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Harry Potter: A History of Magic
- An Audio Documentary
- Narrated by: Natalie Dormer
- Length: 11 hrs and 39 mins
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Publisher's summary
The history of magic is as long as time and as wide as the world. In every culture, in every age, in every place and, probably, in every heart, there is magic.
Harry Potter: A History of Magic reveals some of the hidden stories behind real-world magic and explores some of J.K. Rowling's magical inventions alongside their folkloric, cultural and historical forebears.
Narrator Natalie Dormer and a host of experts will take you on an audio journey like no other; from ancient China, to a 14th-century apothecary's shop, on to the Salem witch trials and beyond. They delve into a rich body of writings about magic and explore intriguing artefacts to bring to life deep-rooted ideas of mysticism from around the world.
Along the way, you can listen for handy tips on how to capture a basilisk, make yourself invisible or create your very own philosopher's stone. You'll hear about the dozens of drafts and drawings that went into J.K. Rowling's writing process and enjoy exclusive interviews with Jim Dale, Stephen Fry and illustrator Jim Kay, who all share their experiences of working on these incredible stories.
The extraordinary and thought-provoking tales in this audiobook are perfect for anyone who wants to know a little more about magic and the wizarding world.
In this audio documentary, Natalie Dormer takes you on a spellbinding exploration of the real-world history that influenced J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter stories. While not written by J.K. Rowling herself, nor taught by the slumbering Professor Binns, the documentary is inspired by the exhibition held at the British Library in 2017, which came to the New-York Historical Society in 2018. This audiobook is packed full of exclusive interviews, folkloric facts, and musings on intriguing artifacts and mysticism from around the world.
Music composed by Patrick Neil Doyle
Sound effects licensed from ProSound Effects
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Primitive Mythology
- The Masks of God Series, Volume I
- By: Joseph Campbell, David Kudler - editor
- Narrated by: Arthur Morey
- Length: 19 hrs and 1 min
- Unabridged
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The author of such acclaimed books as The Hero With a Thousand Faces and The Power of Myth discusses the primitive roots of mythology, examining them in light of the most recent discoveries in archaeology, anthropology, and psychology.
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Epic speculation into the origins of our mythic consciousness
- By BGZ on 01-10-19
By: Joseph Campbell, and others
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Red
- A History of the Redhead
- By: Jacky Colliss Harvey
- Narrated by: Jacky Colliss Harvey
- Length: 6 hrs and 36 mins
- Unabridged
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Red is a brilliantly told, captivating history of red hair throughout the ages. An audiobook that breaks new ground, dispels myths, and reinforces the special nature of being a redhead, with a look at multiple disciplines, including science, religion, politics, feminism and sexuality, literature, and art. With an obsessive fascination that is as contagious as it is compelling, author Jacky Colliss Harvey (herself a redhead) begins her exploration of red hair in prehistory and traces the redhead gene as it made its way out of Africa with the early human diaspora.
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Pushing Past Stereotypes
- By Troy on 06-09-15
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Krampus: The History and Legacy of the Mythological Figure Who Punishes Children During the Christmas Season
- By: Charles River Editors
- Narrated by: Colin Fluxman
- Length: 1 hr and 26 mins
- Unabridged
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Krampus: The History and Legacy of the Mythological Figure Who Punishes Children During the Christmas Season examines the pagan and Christian influences of the yuletide villain and dives into the riveting and frightening history behind the creature. You will learn about Krampus like never before.
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Interesting
- By Kindle Crone on 12-06-23
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Mythology: Folklore, Myths & Legends: The History of Gods, Men and the Mythologies of the World
- By: Michael J. Stewart
- Narrated by: William Bahl
- Length: 1 hr and 25 mins
- Unabridged
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When is a story more than just a story? When does it become a myth? When it holds a piece of truth about our history, our morality, and the cosmos. Throughout history, humankind has used stories to explain the unknown. From the cycle of the moon to the changing of the seasons, tales about supernatural beings and events have served to account for the purpose of the cosmos. But mythology isn’t entirely fiction. These stories have been passed down for generations for a reason.
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Very useful
- By Angela on 02-10-21
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History's Most Powerful Witches and Wizards
- 2 Books in 1
- By: Desmond Wilde
- Narrated by: Charles D. Baker
- Length: 6 hrs and 17 mins
- Unabridged
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Witches have always worried, scared, and fascinated people in equal measure. From dark magic to home remedies, they have been part of the cultural landscape for people across the world. From Europe to the Americas, Asia to Africa, the idea of women who delve deep into magic has created some of the most enduring stories in the history of humanity. Often, these stories blend the real with the unreal, truth with fiction, and magick with the mundane.
By: Desmond Wilde
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The Popol Vuh
- The History and Legacy of the Maya's Creation Myth and Epic Legends
- By: Charles River Editors
- Narrated by: Bill Hare
- Length: 1 hr and 26 mins
- Unabridged
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Many ancient civilizations have influenced and inspired people in the 21st century. The Greeks and Romans continue to fascinate the West today. But of all the world's civilizations, none have intrigued people more than the Mayans, whose culture, astronomy, language, and mysterious disappearance all continue to captivate people. In 2012 especially, there was a renewed focus on the Mayans, whose advanced calendar led many to speculate the world would end on the same date the Mayan calendar ends.
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This isn't the actual Popol Vuh!
- By Dana on 02-27-19
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Greek Mythology
- Classic Stories of the Greek Gods, Goddesses, Heroes, and Monsters (Classic Mythology, Book 1)
- By: Scott Lewis
- Narrated by: Madison Niederhauser
- Length: 3 hrs and 22 mins
- Unabridged
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This captivating audiobook will take you on a beautiful journey through the fascinating world of Greek mythology. From the beginning of the cosmos to the Odyssey, be ready to venture into an exciting world of love, loyalty, infidelity, vengeance, deception, and intrigue!
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A great way to gain insight to Ancient Greece
- By cosmitron on 07-27-18
By: Scott Lewis
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When They Severed Earth from Sky
- How the Human Mind Shapes Myth
- By: Elizabeth Wayland Barber, Paul T. Barber
- Narrated by: Beth Richmond
- Length: 9 hrs and 25 mins
- Unabridged
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Why were Prometheus and Loki envisioned as chained to rocks? What was the Golden Calf? Why are mirrors believed to carry bad luck? How could anyone think that mortals like Perseus, Beowulf, and St. George actually fought dragons, since dragons don't exist? Strange though they sound, however, these "myths" did not begin as fiction.
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The Volcano Book
- By Stanley on 02-05-11
By: Elizabeth Wayland Barber, and others
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Da Vinci's Ghost
- Genius, Obsession, and How Leonardo Created the World in His Own Image
- By: Toby Lester
- Narrated by: Stephen Hoye
- Length: 6 hrs and 20 mins
- Unabridged
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Toby Lester, author of the award-winning The Fourth Part of the World, masterfully crafts yet another century-spanning saga of people and ideas in this epic story of Vitruvian Man, Leonardo da Vinci’s iconic drawing of a man inscribed in a circle and a square. Over time, the nearly 550-year-old ink-on-paper sketch has transformed into a collective symbol of the nature of genius, the beauty of the human form, and the universality of the human spirit.
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Haunting Expierience
- By Paul on 02-10-12
By: Toby Lester
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The Ark Before Noah
- Decoding the Story of the Flood
- By: Irving Finkel
- Narrated by: Irving Finkel, Gareth Armstrong
- Length: 9 hrs and 2 mins
- Unabridged
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Since the Victorian period, it has been understood that the story of Noah, iconic in the Book of Genesis, and a central motif in Judaism, Christianity and Islam, derives from a much older story that existed centuries before in ancient Babylon. But the relationship between the Babylonian and biblical traditions was shrouded in mystery. Then, in 2009, Irving Finkel, a curator at the British Museum and a world authority on ancient Mesopotamia, found himself playing detective.
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excellent, enlightening, entertaining
- By D. Littman on 07-17-14
By: Irving Finkel
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Asian Journals
- India and Japan (The Collected Works of Joseph Campbell)
- By: Joseph Campbell
- Narrated by: Fred Stella
- Length: 26 hrs and 56 mins
- Unabridged
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At the beginning of his career, Joseph Campbell developed a lasting fascination with the cultures of the Far East, and explorations of Buddhist and Hindu philosophy later became recurring motifs in his vast body of work. However, Campbell had to wait until middle age to visit the lands that inspired him so deeply. In 1954, he took a sabbatical from his teaching position and embarked on a year-long voyage through India, Thailand, Cambodia, Burma, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and finally Japan.
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What a journey!
- By Anonymous User on 08-11-18
By: Joseph Campbell
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Eye of the Beholder
- Johannes Vermeer, Antoni van Leeuwenhoek, and the Reinvention of Seeing
- By: Laura Snyder
- Narrated by: Tamara Marston
- Length: 13 hrs and 34 mins
- Unabridged
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"See for yourself!" was the clarion call of the 1600s. Natural philosophers threw off the yoke of ancient authority, peered at nature with microscopes and telescopes, and ignited the scientific revolution. Artists investigated nature with lenses and created paintings filled with realistic effects of light and shadow. The hub of this optical innovation was the small Dutch city of Delft.
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Historical book about the evolution of optics through the eyes of two geniuses
- By Memi on 04-12-17
By: Laura Snyder
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A great reading of the wrong book
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Dumbledore
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Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts, is one of the most recognizable and mysterious figures in the Harry Potter series. As an unscrupulous beetle-like journalist once said, he's "a biographer's dream." Is he omniscient or limited? Is he benevolent or malevolent? What really drove him in the last years of an extraordinary life? Dumbledore dives between the lines of the Harry Potter books to create a portrait of the controversial Headmaster. We find Dumbledore's hand in every seeming coincidence and consider the impossible decisions he had to make.
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Interesting and informative, but...
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Harry Potter lives in a world that is both magical and historical. Hogwarts pupils ride an old-fashioned steam train to school, notes are taken on parchment with quill pens, and Muggle legends come to life in the form of werewolves, witches, and magical spells. This book is the first to explore the real history in which Harry's world is rooted. Did you know that bezoars and mandrakes were fashionable luxury items for centuries? Find out how Europeans first developed the potions, spells, and charms taught at Hogwarts, from Avada Kedavra to love charms.
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WASTE OF TIME AND MONEY
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The Ickabog
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The kingdom of Cornucopia was once the happiest in the world. It had plenty of gold, a king with the finest moustache you could possibly imagine, and butchers, bakers, and cheesemongers whose exquisite foods made a person dance with delight when they ate them. Everything was perfect - except for the misty Marshlands to the north, which, according to legend, were home to the monstrous Ickabog. Anyone sensible knew that the Ickabog was just a myth to scare children into behaving. But the funny thing about myths is that sometimes they take on a life of their own.
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Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
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whoops
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Interesting and informative, but...
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Harry Potter and History
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- Narrated by: Rachel Perry
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Harry Potter lives in a world that is both magical and historical. Hogwarts pupils ride an old-fashioned steam train to school, notes are taken on parchment with quill pens, and Muggle legends come to life in the form of werewolves, witches, and magical spells. This book is the first to explore the real history in which Harry's world is rooted. Did you know that bezoars and mandrakes were fashionable luxury items for centuries? Find out how Europeans first developed the potions, spells, and charms taught at Hogwarts, from Avada Kedavra to love charms.
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Harry Plotter and the Chamber of Serpents
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Austen comes to England knowing that as an American he'll stick out at his new school. But when an errant owl lands him at Hogwarts, he's in for more than he expected.
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Perfect For Vaccine Recovery
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Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Book 2
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Harry Potter's summer has included the worst birthday ever, doomy warnings from a house-elf called Dobby, and rescue from the Dursleys by his friend Ron Weasley in a magical flying car! Back at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry for his second year, Harry hears strange whispers echo through empty corridors - and then the attacks start. Students are found as though turned to stone... Dobby's sinister predictions seem to be coming true.
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Jim Dale is wonderful!
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By: J.K. Rowling
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Snape
- The Definitive Analysis of Hogwarts’s Mysterious Potions Master
- By: Lorrie Kim
- Narrated by: Michelle H. Lee
- Length: 13 hrs and 17 mins
- Unabridged
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Taking an analytical approach to Hogwarts's irascible, protective Potions professor, author Lorrie Kim presents a closer look at how Dumbledore's double agent operates behind the scenes throughout the Harry Potter series. By examining the story from Snape's point of view, this in-depth exploration pierces the defenses of the wizarding world's famed Occlumens, revealing the man for who he truly is: one of pop culture's most memorable heroes.
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Middling At Best
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'House' and Philosophy
- Everybody Lies
- By: Henry Jacoby
- Narrated by: Henry Jacoby
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- Unabridged
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An unauthorized look at the philosophical issues raised by popular television show House. House was one of the top three television dramas on the air, pulling in more than 19 million viewers for each episode. This latest book in the popular Blackwell Philosophy and Pop Culture series takes a deeper look at the characters and issues raised in this Emmy Award-winning medical drama, offering entertaining answers to the fascinating ethical questions viewers have about Dr. Gregory House and his medical team.
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Sounds like a college paper
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Beyond the Wand
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Tom Felton’s adolescence was anything but ordinary. His early rise to fame in beloved films like The Borrowers catapulted him into the limelight, but nothing could prepare him for what was to come after he landed the iconic role of the Draco Malfoy, the bleached blonde villain of the Harry Potter movies. For the next ten years, he was at the center of a huge pop culture phenomenon and yet, in between filming, he would go back to being a normal teenager trying to fit into a normal school. Speaking with great candor and his signature humor, Tom shares his experience.
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So enjoyable
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By: Tom Felton
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Harry Potter - the Ultimate Quiz
- 400 Questions and Answers
- By: Jack Goldstein
- Narrated by: Jason Zenobia
- Length: 3 hrs and 36 mins
- Unabridged
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Join quizmaster Jason Zenobia for The Ultimate Harry Potter Quiz and find out who can rightfully wear the crown as the king or queen of Harry Potter knowledge. Perhaps you’ve read the books from cover to cover three times each, or you’ve visited the studio tour every year since it opened...but how much of it all can you remember? Do you know, for instance, which animal each character casts as their Patronus charm? Can you reel off the names of all of the shops in Hogsmeade? What is Mandrake root used for...and which two types of Dragon still roam the British Isles?
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several mistakes
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By: Jack Goldstein
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The Psychology of Harry Potter
- An Unauthorized Examination of the Boy Who Lived
- By: Neil Mulholland PhD
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Harry Potter has provided a portal to the wizarding world for millions of listeners, but an examination of Harry, his friends, and his enemies will take us on yet another journey: through the psyche of the muggle (and wizard!) mind. In The Psychology of Harry Potter, leading psychologists delve into the ultimate Chamber of Secrets, analyzing human mind and motivation by examining the themes and characters that make the Harry Potter books the best-selling fantasy series of all time.
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Not what I expected
- By Susan M. "Suzy" Oliver on 08-15-22
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Dumbledore
- Die inoffizielle Biografie des berühmten Schulleiters von Hogwarts
- By: Irvin Khaytman, Millicent Shacklebolt
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Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore ist eine der bekanntesten und zugleich geheimnisvollsten Figuren des Harry-Potter-Universums. Ist der Schulleiter von Hogwarts allwissend oder einfach nur seltsam? Wohlwollend oder böswillig? Und was ist es, was ihn in den letzten Jahren seines außergewöhnlichen Lebens antreibt, was sind seine Motive? Den einzelnen Lebensstationen folgend setzt sich Irvin Khaytman mit dem vielschichtigen Charakter des Gründers des Ordens des Phönix auseinander.
By: Irvin Khaytman, and others
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The Christmas Pig
- By: J.K. Rowling
- Narrated by: Amaka Okafor, Rocco Padden, Gerran Howell, and others
- Length: 5 hrs and 37 mins
- Unabridged
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Jack loves his childhood toy Dur Pig. DP has always been there for him, through good and bad. Until one Christmas Eve something terrible happens - DP is lost. But Christmas Eve is a night for miracles and lost causes, a night when all things can come to life...even toys. And Jack’s newest toy - the Christmas Pig (DP’s annoying replacement) - has a daring plan: Together they’ll embark on a magical journey to seek something lost and to save the best friend Jack has ever known....
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More Scary & Violent Than "Heartwarming Adventure"
- By Bookworm on 10-19-21
By: J.K. Rowling
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J.K. Rowling
- Author of the Harry Potter Series
- By: Jennifer Hunsicker
- Narrated by: anonymous
- Length: 23 mins
- Unabridged
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Listeners will learn about the life and works of J.K. Rowling. The author’s life leading up to her success as the best-selling author of the Harry Potter series is discussed. Listeners will also learn about the author’s writing process and what inspires her. What’s next for this author and other interesting details are also included.
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Interesting biographical information, but ...
- By Valerie Bowman on 01-27-24
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The Casual Vacancy
- By: J.K. Rowling
- Narrated by: Tom Hollander
- Length: 17 hrs and 51 mins
- Unabridged
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When Barry Fairweather dies unexpectedly in his early 40s, the little town of Pagford is left in shock. Pagford is, seemingly, an English idyll, with a cobbled market square and an ancient abbey, but what lies behind the pretty façade is a town at war. Rich at war with poor, teenagers at war with their parents, wives at war with their husbands, teachers at war with their pupils.... Pagford is not what it at first seems. And the empty seat left by Barry on the town's council soon becomes the catalyst for the biggest war the town has yet seen.
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Pagford upon Avon
- By Darwin8u on 09-27-12
By: J.K. Rowling
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Nuremberg: The Trial of the Nazi War Criminals
- A BBC Radio 4 Full-Cast Drama
- By: Jonathan Myerson
- Narrated by: Alex Kingston, full cast, Henry Goodman, and others
- Length: 6 hrs and 37 mins
- Original Recording
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Summer, 1945. The war is over, and Germany has surrendered. Across Europe, the top surviving Nazis are being tracked down, arrested and imprisoned in a once-opulent Luxembourg hotel, on 24-hour suicide watch. Now, the Allies must decide what to do with them. After much deliberation, Britain, America, Russia and France agree that Hitler's high command must be formally tried. This will be an entirely new kind of trial, with utterly new charges: those of 'crimes against humanity' and 'genocide'. And before it can even take place, numerous crises and obstacles must be overcome.
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History at it's most powerful
- By Stefan Filipovits on 04-08-23
By: Jonathan Myerson
What listeners say about Harry Potter: A History of Magic
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Abuzz Designs
- 12-01-18
Why is there no PDF?
There are so many things described that are hard to picture, especially since they may be one of a kind pieces. Knowing it was a walk through the exhibit, I expected there to be a pdf to help those of us who may never make it to the museum to see it. Natalie Dormer was an excellent narrator, a few of the guest speakers were so soft spoken that at times they were hard to hear even while increasing the volume.
I enjoyed the book but was bummed that there weren't any pdfs to see some of the things that were described.
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- brian
- 10-04-18
Not what I was expecting, though some parts were g
I was expecting an audio book take on the in-universe A History of Magic, only to find a behind the scenes at what inspired Harry Potter. Disappointed, though the interview segments were a nice touch.
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108 people found this helpful
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- Kingsley
- 10-08-18
Springboard to a history of our Muggle world
Is this for a fan of Harry Potter? Maybe. Is it for a fan of Harry Potter who is also interested in the stranger side of world history? Definitely.
The book is not exactly about HP, but uses the books as a spring board to talk about other things – mostly our real world history.
It is a bit of Making of HP, filled with interviews from those involved in the book such as artists who drew the pictures and covers, and those that recorded the audiobooks, but that isn’t really the focus of the book. These are placed in between the main focus of the book: history.
The book is really a history of ‘magic’ in our muggle world. So not talking about the ‘in universe’ magic, but looking at real life events. It uses HP to guide the discussion of our history, and also uses real world histories to give insight into how JKR wrote the books and incorporated real items, Latin roots, and history into her books. One example is 14th century apothecaries (potions masters) and what they used to create ‘magic’. They talk to experts on the apothecaries and discuss some of the ingredients they used, and what for. Unicorns horn and narwhal horn are discussed, for example. Some of the potions are shown to be completely useless, while others are discussed as actually having some good medical effects.
The book uses each of the classes students take at Hogwarts as a launching board to discuss the history and beliefs associated with this teachings.
A few other things (not an exhaustive list) discussed and expanded on:
• Witch trials (the history of them, and discussions on how our view and tropes of witches developed – cauldrons, brooms etc.)
• Magical creatures (real life unicorns and a real history of ‘unicorn’ hunting – although not quite what we image unicorns to be. Why are familiars always Owls, toads and cats?)
• Charms and words like ‘abracadabra’, looking at where the words developed
• Herbology (similar to magical creatures, but looking at strange things people have used plants for)
• Other classes taken at Hogwarts – divination, astronomy, defense against the dark arts etc.
• The real Nicholas Flemmel, Philosopher's stone
There is a lot of ‘museum directors’ interviewed in this, filling out the histories, and discussions with people from British Libraries.
There isn’t a whole lot of ‘new’ information here, but it is a collected and nicely packaged history, with lots of interviews and excerpts from the HP audiobooks. There is discussions of drawings or storyboards – either stuff JKR did while putting her story together or of official images in the were in the books, which would work much better for an ebook or physical version. An inclusion of a PDF with the discussed images would have been really nice, as without them you can be a little lost.
Natalie Dormer does the main narration, around the interviews, putting them in context of the larger picture. She does really great with this. Very enjoyable to listen to, well paced and clear while keeping your attention. The interviews are generally really good. Occasionally there is an interview where the audio quality is lower but generally it is high quality.
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99 people found this helpful
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- fisherguy446
- 10-19-18
Brilliant
This book is really fantastic. Don’t be fooled by the title as this is a nonfiction book examining both the Harry Potter series and the origins of many of the mythological creatures and ideas presented. That being said this is well worth the 12 hour listen. If you have the physical copy of the book, you should know that this covers a vast amount of information that the books do not. There are tons of interviews with everyone involved with the project of creating the museum exhibits. There are also fascinating and revealing interviews with many of the people involved with making the books, including: both the American and the British audiobook Harry Potter narrators, the illustrator of the illustrated editions, the publishers in both America and Britain, and many others. In summary, I cannot emphasize enough how much I enjoyed this and would absolutely recommend it to anyone looking to gain more insight on the world of Harry Potter.
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87 people found this helpful
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- A. Tennant
- 10-08-18
buy a paper copy
this book is not a very good audio experience- art work and visuals are constantly referenced, and while they are well described, the lack of their experience really makes a negative impact on enjoyment.
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- C. Soto
- 10-04-18
Didn't read the summary - fail on my part
I was expecting the story of magic in terms of the world of Harry Potter. Not the "magic" of how Harry Potter got published, how real life history helped shape the books, and basically a collection of interesting facts. I guess it could be said that the cover image is misleading in that it should had been obvious that people would jump to the same conclusion that I did.
Natalie Dormer has a magical voice and is very easy on the ears. Also, the guest speakers are mostly decent. I am not saying that the audiobook is bad. It just was not what I was expecting and if I had not pre-ordered it, then during the "sample" I would have listen to the truth.
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- Dxcookie
- 10-04-18
Unfortunately very boring, but great narration
If you can get past the first hours unbelievably boring rehash of the original books and how they were written, it gets better. If you are looking for a Harry Potter or Magical Creatures type story, you will be largely disappointed. This is the book version of the behind the scenes stuff on most movies that barely anyone watches.
The saving grace is the great narration from Ms. Dormer and the original narrators, the rest is unfortunate.
This seems like a sad money grab “behind the scenes” audiobook that is really just a boring historical description of a couple of museum events with historical artifacts, followed by a mixing of historical and magical anecdotes.
If you do like the director narration on movies, than this book will be great for you.
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- jazper
- 10-04-18
I wanted the actual history of magic..
this is boring dry listening not even on par with quidditch through the ages or fantastic beasts and where to find them quite disappointed. it's like a documentary on the publishing history.
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- Tasha
- 10-04-18
An enjoyable making-of documentary of sorts
An enjoyable making-of documentary of sorts in the vein of the Lord of the Rings behind the scenes documentaries, but in audio form. Accompanying images of the historical objects often referenced would make for a more complete experience. This is not a in-universe Hogworts textbook. It includes insights from illustrators, voice actors, historians, etc into the making of the Harry Potter Universe as well as historical accounts of magic, science and medicine.
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- Super Genius
- 11-27-18
Very disappointing
I've rarely been let down by a book as much as this one. It's not a Harry Potter Book (I didn't expect an HP fiction book, you'll see what I mean in my description), it's not even living within the Harry Potter world, it's an amalgam of academics and their studies trying, seemingly desperately to connect them to Harry Potter. They try their hardest to make connections and all too often they're taking a lot of effort into pounding a proverbial round peg into an academic square hole (pun intended). I consider myself a deep dive Harry Potter fan, who loves minutia, but this content is, I hate to say, mostly boring, even to me. To top off the indignation, whoever produced the audio portion did a terrible job in modulating the volumes. There are far too many times where an audible clear spoken voice gives way to an inaudible one so listening to this book in any environment other than a library is annoying in that large swaths of dialogue are missed due to drops in volume resulting in the need to "rewind" and raise the volume to hear what was missed, then of course stopping to lower it as the louder person starts to speak. Yes, some people speak less loudly and less clearly than others, but the volume portion can be compensated for by someone who cares to do so. I have listened to hundreds of audiobooks, and rarely do I consider asking for the Audible refund offer to be honored, I considered it for this one.
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