I realised that today we are very much interested in reading about subjects that would have also interested people in the 1500s: ghosts, demons and things that go bump in the night. Deborah Harkness 1500sbumpdemon Change image and share on social
Films are wonderful but they do fix an identity. I can't read 'Pride and Prejudice' anymore, for instance, without imaging Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy. Deborah Harkness anymorecolindarcy Change image and share on social
I couldn't resist hiding some historical details and a few clues relevant to the plot and characters of 'A Discovery of Witches' throughout the pages of the novel. Deborah Harkness charactercluedetail Change image and share on social
I teach 18- to 21-year-olds - the 'Harry Potter' generation. They grew up as voracious readers, reading books in this exploding genre. But at some point, I would love for them to give Umberto Eco or A.S. Byatt a try. I hope 'A Discovery of Witches' will serve as a kind of stepping-stone. Deborah Harkness bookbyattdiscovery share on social
Magic provides a way of still having room for possibilities, an unlimited sense of what the world offers. Magic is always there when science is found wanting. Deborah Harkness findmagicoffer Change image and share on social
Once upon a time, about 10 years ago, I thought maybe I could write a mystery series about a midwife in Elizabethan England. I had an elaborately convoluted title and an elaborately convoluted plotline, and at that point I got stupendously bored. Deborah Harkness agoboreconvolute share on social
A lot of our assumptions of the world are fairly cynical, fairly negative, and assume the worst. What our reading tastes show - in this rush to fantasy, romance, whatever - is that we actually still want to believe in a world of possibility, in a world of mystery. Deborah Harkness assumeassumptionbad share on social
Cheap wine is defined by its price, and it depends on personal spending limits. So for me, any wine under $10 is cheap. Deborah Harkness cheapdefinedepend Change image and share on social
For me, a $20 wine that drinks like a $40 wine in terms of complexity and interest is a value, while a $5 wine that is not very good is not a value at all in my opinion. Deborah Harkness complexitydrinkgood Change image and share on social
The plain truth is that the period I study is the 16th century, and they were absolutely obsessed with witches and spiritual beings. Deborah Harkness 16thabsolutelybeing Change image and share on social