Deborah Harkness

2018-us-nationalbookfestival-deborah-harkness

Deborah Harkness is an American scholar, novelist, and wine enthusiast. She is best known for her works of historical fantasy and her academic contributions to the study of history and science.

Early Life and Education

Deborah Harkness was born on April 5, 1965, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She developed an early interest in history and literature, which led her to pursue higher education in these fields. Harkness earned her B.A. from Mount Holyoke College, her M.A. from Northwestern University, and her Ph.D. from the University of California, Davis.

Academic Career

Harkness is a professor of history at the University of Southern California (USC). Her academic research focuses on the history of science, medicine, and magic in early modern Europe. She has published several scholarly articles and books, including John Dee's Conversations with Angels: Cabala, Alchemy, and the End of Nature and The Jewel House: Elizabethan London and the Scientific Revolution.

Literary Career

Deborah Harkness is best known for her All Souls Trilogy, which includes the novels A Discovery of Witches, Shadow of Night, and The Book of Life. The series blends elements of historical fiction, fantasy, and romance, and has been praised for its rich historical detail and complex characters. The trilogy has been adapted into a successful television series, A Discovery of Witches.

A Discovery of Witches

A Discovery of Witches is the first book in the All Souls Trilogy. It introduces Diana Bishop, a historian and reluctant witch, and Matthew Clairmont, a geneticist and vampire. The novel explores themes of alchemy, magic, and forbidden love.

Shadow of Night

Shadow of Night is the second book in the trilogy. It follows Diana and Matthew as they travel back in time to Elizabethan England to search for a powerful manuscript known as Ashmole 782. The novel delves into the historical context of the period, featuring real historical figures such as Christopher Marlowe and Queen Elizabeth I.

The Book of Life

The Book of Life is the final installment in the trilogy. It concludes the story of Diana and Matthew as they face new challenges and uncover secrets about their pasts. The novel ties together the various plot threads and provides a satisfying conclusion to the series.

Personal Life

Deborah Harkness is also a wine enthusiast and has maintained a wine blog called Good Wine Under $20. She resides in Los Angeles, California.

Bibliography

• John Dee's Conversations with Angels: Cabala, Alchemy, and the End of Nature (1999)
• The Jewel House: Elizabethan London and the Scientific Revolution (2007)
• A Discovery of Witches (2011)
• Shadow of Night (2012)
• The Book of Life (2014)
• Time's Convert (2018)

See Also

• Historical fantasy
• History of science
• Elizabethan era
• Magic in fiction