Remember how Hermione constantly nags Harry and Ron to brush up on Hogwarts: A History? Bathilda’s Notebook is the place to find out more about the real history behind Hogwarts’ creation. Writing with cutting-edge literary analysis of the series, Bathilda explores the literature and ideas that have most inspired Rowling, from Shakespeare to Sherlock Holmes.
Dr. Beatrice Groves teaches Shakespeare at Oxford University and is the author of Literary Allusion in Harry Potter, which is available now.
- The Phoenix and the Qilin in “Secrets of Dumbledore”: Fantastic Bestiaries and Where to Find Them – Part 3 (April 7, 2022) - The qilin and the phoenix are more alike than they may seem - and both will likely play an important role in "Secrets of Dumbledore."
- An Ancient Chinese Bestiary in “Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore”: Fantastic Bestiaries and Where to Find Them – Part 2 (April 6, 2022) - Dr. Beatrice Groves reveals how an ancient Chinese bestiary, the "Shan Hai Jing," heavily influenced the creatures of the "Fantastic Beasts" films.
- “Secrets of Dumbledore” and “The Book of Beasts”: Fantastic Bestiaries and Where to Find Them – Part 1 (April 5, 2022) - Dr. Beatrice Groves reveals how the inspiration and symbolism of the creatures in the wizarding world originated from T.H. White's "Book of Beasts."
- “Because I Was in Love With You:” The Blood Troth in “Secrets of Dumbledore” (March 21, 2022) - An analysis of the term "blood troth" reveals how Dumbledore's love for Grindelwald was foreshadowed in the previous movie.
- Secrets of Dumbledore: Dumbledore’s Wand and Wulfric of Haselbury (February 20, 2022) - We know that Dumbledore eventually owned the Elder Wand, but what was his wand made out of before then? His namesake Wulfric may give us some clues.
- Christmas in the Forest of Dean: The Silver Doe – Part 2 (December 23, 2021) - From white deer to references to the Forest of Dean, early Arthurian texts can shine a light on the doe Patronus scene in "Deathly Hallows."
- Christmas in the Forest of Dean: The Silver Doe – Part 1 (December 22, 2021) - From Dennis Potter to Harry Potter, the Forest of Dean may pull its significance from screenwriters, Arthurian legend, and the author's own childhood.
- Fantastic Beasts and How to Save Them: Ice Age Dragons, Shakespeare, and More from the London Natural History Museum’s “Wonder of Nature” Exhibit (August 16, 2021) - How do Mooncalves get their names? What's a kakapo? How is a marine iguana like an Occamy? Read this article to answer all those questions and more.
- Diagon Alley in Oxford? The Seventh Annual Harry Potter Book Night – Part 2 (June 24, 2021) - Through literary clues, Dr. Beatrice Groves reveals how Diagon Alley may have been inspired by Oxford's High Street.
- Celebrating the Seventh Annual Harry Potter Book Night: Diagon Alley – Part 1 (June 23, 2021) - From puns to literary references to magical ley lines, there's more to Diagon Alley than meets the eye.
