UPDATED: Official Companion Books for “Harry Potter: A History of Magic: The Exhibition” Announced

by · June 22, 2017

UPDATE (July 22):

The cover for the second companion book, Harry Potter: A Journey Through a History of Magic, is now online. The book is available for preorder from Bloomsbury for £11.69, while the first companion book, Harry Potter: A History of Magic, is available for £27.00.

 

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In continuing celebration of the 20th anniversary of Harry Potter, Bloomsbury and the British Library will be releasing not one, but two official books showcasing this fall’s Harry Potter: A History of Magic. Tickets are now available for the exhibition, which will run at the British Library from October 20, 2017, until February 28, 2018.

 

 

Harry Potter: A History of Magic (Hardback) is the official book of the exhibition. In a unique collaboration between Bloomsbury and the curators of the British Library, the exhibition will unveil rare books, manuscripts and magical objects from the British Library’s collection, capturing the traditions of folklore and magic [that] underpin the Harry Potter stories. Visitors can marvel at original drafts and drawings by J.K. Rowling and Harry Potter illustrator Jim Kay, both on display for the first time. This book explores the amazing artefacts, manuscripts, original artwork and curators’ insights that make up the backbone of the exhibition. A comprehensive companion book, it will also feature essays on each section of the exhibition by cultural commentators, academics and respected writers as diverse as Major Tim Peake, Lucy Mangan, Steve Backshall and Anna Pavord. This is a beautifully produced, full-colour coffee-table book [that] will make the whole exhibition experience available to everyone.

 

Harry Potter: A Journey Through a History of Magic showcases selected items from the exhibition and is aimed at a family audience. It too explores the subjects studied at Hogwarts and will contain spellbinding facts and information behind the real history of magic, alongside activities inspired by these subjects, creating a rich and rewarding book for families to enjoy for years to come.

 

The books will be available in hardback from Bloomsbury, and Pottermore will have the e-book versions starting October 20, 2017, in line with the opening of the exhibit at the British Library.

Press Release

Bloomsbury collaborates with the British Library to create two magic-filled books accompanying 20th anniversary Harry Potter exhibition

In a unique collaboration between Bloomsbury and the curators of the British Library, two new books will be published by Bloomsbury and Pottermore this autumn to accompany Harry Potter: A History of Magic: The Exhibition. The exhibition will run at the British Library from 20th October 2017 until 28th February 2018 as part of the 20th anniversary of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone year[-]long series of activities.

Harry Potter: A History of Magic (Hardback) is the official book of the exhibition. In a unique collaboration between Bloomsbury and the curators of the British Library, the exhibition will unveil rare books, manuscripts and magical objects from the British Library’s collection, capturing the traditions of folklore and magic which underpin the Harry Potter stories. Visitors can marvel at original drafts and drawings by J.K. Rowling and Harry Potter illustrator Jim Kay, both on display for the first time. This book explores the amazing artefacts, manuscripts, original artwork and curators’ insights that make up the backbone of the exhibition. A comprehensive companion book, it will also feature essays on each section of the exhibition by cultural commentators, academics and respected writers as diverse as Major Tim Peake, Lucy Mangan, Steve Backshall and Anna Pavord. This is a beautifully produced, full-colour coffee-table book which will make the whole exhibition experience available to everyone.

Harry Potter: A Journey Through a History of Magic showcases selected items from the exhibition and is aimed at a family audience. It too explores the subjects studied at Hogwarts and will contain spellbinding facts and information behind the real history of magic, alongside activities inspired by these subjects, creating a rich and rewarding book for families to enjoy for years to come.

The print editions will be published by Bloomsbury on 20th October 2017 and the eBook editions will be published by Pottermore simultaneously. Both print and digital editions will echo the contents of the exhibition, which takes visitors on a journey to where magic and myth began using an extraordinary range of wizarding books, manuscripts and objects, and combine fascinating treasures from the British Library’s collections with previously-unseen material from the Bloomsbury archive and J.K. Rowling. Both titles will be available for purchase from the British Library as well as general book retailers.

Harry Potter: A History of Magic - Published in hardback and e-book on 20th October 2017 (HB: £30:00 / 256pp)

Harry Potter: A Journey Through a History of Magic - Published in paperback and e-book on 20th October 2017 (PB: £12:99 / 144pp)

Tickets for the exhibition are now on sale. To purchase tickets go to www.bl.uk.