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Description edit
A richly inventive novel about a centuries-old vampire, a spellbound witch, and the mysterious manuscript that draws them together. Deep in the stacks of Oxford's Bodleian Library, young scholar Diana Bishop unknowingly calls up a bewitched alchemical manuscript in the course of her research.... read more
Ridiculously Simplified Synopsis edit
Summary edit
Diana Bishop is the last of a family of distinguished and well-respected witches. However, she seem reluctant or unable to use her magic which will burst unexpectedly and dangerously from her when she becomes emotional. When seven years old, Diana moved into the home of her Aunt Sarah and her... read more (warning: may contain spoilers)
Characters edit
- Diana Bishop: Young(ish) witch and academic specializing in the history of alchemy. The protagonist of the story whose (re-)discovery of her magical talents and forbidden love with Matthew Clairmont propel the story. Last of the Bishop witches, an old, distinguished and respected line of witches. Although tenured at Yale, she is spending a year at Oxford researching alchemy.
- Matthew Clairmont: Vampire, Oxford Professor of biochemistry, affiliated with Oxford Neuroscience at the John Radcliffe Hospital.
- Sarah: Diana's aunt and guardian after her parents, a witch and wizard, went to Africa when Diana was seven and never returned alive. She is the younger sister of Diana's mother.
- Emily ("Em") Mather: Sarah's partner, witch, and Rebecca's best friend during school.
- Miriam: Vampire and Matthew's laboratory assistant. Miriam keeps an eye on Diana in the Bodleian when Matthew is not around.
- Hamish Osborne: Daemon and Matthew's best friend. Hamish is strikingly good with numbers and accounts, having used his deamonic gifts in the field of finance rather than the arts like most deamons. Hamish can be found to act as a therapist, lawyer, financial guru, and power of attorney throughout the book.
- Marcus Whitmore: Matthew's son and laboratory assistant. Also a doctor.
- Ysabeau de Clairmont: Matthew's "Mother." She made Matthew into a vampire when he was young, after a devastating tragedy.
- Baldwin Montclair: Matthew's vampire "brother", Philippe de Clermont's middle son, and current head of the family.
- Elias Ashmole: Seventeenth century book collector and alchemist.
- Peter Knox: Powerful wizard who represents part of the Congregation. The police call upon him in cases of murder due to supernatural causes.
- Rebecca Bishop: Diana's mother, witch and Harvard trained anthropologist. Was killed in Africa when Diana was 7.
- Stephen Proctor: Diana's father, Rebecca's husband and a Harvard-trained anthropologist. He was killed in Africa when Diana was 7.
- Sean: Works at Oxford's Bodleian Library. Friend of Diana's from her graduate days at Oxford
- Christopher Roberts: Tenured professor of chemistry at Yale and 'betting buddies' of Diana. She requests his assistance in learning more about Matthew Clairmont's academic history.
- Amira: A witch who teaches yoga. Friend of Matthew
- Jordan: Hamish's butler
- Gillian Chamberlain: American witch studying in Oxford who warns Diana about witches keeping secrets from each other.
- Domenico Michele: Venetian vampire and member of the Congregation.
- Marthe: Older vampire who lives with Ysabeau at Sept-Tours.
- Gerbert of Aurillac: The Vampire-Pope and member of the Congregation.
- Satu Järvinen: Powerful witch and member of the Congregation.
- Nathaniel Wilson: Daemon and husband of Sophie. Good with computers.
- Sophie Wilson: Although her family were all witches, she was born a daemon. She is the pregnant wife of Nathaniel. She is pregnant with a witch.
- Juliette Durand: Gerbert's "daughter" and Matthew's former lover.
Quotes edit
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“If only he could taste it--taste Diana--he would be satisfied and the painful longing would subside. pg. 101”
Matthew Clairmont -
“In this room we understand why such a war might be fought. It's about Diana and the appalling lengths the Congregation will go to in an effort to understand the power she's inherited. It's about the discovery of Ashmole 782 and our fear that the book's secrets might be lost forever if it falls in the witches' hands. And it's about our common belief that no one has the right to tell two creatures that they cannot love each other--no matter what their species.”
Hamish -
“No one else will go through this kind of hell because they love someone they're not supposed to love.”
Diana Bishop -
“I was planning on starting a new file on my computer with the title 'Phrases That Sound One Way to Witches but Mean Something Else to Vampires.'”
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“Yes, I see that you are behaving like a prince but that doesn't mean you won't behave like a devil at the first opportunity.”
Setting & Locations edit
The novel takes place in contemporary England around the Oxford area, France, and New England.
- Oxford: The book opens at Oxford where Diana is conducting historical research on alchemy. Oxford is where she also completed graduate work on the history of science.
- Cadzow Lodge: Home of Hamish Osborne located in Cadzow, Scotland.
- Bodleian Library: Part of Oxford University where Matthew meets Diana for the first time.
- Woodstock, England: Site of Old Lodge
- Old Lodge: 16th century home built by Matthew, which currently houses the witch Amira.
- Sept-Tours, France: Matthew's ancestral home and current château for Ysabeau.
- La Pierre: A castle owned by Gerbert of Aurillac located south of Sept-Tours where Diana was tortured and imprisoned by Satu.
- Madison, NY: Diana's childhood and current home of Sarah and Em.
Organizations edit
- The Congregation: The Congregation is a pact and organization consisting of 3 witches, 3 daemons, and 3 vampires who ensure that the 3 species do not engage in close relationships or meddle in human politics or religion. Other interactions with humans were allowed as long as the relationships were not problematic.
First Sentence edit
The leather-bound volume was nothing remarkable.
Glossary edit
- Mabon: autumn equinox of the Wicca (pg. 2)
- palimpsest: a manuscript within a manuscript (pg. 12)
- chatoiement: a witch's shimmer (pg.94)
- sesquicentennial: a one hundred and fiftieth anniversary (pg.126)
- ouroboros: ancient symbol depicting a serpent or dragon eating its own tail (pg. 273)
- chimera: -mythological beast that combined the parts of a lioness, a dragon and a goat-a person with cells that possess two or more different genetic profiles (pg.470)
- bluestocking: an intelligent, educated woman (pg.538)
- grimoire: a textbook on magic (pg 111)
- witchwind: a whirlwind produced by a witch who can control the elements of the air, such as Diana. (pg 211)
- oubliette: a dungeon made so that the only way in or out is through a trapdoor at the top.
Series & Lists edit
This is book 1 of 2 in All Souls Trilogy. (standard series)
Followed by Shadow of Night.
This is book 3 of 13 in Amazon.com Best Books of February (2011). (authoritative list)
Preceded by Endgame, and followed by Townie.
This book is in 2011 Published Books. (community list)
Authors & Contributors edit
- Deborah Harkness (Author)
First Edition edit
Original Language: English
Publisher: Viking
Country: United States
Publication Date: February 8, 2011
ISBN: 0670022411
Page Count: 592
Publisher: Viking
Country: United States
Publication Date: February 8, 2011
ISBN: 0670022411
Page Count: 592
Awards edit
- Southern California Independent Booksellers Association Award (Finalist, 2011: Fiction)
Classification edit
- Library of Congress: PS3608.A7436 D57 2011
- Dewey: 813.6
Subjects edit
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Links to Supplemental Material edit
- Deborah Harkness's Author Website: synopsis, excerpt, and more!
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