Susanna Clarke owns my heart. She's been an auto-buy author for me since reading 'Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell' years ago which became one of my favourite books of all time. 'The Wood at Midwinter' is a short tale set within the same universe as Strange & Norrell focusing on 19year old Merowdis a young woman who can talk to animals as she enters a wood & her life changes forever. This is such a charming little tale, that truly shows Susanna's ability as a storyteller. And the afterword made me cry.