Book description
A guide to the history behind the world of Harry Potter--just in time
for the last Harry Potter movie, Harry Potter and the Deathly
Hallows (Part II)
Harry Potter lives in a world that is both magical and historical.
Hogwarts pupils ride an old-fashioned steam train to school, notes are
taken on parchment with quill pens, and Muggle legends come to life in
the form of werewolves, witches, and magical spells. This book is the
first to explore the real history in which Harry's world is rooted.
Did you know that bezoars and mandrakes were fashionable luxury items
for centuries? Find out how Europeans first developed the potions,
spells, and charms taught at Hogwarts, from Avada Kedavra to love
charms. Learn how the European prosecution of witches led to the
Statute of Secrecy, meet the real Nicholas Flamel, see how the Malfoys
stack up against Muggle English aristocrats, and compare the history
of the wizarding world to real-life history.
- Gives you the historical backdrop to Harry Potter's world
- Covers topics ranging from how real British boarding schools
compare to Hogwarts to how parchment, quills, and scrolls used in
the wizarding world were made
- Includes a timeline comparing the history of the wizarding world
to Muggle "real" history
Filled with fascinating facts and background, Harry Potter and
History is an essential companion for every Harry Potter fan.
Nancy R. Reagin is a professor of history and
women's and gender studies at Pace University, who has published
several books in modern European history. She's also an active fan who
has worked on fan archives and websites, and she has helped build fan
organizations. She is appalled by Professor Binns's teaching methods
and would enjoy using pensieves, Veritaserum, and Time-Turners in her
own research.
