Harry Potter: A History of Magic

Last updated

Harry Potter: A History of Magic is an exhibition of real-world magical artefacts and history presented alongside artefacts from the development of J.K. Rowling's fictional Harry Potter series. The exhibition originally opened at the British Library in 2017, as part of celebrations for the 20th anniversary of the publication of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone . It is also available online through the Google Arts & Culture platform and was presented at the New-York Historical Society beginning in October 2018. [1] Two official publications, Harry Potter: A History of Magic and Harry Potter: A Journey Through a History of Magic, along with a BBC television documentary, were created in conjunction with the exhibition.

Contents

The exhibitions

British Library exhibition

The exhibition at the British Library was open to the public from 20 October 2017 to 28 February 2018. [2] The British Library also installed smaller displays on the same topic in 22 libraries across the United Kingdom. [3] The British exhibition was a collaboration between the British Library, Bloomsbury (publisher of the Harry Potter series in the United Kingdom), and author J. K. Rowling. Among the real-world artefacts displayed were a Ripley Scroll (which describes the process of making a philosopher's stone) and Nicolas Flamel's headstone. Items dealing with Rowling's fictional Wizarding World included original drafts of the Harry Potter books and original artwork by Rowling. The artefacts were organized around class topics (such as Herbology and Care of Magical Creatures) offered at Hogwarts, a wizarding school featured in the Harry Potter series. [4]

Google Arts & Culture exhibition

On 27 February 2018, just as the British Library was preparing to close the original exhibition, Google made the exhibition available online world-wide using their Google Arts & Culture platform. The online exhibition is an interactive recreation of the British Library version of the exhibition, including images of the same artefacts. [5] [6] [7] The exhibition features 360 panoramic Street View style photos [8] which were produced by London based panoramic photographer, Ben Smart.

New-York Historical Society exhibition

The New-York Historical Society's version of the exhibition opened New York City on 5 October 2018 (through 27 January 2019), as part of 20th anniversary celebrations of the publication of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone in the United States. [9] While some of the same artefacts from the British exhibition were displayed, additional materials dealing with real-word magic in the Americas were shown. Scholastic Corporation (publisher of the Harry Potter series in the United States) collaborated on the exhibit, and artefacts dealing with the series' publication in the US were displayed. [10] [11]

Companion publications

Harry Potter: A History of Magic

The Bloomsbury edition of Harry Potter: A History of Magic ( ISBN   9781408890769) is a 256-page hardcover book geared towards older readers (as opposed to the exhibition's other official publication). As a companion to the exhibition, the book contains images and descriptions of all 150 artefacts displayed in the British exhibition, along with short essays comparing real-word magical practices to those found in the Harry Potter series. [12] Included are images of several pieces of artwork by Rowling and a few pages of drafts for various Harry Potter books. Like the exhibition, the book is divided into chapters based on classes at Hogwarts. It was published 20 October 2017, in conjunction with the opening of the exhibition at the British Library, and is available in the United Kingdom. With the release of the physical book, a digital e-book edition ( ISBN   9781781109472) was published by Pottermore. Pottermore also published an enhanced e-book edition available through Apple's iBooks. [4] [13] On 18 October 2018 Bloomsbury published a softcover version of this book ( ISBN   9781526607072). [14]

A Scholastic edition ( ISBN   9781338311501) was published in October 2018, in conjunction with the opening of the exhibition at the New-York Historical Society, and is available in the United States. [15] [11] [16] With the release of the physical book, a digital e-book edition ( ISBN   9781781102596) was published by Pottermore. The Scholastic edition of this publication was modified to coincide with the artefacts displayed in the New York exhibition.

Harry Potter: A Journey Through a History of Magic

The Bloomsbury edition of Harry Potter: A Journey Through a History of Magic ( ISBN   9781408890776) is a 144-page softcover book geared towards younger audiences. This book also includes images and descriptions of artefacts displayed in the British exhibition, including some of Rowling's original works, although due to its smaller size there are less artefacts featured than found in the exhibition's other official publication. The text of this book is written for readers eight years of age and older. [12] It was published 20 October 2017, in conjunction with the opening of the exhibition at the British Library, and is available in the United Kingdom. With the release of the physical book, a digital e-book edition ( ISBN   9781781109496) was published by Pottermore. [4]

The Scholastic edition of Harry Potter: A Journey Through a History of Magic ( ISBN   9781338267105) was published in the United States on 20 October 2017, in conjunction with the opening of the British exhibition. With the release of the physical book, a digital e-book edition ( ISBN   9781781109502) was published by Pottermore. [16] [11] Other than a different cover, Scholastic did not make any major edits to the US version of this book.

Harry Potter: A History of Magic (Television Documentary)

The BBC produced an hour-long television documentary examining the British exhibition. Titled Harry Potter: A History of Magic, the documentary premiered in the United Kingdom on BBC Two on 28 October 2017. It is narrated by Imelda Staunton, who played Dolores Umbridge in the Harry Potter film series, [17] and was released 27 November 2017 on region 2 DVD. [18]

The documentary premiered in the United States on 11 April 2018 on The CW. [19] [20] The region 1 DVD was released on 30 October 2018.

Audiobook

An audiobook of the same name was released in 2018. The audiobook is narrated by Natalie Dormer – with input from a host of experts – and reveals some of the hidden stories behind real-world magic and explores some of J.K. Rowling's magical inventions alongside their folkloric, cultural and historical forebears.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">J. K. Rowling</span> British author and philanthropist

Joanne Rowling, known by her pen name J. K. Rowling, is a British author and philanthropist. She is the author of Harry Potter, a seven-volume fantasy novel series published from 1997 to 2007. The series has sold over 600 million copies, been translated into 84 languages, and spawned a global media franchise including films and video games. The Casual Vacancy was her first novel for adults. She writes Cormoran Strike, an ongoing crime fiction series, under the alias Robert Galbraith.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lord Voldemort</span> Fictional character from Harry Potter

Lord Voldemort is a fictional character and the main antagonist in the Harry Potter series of novels by J. K. Rowling. He first appears in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (1997) and returns either in person or in flashbacks in each novel in the series except the third, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, in which he is only mentioned.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hogwarts</span> Fictional British school of magic from the Harry Potter universe

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry is a fictional boarding school of magic for young wizards. It is the primary setting for the first six novels in the Harry Potter series by J. K. Rowling, and also serves as a major setting in the Wizarding World media franchise.

<i>Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone</i> 1997 fantasy novel by J. K. Rowling

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone is a fantasy novel written by British author J. K. Rowling. It is the first novel in the Harry Potter series and was Rowling's début novel. It follows Harry Potter, a young wizard who discovers his magical heritage on his eleventh birthday when he receives a letter of acceptance to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Harry makes close friends and a few enemies during his first year at the school. With the help of his friends, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, he faces an attempted comeback by the dark wizard Lord Voldemort, who killed Harry's parents but failed to kill Harry when he was just 15 months old.

<i>Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix</i> 2003 fantasy novel by J. K. Rowling

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is a fantasy novel written by British author J. K. Rowling. It is the fifth and longest novel in the Harry Potter series. It follows Harry Potter's struggles through his fifth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, including the surreptitious return of the antagonist Lord Voldemort, O.W.L. exams, and an obstructive Ministry of Magic. The novel was published on 21 June 2003 by Bloomsbury in the United Kingdom, Scholastic in the United States, and Raincoast in Canada. It sold five million copies in the first 24 hours of publication.

<i>Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them</i> (book) 2001 book by J. K. Rowling about the magical creatures in the Harry Potter universe

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is a 2001 guide book written by British author J. K. Rowling about the magical creatures in the Harry Potter universe. The original version, illustrated by the author herself, purports to be Harry Potter's copy of the textbook of the same name mentioned in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, the first novel of the Harry Potter series. It includes several notes inside it supposedly handwritten by Harry, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger, detailing their own experiences with some of the beasts described, and including inside jokes relating to the original series.

<i>Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban</i> 1999 fantasy novel by J. K. Rowling

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban is a fantasy novel written by British author J. K. Rowling. It is the third instalment in the Harry Potter series. The novel follows Harry Potter, a young wizard, in his third year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Along with friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, Harry investigates Sirius Black, an escaped prisoner from Azkaban, the wizard prison, believed to be one of Lord Voldemort's old allies.

<i>Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire</i> 2000 fantasy novel by J. K. Rowling

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire is a fantasy novel written by British author J. K. Rowling. It is the fourth novel in the Harry Potter series. It follows Harry Potter, a wizard in his fourth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and the mystery surrounding the entry of Harry's name into the Triwizard Tournament, in which he is forced to compete.

In the fictional universe of Harry Potter, magic is depicted as a supernatural force that overrides the laws of nature. In humans, magical ability is inborn and is usually inherited. Most children of magical parents are magical themselves. Some children of "Muggle" (non-magical) parents also display magical ability. Children who are born to wizard parents but are unable to perform magic are known as Squibs.

<i>Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows</i> 2007 fantasy novel by J. K. Rowling

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is a fantasy novel written by British author J. K. Rowling. It is the seventh and final novel in the Harry Potter series. It was released on 21 July 2007 in the United Kingdom by Bloomsbury Publishing, in the United States by Scholastic, and in Canada by Raincoast Books. The novel chronicles the events directly following Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2005) and the final confrontation between the wizards Harry Potter and Lord Voldemort.

The following is a list of magical objects that appear in the Harry Potter novels and film adaptations.

The fictional universe of the Harry Potter series of novels contains two distinct societies: the "wizarding world" and the "Muggle world". The term "Muggle world" refers to a society inhabited by non-magical people ("Muggles"), while the term "wizarding world" refers to a society of wizards that live parallel to Muggles. The wizarding world is described as a veiled society wherein magic is commonly used and practised; the wizards live in self-enforced seclusion and hide their abilities from Muggles. The novels are set in 1990s Britain, which contains both Muggle and wizard communities. Any new works taking place in this universe are released under the Wizarding World brand.

<i>Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince</i> 2005 fantasy novel by J. K. Rowling

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is a fantasy novel written by British author J. K. Rowling. It is the sixth and penultimate novel in the Harry Potter series, and takes place during Harry Potter's sixth year at the wizard school Hogwarts. The novel reveals events from the early life of Lord Voldemort, and chronicles Harry's preparations for the final battle against him.

<i>Harry Potter</i> Series of fantasy novels by J. K. Rowling

Harry Potter is a series of seven fantasy novels written by British author J. K. Rowling. The novels chronicle the lives of a young wizard, Harry Potter, and his friends, Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley, all of whom are students at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The main story arc concerns Harry's conflict with Lord Voldemort, a dark wizard who intends to become immortal, overthrow the wizard governing body known as the Ministry of Magic, and subjugate all wizards and Muggles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ginny Weasley</span> Fictional character in J. K. Rowlings Harry Potter series

Ginevra Molly "Ginny" Weasley is a fictional character in the Harry Potter series of novels by J.K. Rowling. She is introduced in the first novel, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, as the youngest child and only daughter of Arthur and Molly Weasley. She becomes romantically involved with Harry Potter and eventually marries him. Ginny is portrayed by Bonnie Wright in all eight Harry Potter films.

Wizarding World Digital is a digital publishing, e-commerce, entertainment and news company. It offers news, features, and articles as well as new and previously unreleased writing by J. K. Rowling regarding the Wizarding World. The site features Rowling's thoughts, several pages of unpublished text, and a sales resource for e-book and audiobook versions of the seven Harry Potter novels through Pottermore Publishing.

<i>Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them</i> (film) 2016 film by David Yates

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is a 2016 fantasy film directed by David Yates and written by J. K. Rowling. It is the first instalment in the Fantastic Beasts film series and the ninth overall in the Wizarding World franchise, serving as a spin-off of and prequel to the Harry Potter film series; it is inspired by the 2001 guide book of the same name by Rowling. The film features an ensemble cast that includes Eddie Redmayne, Katherine Waterston, Dan Fogler, Alison Sudol, Ezra Miller, Samantha Morton, Jon Voight, Carmen Ejogo, Ron Perlman, and Colin Farrell.

<i>Short Stories from Hogwarts of Heroism, Hardship and Dangerous Hobbies</i> Book by J. K. Rowling

Short Stories from Hogwarts of Heroism, Hardship and Dangerous Hobbies is an e-book written by J. K. Rowling, a guide to Hogwarts' teachers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wizarding World</span> Warner Bros. media franchise

The Wizarding World is a fantasy media franchise and shared fictional universe centred on the Harry Potter novel series by J. K. Rowling. A series of films have been in production since 2000, and in that time eleven films have been produced—eight are adaptations of the Harry Potter novels and three are part of the Fantastic Beasts series. The films are owned and distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures. The series has collectively grossed over $9.6 billion at the global box office, making it the fourth-highest-grossing film franchise of all time.

References

  1. ↑ "Harry Potter: A History of Magic opens at the New-York Historical Society". Pottermore. 5 October 2018. Retrieved 13 October 2018. The exhibition is open from 5 October to 27 January 2019.
  2. ↑ "Harry Potter: A History of Magic". The British Library events webpage. The British Library. Archived from the original on 10 April 2021. Retrieved 26 May 2018.
  3. ↑ "Harry Potter: A History of Magic public library displays". The British Library. 17 November 2017. Archived from the original on 9 January 2022. Retrieved 26 May 2018. The displays include images of items featured in the British Library's exhibition, including rare books, manuscripts and magical objects, as well as copies of materials from J.K. Rowling and Bloomsbury's own collections. Local connections to magic and folklore are also showcased, including amazing physical items from local library collections.
  4. 1 2 3 The Pottermore News Team (20 October 2017). "Harry Potter: A History of Magic opens today at the British Library". Pottermore. Retrieved 26 May 2018.
  5. ↑ Kennedy, Maev (27 February 2018). "Record-breaking Harry Potter magic exhibition goes online". The Guardian (US Edition). Retrieved 26 May 2018.
  6. ↑ Khan, Suhair (27 February 2018). "With just a flick of a wand, "Harry Potter: A History of Magic" is on Google Arts & Culture". The Keyword (Google blog). Google. Retrieved 26 May 2018.
  7. ↑ The Pottermore News Team (27 February 2018). "Explore the British Library's Harry Potter: A History of Magic exhibition with Google Arts & Culture". Pottermore. Retrieved 26 May 2018.
  8. ↑ "Harry Potter: A History of Magic". Google Arts & Culture. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  9. ↑ "Harry Potter: A History of Magic opens at the New-York Historical Society". Pottermore. 5 October 2018. Retrieved 13 October 2018. The exhibition is open from 5 October to 27 January 2019.
  10. ↑ "Harry Potter: A History of Magic". New-York Historical Society exhibits webpage. The New-York Historical Society. Retrieved 26 May 2018.
  11. 1 2 3 "British Library exhibition Harry Potter: A History of Magic to open in New York next year". Pottermore. 6 September 2017. Retrieved 26 May 2018.
  12. 1 2 "What is the difference between 'Harry Potter: A History of Magic' and 'Harry Potter: A Journey Through a History of Magic'?". Pottermore. Retrieved 27 May 2018.
  13. ↑ The Pottermore News Team (10 November 2017). "Inside the enhanced edition of Harry Potter: A History of Magic". Pottermore. Retrieved 26 May 2018.
  14. ↑ "Harry Potter: A History of Magic – The Book of the Exhibition". Bloomsbury Store. Bloomsbury Publishing. Retrieved 27 October 2018.[ permanent dead link ]
  15. ↑ Kirk, Amanda (27 September 2018). ""Harry Potter: A History of Magic" book now available from New York Historical Society". the-leaky-cauldron.org. The Leaky Cauldron. Retrieved 27 October 2018. The official companion book for the Harry Potter: A History of Magic exhibit, which opens October 5 and runs through January 27, 2019, at the New York Historical Society, is now available exclusively from the Society's bookshop. ... On October 9, the book will become available nationwide...
  16. 1 2 "Scholastic to Publish Harry Potter: A Journey Through a History of Magic on October 20, 2017" (Press release). Scholastic. 6 September 2017. Retrieved 26 May 2018.
  17. ↑ "Harry Potter – A History Of Magic". BBC Media Centre. Retrieved 26 May 2018.
  18. ↑ The Pottermore News Team (27 November 2017). "BBC documentary Harry Potter: A History of Magic released on DVD today". Pottermore. Retrieved 26 May 2018.
  19. ↑ "Harry Potter: A History of Magic". cwtv.com. Retrieved 26 May 2018. Original Air Date: 4.11.18
  20. ↑ Nick, Dani (12 March 2018). "'Harry Potter: A History Of Magic' Is Coming To The CW". Philly 57 The CW website. Retrieved 27 May 2018.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.