In the preface to his book, Strange tells the story of how John Uskglass, a boy abandoned in the woods and adopted by the fairies, later conquered the northern part of England with an army of fairies. Uskglass was 15, and he perfectly balanced the systematic thinking of humans and the magic of fairies, creating the English system of magic. His appearance—ragged black clothes like the fairies and a head full of lice—shocked the nobility who watched him sign a peace treaty with the king. His troops came with flocks of ravens. Strange notes that contrary to Norrell’s claims, there was something extraordinary about Uskglass.

Childermass is writing invoices and dry reports to the government when he begins to shift between the mundane world and the magical world. The sky, earth, and trees begin talking to him, but he can’t find the words to reply. The landscape is desolate, and he sees a woman he later realizes is Emma Pole walking in front of him. He casts a spell to detect magic and identify the magician who must be performing magic so prodigious that it is warping the world. He goes outside and zeroes in on Lady Pole.