Deborah Harkness

Deborah Harkness, born in 1965, is an American scholar and novelist with a background in history, particularly the history of science and medicine. She holds degrees from Mount Holyoke College, Northwestern University, and the University of California, Davis, and also studied at Oxford University. Harkness is a professor of history at the University of Southern California, where she teaches European history and the history of science. She has authored scholarly works on science and medicine, including "John Dee's Conversations with Angels: Cabala, Alchemy and the End of Nature" and "The Jewel House: Elizabethan London and the Scientific Revolution."

Her fiction debut, "A Discovery of Witches" (2011), launched the highly successful All Souls Trilogy. This series, which includes "Shadow of Night" and "The Book of Life," explores themes of magic, history, and supernatural beings like witches, daemons, and vampires, often set against historical backdrops and academic institutions. The trilogy achieved New York Times best-seller status and was adapted into a television series. Harkness has also expanded the All Souls universe with companion books and further novels.

Deborah Harkness's academic foundation is rooted in history, with a specific focus on the history of science and medicine. Her educational journey includes a Bachelor of Arts from Mount Holyoke College, followed by a Master of Arts from Northwestern University and a Ph.D. from the University of California, Davis. She furthered her studies in England at Oxford University. As a professor of history at the University of Southern California, Harkness teaches courses on European history and the history of science. Her scholarly contributions include non-fiction works such as "John Dee's Conversations with Angels: Cabala, Alchemy and the End of Nature" (1999) and "The Jewel House: Elizabethan London and the Scientific Revolution" (2007), which delve into historical aspects of scientific and mystical thought.

Harkness gained widespread recognition with her first novel, "A Discovery of Witches" (2011), the inaugural book in the All Souls Trilogy. This series masterfully blends historical settings with elements of the supernatural and esoteric. The narrative typically follows a modern-day witch who becomes entangled in a world of ancient magical creatures—witches, daemons, and vampires—often within scholarly environments like Oxford University. The trilogy, comprising "A Discovery of Witches," "Shadow of Night," and "The Book of Life," explores themes of forbidden love, the nature of magic, and the intersection of historical scholarship with mystical traditions. The books have achieved significant commercial success, becoming New York Times best-sellers and inspiring a television adaptation.

Following the success of the All Souls Trilogy, Deborah Harkness has continued to expand this fictional universe. She has authored companion books, such as "The World of All Souls: The Complete Guide to A Discovery of Witches, Shadow of Night, and The Book of Life" (2018), offering readers deeper insights into the series' lore and characters. Additionally, "Time's Convert" (2018) serves as a prequel/sequel, focusing on characters within the established world. Harkness has also been involved in the television adaptation of her work, serving as an executive producer for the series based on "A Discovery of Witches," which premiered in the UK in 2018 and has since been broadcast internationally.