New Line, the studio behind Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings phenomenon, has bought the movie rights to Susanna Clarke's bestselling children's fantasy Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell reports The Guardian.

The deal is the third A-list fantasy book franchise to be acquired by New Line following Philip Pullman's "His Dark Materials" and Cornelia Funke's "Inkheart".

Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell centres on two magicians in an alternative early 19th century England, who split their time between involvement in the Napoleonic wars and a quest to find a mysterious figure known as the Faerie King. It has been just as popular with adults as with children.

Thanks to 'Wonky'.