Remember when the last Harry Potter book came out in 2007? People queued up for hours, some of them inexplicably dressed in wizard outfits even though they were over the age of 13, to be the first to get their hands on the final instalment in the series. There were copious tears: it was finally over.
Anyway, 10 years later and it turns out that all that queueing and crying was a complete waste of time, because YET MORE ‘background books’ are being released – great news for everyone still hooked on Harry’s world.
The books are being released in conjunction with the British Library’s new ‘History of Magic’ exhibition – which you can go and see from October this year.
Harry Potter: A History Of Magic – The Book Of The Exhibition is described by the British Library as a “once-in-a-lifetime collaboration between Bloomsbury, J.K. Rowling and the brilliant curators of the British Library” that promises to “take readers on a fascinating journey through the subjects studied at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry – from Alchemy and Potions classes through to Herbology and Care of Magical Creatures.”
The book also includes essays on the series from writers including Steve Backshall, the Reverend Richard Coles, Owen Davies, Julia Eccleshare, Roger Highfield, Steve Kloves, Lucy Mangan, Anna Pavord and Tim Peake.
”Readers will be able to pore over ancient spell books, amazing illuminated scrolls that reveal the secret of the Elixir of Life, vials of dragon's blood, mandrake roots, painted centaurs and a genuine witch's broomstick, in a book that shows J.K. Rowling's magical inventions alongside their cultural and historical forebears,” the blurb continues.
Harry Potter – A Journey Through A History Of Magic is described as an “irresistible romp through the history of magic, from alchemy to unicorns, ancient witchcraft to Harry's Hogwarts – packed with unseen sketches and manuscript pages from J.K. Rowling, magical illustrations from Jim Kay and weird, wonderful and inspiring artifacts that have been magically released from the archives at the British Library.”
You can pre-order the books now, and they’ll also be available from the British Library when the exhibition starts in October. You can try and summon them with an ‘accio’ spell, unless you’re a dumb idiot muggle.
