Bibliograph

The science of Harry Potter, how magic really works, Roger Highfield

Type

Label

The science of Harry Potter, how magic really works, Roger Highfield

Language

eng

Bibliography note

Includes bibliographical references (pages 289-295), glossary, and index

Index

index present

Literary Form

non fiction

Main title

The science of Harry Potter

Nature of contents

bibliographydictionaries

Responsibility statement

Roger Highfield

Sub title

how magic really works

Summary

Magic and science may seem like strange bedfellows, but in this captivating and far-ranging book, respected science journalist Roger Highfield nimbly illustrates how the two disciplines are actually deeply intertwined in the Harry Potter books. Like Highfield's The Physics of Christmas, The Science of Harry Potter teases out the scientific explanations and surprising factual foundation of marvels and mysteries-only this time instead of reindeer and Santa, Highfield trains his eye on dragons, broomsticks, and all the wonderful oddities of J. K. Rowling's enchanted world. Highfield uses the amazing elements of the Harry Potter books as a springboard into discussions of fascinating scientific issues. He delves into the archaeology of witchcraft, tracing the origin and uses of wands and cauldrons as revealed at ancient European dig sites. He speculates on the astounding connection between hallucinogens and flying broomsticks and the bizarre drug-taking practices of medieval witches. The potions and charms that Harry has so much trouble replicating in Snape's class are in fact grounded in the science of ethnobotany. Here too is a plausible account of the cutting-edge physics that explains the invisibility cloak and the genetic engineering behind the creation of Fluffy the three-headed dog

resource.variantTitle

How magic really works

Classification

Creator