A Child's History of the Raven King

This little book was published by Longman in 1807, and charmingly illustrated with engravings done by a northern artist. Its author was Lord Portishead, who at the time was a theoretical magician (he later abandoned his studies on hearing that Gilbert Norrell did not approve them.)[12]

Mr Norrell had a particular dislike of this work, which he deprecated more than any other of the author's books: Jonathan Strange on the other hand approved it entirely, going so far as to call it "one of the most perfect things of its kind. It conveys to the reader a vivid sense of the eeriness and wonder of John Uskglass's magic."[38]

John Childermass, that faithful adherent of the Raven King, also possesses a copy. He values it enough to pack it among those few items he takes with him when he leaves Mr. Norrell's service[63].