Quidditch Through the Ages (Hogwarts Library)

by J.K. Rowling and Kennilworthy Whisp

[Amber (The Literary Phoenix)]

Everything you ever wanted to know about Quidditch!

Quidditch Through the Ages is a fun companion book to the Harry Potter series.  Originally sold in 2001 as an effort to raise money for the Comic Relief charity, Quidditch Through the Ages was part of a two-part "Hogwarts Library" series (later joined by The Tales of Beedle the Bard).  If you want to know the history, rules, and teams behind the popular wizarding sport, this book is a must have.

At only 56 pages, this is a quick read.

This book is not intended to give you the mechanics of how to bewitch your broomstick or a play-by-play of the first World Cup.  It's the type of thing that nicely supplements reading the Harry Potter books, and gives a loose background.  It's a one-sitting type of read.

I really enjoyed the way the book is balanced with narrative as well as excepts from letter, journals, and newspaper clippings.  These tidbits break up the "non-fiction" elements really nicely, and it's neat seeing quotes and clipping from familiar names (could Brutus Scrimgeour be a relative of Rufus Scrimgeour?).

This is a great read for Harry Potter fans.

Unfortunately, it does have a pretty limited demographic.  While I like this book a lot and think it's loads of fun, I can't image anyone who doesn't love the Potterverse caring about it?  Not that it's unaccessible, because you don't need any background at all to read it... it's more that it's a fun little thing that Average Joe wouldn't think to pick up.

If you like Harry Potter, if you think Quidditch is interesting, or if you want to read about fictional sports, Quidditch Through the Ages is the book for you!

Find this review and others like it at The Literary Phoenix.