(SPOT.ph) When the first Harry Potter novel was published in 1997, readers all over the world became hooked on following the magical events in the life of "the boy who lived." J.K. Rowling's seven-book brainchild was adapted into eight feature films, a couple of spin-offs, video games and mobile apps, and a West End stage production. There's even a new flagship store. The series became such a part of pop culture that The British Library in London mounted an exhibition titled Harry Potter: A History of Magic from October 2017 to February 2018. It was made available online through Google Arts and Culture in October 2018, and with all of us stuck at home, it's a good time to go down this rabbit hole of magic and wizarding.
Harry Potter: A History of Magic features editorials, video clips, illustrations, and sketches on anything and everything about Rowling's fantastical world. There's an exclusive Q&A with exhibit curator Julian Harrison, which explains the physical exhibition at The British Library; an up-close-and-personal article on Jim Kay's work for the new illustrated editions of the Harry Potter books; early sketches and notes of the series; and the history of magic beyond Rowling's narrative—including a 17th-century manuscript that has a chant for making yourself invisible.
To check out the online exhibit, visit Harry Potter: A History of Magic on Google Arts and Culture.
Main image: Ortus Sanitatis by Jacob Meydenbach (Strasbourg, 1491), British Library Board
