Memories were short and history unkind. It was the way of the world. Deborah Harkness More Quotes by Deborah Harkness More Quotes From Deborah Harkness I'm a storyteller, and I have really good material to work with: I've been studying magic and the occult since about 1983. Deborah Harkness studyinggoodmagicwork There were no vampires of note in Western literature until about the 18th century. But they tell us where we park our anxieties, whether its over-powerful women, death or damnation. We make our own monsters. Deborah Harkness ownwomenliteraturedeath The world of scholarship is much more measured in its appreciation and also its criticism than the world of popular literature. Deborah Harkness moreliteratureappreciationworld I teach 18- to 21-year-olds - the 'Harry Potter' generation. They grew up as voracious readers, reading books in this exploding genre. But at some point, I would love for them to give Umberto Eco or A.S. Byatt a try. I hope 'A Discovery of Witches' will serve as a kind of stepping-stone. Deborah Harkness generationreadinghopelove As a historian, I love every little detail, but whole long passages about wood paneling and journeys on horseback and every stop at every inn had to go out the window. I decided the history in the books should be like spice in a soup - a little went a long way. Like cilantro. Deborah Harkness lovelonghistorywindow I realised that today we are very much interested in reading about subjects that would have also interested people in the 1500s: ghosts, demons and things that go bump in the night. Deborah Harkness readingtodaynightpeople I'm a professional non-fiction reader, that's what I do. But in my 20s we had our own vampire and witch moment, courtesy of Anne Rice, whose books I read and loved. Deborah Harkness professionallovedownmoment Films are wonderful but they do fix an identity. I can't read 'Pride and Prejudice' anymore, for instance, without imaging Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy. Deborah Harkness withoutprejudiceprideidentity I couldn't resist hiding some historical details and a few clues relevant to the plot and characters of 'A Discovery of Witches' throughout the pages of the novel. Deborah Harkness somedetailshistoricaldiscovery Cheap wine is defined by its price, and it depends on personal spending limits. So for me, any wine under $10 is cheap. Deborah Harkness personalmewinelimits For me, a $20 wine that drinks like a $40 wine in terms of complexity and interest is a value, while a $5 wine that is not very good is not a value at all in my opinion. Deborah Harkness valuegoodmewine The occult sciences were simply ancient technologies for making the occult or unseen manifest in the world - whether that was the influence of the stars and planets, the mysterious meanings of lines inscribed in your palm, or forms of action at a distance like magic and spells. Deborah Harkness magicstarsactionworld I love being outdoors and being with animals, and when you're on a horse, you have to leave your anxieties and worries behind in the barn. It's very therapeutic. Deborah Harkness behindyouhorselove I'm definitely a seat-of-the-pants writer. Deborah Harkness definitelywriter
