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 Wyvern of Wye: A St David’s Day Post (February 29, 2024) - In honor of Welsh holiday, St David's Day, Dr Beatrice Groves shares which Wizarding World beast has deep roots in Wales' culture - the Wyvern.
- Austen and Harry Potter: Privet Drive was Privet Drive; Hogwarts was home: Harry, Austen Heroines and Home Part two (December 16, 2023) - Beatrice Groves draws more parallels from the works of Jane Austen and the themes in Harry Potter. Read part 2 to find our more.
- Austen and Harry Potter: Riddles and Romance: Austenian plot twists in Harry Potter Part One (December 15, 2023) - Plot twists and clever allusions - just some of the things linking Harry Potter and the works of Jane Austen.
- Happy Golden Birthday to the Philosopher’s Stone (June 26, 2023) - This editorial takes another look at some of the alchemical symbolism of the "Harry Potter" series.
- Colette in the Wizarding World (January 28, 2023) - French author Colette may have inspired the French influence on both "Goblet of Fire" and "Crimes of Grindelwald."
- Revamping Trocar: Ink Black Vampires and the Half-Blood Prince (October 30, 2022) - In both "The Ink Black Heart" and "Half-Blood Prince," vampires are incidental to the plot but essential to the underlying themes.
- 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.