Welcome FFP students! I had the privilege of contacting the author of A Discovery of Witches, Deborah Harkness and she sent me a message for you all to read as we begin this book club! Here is her message:
Dear Students:
Your teacher tells me that you are about to read A DISCOVERY OF WITCHES. I'm really thrilled that you would take on the book, and hope that you enjoy spending time in the world of alchemy and ancient texts, modern science and old magic--not to mention witches, daemons, vampires, and humans.
Based on my reading of your pre-discussion questions, you're all off researching alchemy and the elixir of life, which is a good place to start. The main character, Diana Bishop, thinks about those topics all the time so you will be on somewhat familiar ground as you follow her adventures and try to uncover the symbolism and meaning of the lost manuscript Ashmole 782.
One more thing: I'm a teacher, too, so there is a Treasure Hunt element to A DISCOVERY OF WITCHES. I buried little nuggets of information (people, places, myths, even real books) in the novel so that you can search for more information in your library, classroom, and even on the web. My students tell me these are called "Easter eggs" in computer games, but for me they represent what it is to be a scholar or scientist: you are always on the hunt for new information, following clues in the natural world or in books, trying to find answers to your questions. Try searching for some of the names you find, or the books and manuscripts, or even the title of the book (hint: I borrowed it from someone who lived a long, long time ago). Have fun!
I hope the book results in some wonderful discussions,
-- Deborah Harkness (@DebHarkness)
INTRODUCTION
Diana Bishop has spent her entire life trying to deny who she really is. The only child of two powerful witches, orphaned when she was just seven years old, Diana has rejected her magical abilities, determined to pass as human. But with her unwitting discovery of a mysterious manuscript long hidden in the archives of the Bodleian Library, Diana is forced to face the heritage she has tried so hard to forget. The power of the enchanted manuscript, known only as Ashmole 782, is both tantalizing and intimidating and she quickly sends the book back to the stacks, hoping to return to her normal life. Unbeknownst to her, she has discovered a volume that can unlock all the secrets of her world and, in doing so, has ignited a war—and made herself the prime target.
Drawing on a wealth of knowledge about alchemy and the history of witchcraft, Deborah Harkness has crafted a fast-paced, intensely readable novel of magic, adventure, and romance. A Discovery of Witches charts Diana's struggle to accept her family's magical legacy, her growing understanding of the scope of the battle she has begun, and her dangerous alliance with handsome geneticist—and fifteen-hundred-year-old vampire—Matthew Clairmont.
Vampires, known for their jaw-dropping good looks and seductive charm, aren't supposed to associate with witches, but Diana's discovery has caught Matthew's attention. Contrary to everything she has been taught and despite her initial reluctance and suspicion, Diana joins forces with Matthew to battle the dark spirits that are gathering around them. But cooperation quickly leads to attraction as Diana and Matthew begin to fall in love—an act forbidden by the Congregation, the covenant of witches, daemons, and vampires who dictate the rules of behavior for all underworld species and have the power to cruelly punish those who break them.
A complicated yet entirely relatable heroine, Diana must discover the surprising truth of her own legacy and realize the strength of her magic in order to prevent Ashmole 782 from falling into the wrong hands. Her journey, as well as her relationship with Matthew, will keep readers turning pages late into the night and have them hotly anticipating the next stage in her adventure. A world filled with enchantment and danger, sorcery and science, A Discovery of Witches is a sophisticated and smart novel that blends the excitement of a classic supernatural thriller with the intelligence that could be provided only by a respected scholar and skilled storyteller like Deborah Harkness.
ABOUT DEBORAH HARKNESS
Deborah Harkness is a scholar and writer specializing in the history of science and medicine. She has received numerous awards, including Fulbright, Guggenheim, and National Humanities Center fellowships. Currently a professor of history at the University of Southern California, her most recent academic publication is The Jewel House: Elizabethan London and the Scientific Revolution. This is her first novel.
Source: http://www.penguin.ca/static/rguides/cn/discovery-of-witches-pb.html
PRE-READING QUESTIONS
You may also wish to follow the author on Twitter and ask her questions, or let her know your reactions as they arise: @DebHarkness
Join the discussion by logging into your GAFE.
1. What is alchemy?
2. How is alchemy related to chemistry?
3. What do you know about the Philosopher’s stone?
4. What is the “elixir of life”?
5. What do you know about vampires?
Check out the following resources:
Author Deborah Harkness' Official Site
Facebook Fan Page
A Discovery of Witches Official Site
The Globe and Mail Review
A Discovery of Witches Film Information
Dear Students:
Your teacher tells me that you are about to read A DISCOVERY OF WITCHES. I'm really thrilled that you would take on the book, and hope that you enjoy spending time in the world of alchemy and ancient texts, modern science and old magic--not to mention witches, daemons, vampires, and humans.
Based on my reading of your pre-discussion questions, you're all off researching alchemy and the elixir of life, which is a good place to start. The main character, Diana Bishop, thinks about those topics all the time so you will be on somewhat familiar ground as you follow her adventures and try to uncover the symbolism and meaning of the lost manuscript Ashmole 782.
One more thing: I'm a teacher, too, so there is a Treasure Hunt element to A DISCOVERY OF WITCHES. I buried little nuggets of information (people, places, myths, even real books) in the novel so that you can search for more information in your library, classroom, and even on the web. My students tell me these are called "Easter eggs" in computer games, but for me they represent what it is to be a scholar or scientist: you are always on the hunt for new information, following clues in the natural world or in books, trying to find answers to your questions. Try searching for some of the names you find, or the books and manuscripts, or even the title of the book (hint: I borrowed it from someone who lived a long, long time ago). Have fun!
I hope the book results in some wonderful discussions,
-- Deborah Harkness (@DebHarkness)
INTRODUCTION
Diana Bishop has spent her entire life trying to deny who she really is. The only child of two powerful witches, orphaned when she was just seven years old, Diana has rejected her magical abilities, determined to pass as human. But with her unwitting discovery of a mysterious manuscript long hidden in the archives of the Bodleian Library, Diana is forced to face the heritage she has tried so hard to forget. The power of the enchanted manuscript, known only as Ashmole 782, is both tantalizing and intimidating and she quickly sends the book back to the stacks, hoping to return to her normal life. Unbeknownst to her, she has discovered a volume that can unlock all the secrets of her world and, in doing so, has ignited a war—and made herself the prime target.
Drawing on a wealth of knowledge about alchemy and the history of witchcraft, Deborah Harkness has crafted a fast-paced, intensely readable novel of magic, adventure, and romance. A Discovery of Witches charts Diana's struggle to accept her family's magical legacy, her growing understanding of the scope of the battle she has begun, and her dangerous alliance with handsome geneticist—and fifteen-hundred-year-old vampire—Matthew Clairmont.
Vampires, known for their jaw-dropping good looks and seductive charm, aren't supposed to associate with witches, but Diana's discovery has caught Matthew's attention. Contrary to everything she has been taught and despite her initial reluctance and suspicion, Diana joins forces with Matthew to battle the dark spirits that are gathering around them. But cooperation quickly leads to attraction as Diana and Matthew begin to fall in love—an act forbidden by the Congregation, the covenant of witches, daemons, and vampires who dictate the rules of behavior for all underworld species and have the power to cruelly punish those who break them.
A complicated yet entirely relatable heroine, Diana must discover the surprising truth of her own legacy and realize the strength of her magic in order to prevent Ashmole 782 from falling into the wrong hands. Her journey, as well as her relationship with Matthew, will keep readers turning pages late into the night and have them hotly anticipating the next stage in her adventure. A world filled with enchantment and danger, sorcery and science, A Discovery of Witches is a sophisticated and smart novel that blends the excitement of a classic supernatural thriller with the intelligence that could be provided only by a respected scholar and skilled storyteller like Deborah Harkness.
ABOUT DEBORAH HARKNESS
Deborah Harkness is a scholar and writer specializing in the history of science and medicine. She has received numerous awards, including Fulbright, Guggenheim, and National Humanities Center fellowships. Currently a professor of history at the University of Southern California, her most recent academic publication is The Jewel House: Elizabethan London and the Scientific Revolution. This is her first novel.
Source: http://www.penguin.ca/static/rguides/cn/discovery-of-witches-pb.html
PRE-READING QUESTIONS
You may also wish to follow the author on Twitter and ask her questions, or let her know your reactions as they arise: @DebHarkness
Join the discussion by logging into your GAFE.
1. What is alchemy?
2. How is alchemy related to chemistry?
3. What do you know about the Philosopher’s stone?
4. What is the “elixir of life”?
5. What do you know about vampires?
Check out the following resources:
Author Deborah Harkness' Official Site
Facebook Fan Page
A Discovery of Witches Official Site
The Globe and Mail Review
A Discovery of Witches Film Information