In 2004, Susanna Clarke burst onto the literary scene with her debut novel 'Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell,' a sprawling 800-page alternative history about magic in 19th-century England. The book became an instant sensation, selling over 4 million copies worldwide and earning Clarke numerous accolades. Then, mysteriously, she seemed to vanish from public life.
What readers didn't know was that Clarke was battling a debilitating chronic illness. Shortly after her literary triumph, she was struck with what would later be diagnosed as chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). The condition left her barely able to leave her bed, let alone write, for more than a decade.
During this period, Clarke's absence from the literary world sparked widespread speculation. Her debut novel had established her as one of fantasy literature's most promising voices, making her subsequent silence all the more conspicuous. While fans eagerly awaited a follow-up to her masterwork, Clarke spent years focused solely on managing her health.
In 2020, after a 16-year gap, Clarke made a triumphant return with 'Piranesi,' a novel markedly different from her debut but equally enchanting. The book, which won the Women's Prize for Fiction, was written in short bursts during periods when her health permitted. Its story of isolation and confinement resonated deeply with readers, perhaps reflecting Clarke's own experience of living with chronic illness.
Clarke's journey highlights both the unpredictable nature of creative careers and the impact of invisible illnesses on artists' lives. While her initial disappearance may have puzzled the literary world, her eventual return with 'Piranesi' proved that great art can emerge from even the most challenging circumstances.
