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"Harry Potter: A History of Magic," held in the
British Library in London, features Potter memorabilia including
author J.K. Rowling's first annotated sketch of Hogwarts school,
as well as her handwritten list of its teachers and subjects.
As well as the items associated with Rowling and the book
series, the exhibition also features historic artifacts from the
library's collection, including alchemists' scrolls from the
1500s and Chinese oracle bones from the 12th century.
"Our exhibition explores the history, mythology and folklore
behind the Harry Potter stories," Julian Harrison, the
exhibition's lead curator, told Reuters.
"We investigate broomsticks and cauldrons and unicorns and
dragons. We’ve organized the exhibition around some of the
subjects that students would study at Hogwarts School of
Witchcraft and Wizardry, from potions to charms to astronomy and
divination."
The seven Harry Potter books have been translated into 68
languages and have sold more than 400 million copies worldwide,
Rowling's publishers say.
The final book in the series was published in 2007, but the
series spawned a series of hit films, a U.S. theme park and a
hit stage play that have kept the franchise in the public eye.
Rowling herself appears to have enjoyed the blend of her
fictional world with the library's collection.
"Encountering objects for real that have in some shape or form
figured in my books has been quite wonderful," she said in a
statement.
The exhibition runs from October 20 until February 28 2018.
(Writing by Mark Hanrahan in London)
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