to return this to the library for now. It's not a quick read, since the author uses some archaic dialect in some of the stories, and due to her writing style. I am sure I will enjoy finishing this one day, but I just don't have the time right now.

I did enjoy the first two stories I read.

...more

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Mar 25, 2010 Shellie (Layers of Thought) marked it as to-read

Shelves: genre-poetry-short-stories-plays, read-a-later-on-hold, spec-fic-fant-fairytales-fable-myth, spec-fic-fant-fairies

I am still reading this great collection. Here are several blog posts around the two stories which I have completed. Each comes with additional information and links.

"Anticks and Frets" - a short story about Mary the Queen of Scot's evil side.
“John Uskglass and the Cumbrian Charcoal Burner” - a fable retelling which involves Oberon the Fairy King. ...more

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Mar 27, 2008 Sienna rated it liked it

Shelves: 2008

I actually really enjoyed these stories. There were a couple lackluster pieces in the bunch, some pretty predictable mythic retellings - nothing supremely memorable - but overall I enjoyed her writing style a great deal more this time than during the two weeks in 2005 when I read Jonathan Strange. The recommendation came from my boyfriend's ex, of all people, and everyone I encountered during that period got an earful on the subject. I did, however, complete the book, and I find it in my thought ...more

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May 17, 2010 Melanti rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fairy-tales-folklore-and-mythology, 2010, anthology

The first story is good, but sadly I through the next three. The last four of the collection, however are wonderful and kept me up WAY too late when I had to be at work the next day..

I don't think it's a coincidence that the ones I didn't like so much are straightforward fairytale retellings, with nothing much added other than being written in an old fashioned style.

I was really missing the style, sarcasm, and humor of the Johnathan Strange book until I got to the last few stories. Yay for footn ...more

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Nov 22, 2009 Molly Ringle rated it really liked it

If you liked Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell, with its simultaneously dark and tongue-in-cheek mingling of Regency and Faerie, and want another taste, then this collection of short stories along the same theme ought to satisfy your cravings. It also would work for anyone who couldn't get through the weighty length of Strange and Norrell but did enjoy the premise. Fanciful, odd, ever so creative. ...more

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