Book info

• Title Quidditch Through the Ages
• Author Kennilworthy Whisp
• Year 2001
• Genre Fantasy

Since its publication, Quidditch Through the Ages has been one of the most popular books in the Hogwarts library. Read by Harry Potter, Hermione Granger and many more, it is the essential guide to the wizarding world's favourite game. Charting its journey from Queerditch Marsh in the eleventh century to the sophisticated sport of today, Quidditch Through the Ages will show you the moments of exhilarating triumph and crushing despair (such as supporting the Chudley Cannons) that are part of the game of Quidditch. Learn all about the history and rules of the game, from some of the 700 fouls (and which World Cup Final saw all of them committed) to the difference between a Transylvanian Tackle and a Woollongong Shimmy.

Thoughts

I found this really quite interesting, as JK Rowling fleshes out the history of the sport that has almost become a part of the conscience as any other traditional real life sport! The information about how the Golden Snitch came into being was fascinating, and I particularly enjoyed the quotes from unhappy fans every time there was a significant change in the regulations. As an F1 fan, I can understand that perfectly!

Unlike the Fantastic Beasts book, there were no additional notes in the margin from Harry Potter, presumably because this was “copied” from a library book, and there would be hell to pay if scrawls were found on the pristine pages.

It’s really fun to revisit the Harry Potter world, and I’m enjoying catching up with some history that I wouldn’t have known about otherwise. It makes me wish Rowling would produce more of the books that are mentioned in the series, particularly the oft-referenced A History of Magic. Oh, that would be good.

Rating: 5 / 5