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All Souls
The World of All Souls: A Complete Guide to A Discovery of Witches, Shadow of Night, and the Book of Life
A fully illustrated guide to Deborah Harkness's #1 New York Times bestselling All Souls trilogy
A Discovery of Witches introduced Diana Bishop, Oxford scholar and reluctant witch, and vampire geneticist Matthew Clairmont. Shadow of Night and The Book of Life carried Deborah Harkness's series to its spellbinding conclusion.
In The World of All Souls, Harkness shares the rich sources of inspiration behind her bewitching novels. She draws together synopses, character bios, maps, recipes, and even the science behind creatures, magic, and alchemy--all with her signature historian's touch. Bursting with fascinating facts and dazzling artwork, this essential handbook is a must-have for longtime fans and eager newcomers alike.
A Discovery of Witches introduced Diana Bishop, Oxford scholar and reluctant witch, and vampire geneticist Matthew Clairmont. Shadow of Night and The Book of Life carried Deborah Harkness's series to its spellbinding conclusion.
In The World of All Souls, Harkness shares the rich sources of inspiration behind her bewitching novels. She draws together synopses, character bios, maps, recipes, and even the science behind creatures, magic, and alchemy--all with her signature historian's touch. Bursting with fascinating facts and dazzling artwork, this essential handbook is a must-have for longtime fans and eager newcomers alike.
484 pages, Hardcover
First published May 8, 2018
1425 people are currently reading
10337 people want to read
About the author
Deborah Harkness
45 books34.2k followersDeborah Harkness is a #1 New York Times bestselling author who draws on her expertise as an historian of science, medicine, and the history of the book to create rich narratives steeped in magical realism, historical curiosity, and deeply human questions about what it is that makes us who we are.
The first book in Harkness’s beloved All Souls series, A Discovery of Witches, was an instant New York Times bestseller and the series has since expanded with the addition of subsequent NYT bestsellers, Shadow of Night (2012), The Book of Life (2014), and Time’s Convert (2018), as well as the companion reader, The World of All Souls. The All Souls series has been translated in thirty-eight languages.
The popular television adaptation of A Discovery of Witches, starring Theresa Palmer and Matthew Goode, was released in 2019 by Sky/Sundance Now, and also broadcast on AMC.
Having spent more than a quarter of a century as a student and scholar of history, Harkness holds degrees from Mount Holyoke College, Northwestern University, and the University of California at Davis. She is currently a professor at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, where she teaches European history and the history of science.
Harkness has published scholarly articles on topics such as the influence of theatrical conventions on the occult sciences, scientific households, female medical practice in early modern London, medical curiosity, and the influence of accounting practices on scientific record keeping. She has received Fulbright, Guggenheim, and National Humanities Center fellowships, and her most recent scholarly work is The Jewel House: Elizabethan London and the Scientific Revolution.
The first book in Harkness’s beloved All Souls series, A Discovery of Witches, was an instant New York Times bestseller and the series has since expanded with the addition of subsequent NYT bestsellers, Shadow of Night (2012), The Book of Life (2014), and Time’s Convert (2018), as well as the companion reader, The World of All Souls. The All Souls series has been translated in thirty-eight languages.
The popular television adaptation of A Discovery of Witches, starring Theresa Palmer and Matthew Goode, was released in 2019 by Sky/Sundance Now, and also broadcast on AMC.
Having spent more than a quarter of a century as a student and scholar of history, Harkness holds degrees from Mount Holyoke College, Northwestern University, and the University of California at Davis. She is currently a professor at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, where she teaches European history and the history of science.
Harkness has published scholarly articles on topics such as the influence of theatrical conventions on the occult sciences, scientific households, female medical practice in early modern London, medical curiosity, and the influence of accounting practices on scientific record keeping. She has received Fulbright, Guggenheim, and National Humanities Center fellowships, and her most recent scholarly work is The Jewel House: Elizabethan London and the Scientific Revolution.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 317 reviews
May 31, 2018
This is a companion book to the author's trilogy about Diana Bishop and Matthew de Clairmont.
I shouldn't have to say it because it's obvious, but just in case: one really should only read this book AFTER having finished the trilogy because of major spoilers.
The book contains the following chapters and sub-chapters:
1) Synopses (summary of the books, the calendar and even music from the trilogy)
2) Creatures
3) Characters
4) Organizations (the universities, different orders etc)
5) Locations
6) Magic
7) Science
8) Alchemy
9) Decorative Arts
10) Lifestyles (recipes for dinners as much as for tea and herbal remedies)
11) Literature (books the author used in her research or that feature in the story itself)
12) Translations (because different characters here don't speak English)
The interesting thing here as well as in the actual trilogy is that especially with the places and organizations (but also the jewelry, clothes and art), the author shows her skills as a historian, weaving the real with the magical.
Sadly, I also have complaints, especially with the supposed translations because here, even more than in the actual story, at least the German was atrocious. As mentioned in my status update, it sounded at least as bad as when someone types a phrase into the google translator and it's just lazy on the author's part but also bad from the publisher/editor (it doesn't take much to properly translate words or small phrases).
Anyway, I loved the trilogy, will read the upcoming new book about Marcus and his girlfriend and thought this would be nice, especially because she included a list on wines and foods and music and I always like to go into such details with favourite stories.
An added bonus were the illustrations, portraits and pictures from historical books and scripts that were strewn in and were very pretty (in case of the illustrations) and the right style for this sort of compendium.
A pretty cool companion to the trilogy in case you want to know more about certain aspects or refresh your memory.
I shouldn't have to say it because it's obvious, but just in case: one really should only read this book AFTER having finished the trilogy because of major spoilers.
The book contains the following chapters and sub-chapters:
1) Synopses (summary of the books, the calendar and even music from the trilogy)
2) Creatures
3) Characters
4) Organizations (the universities, different orders etc)
5) Locations
6) Magic
7) Science
8) Alchemy
9) Decorative Arts
10) Lifestyles (recipes for dinners as much as for tea and herbal remedies)
11) Literature (books the author used in her research or that feature in the story itself)
12) Translations (because different characters here don't speak English)
The interesting thing here as well as in the actual trilogy is that especially with the places and organizations (but also the jewelry, clothes and art), the author shows her skills as a historian, weaving the real with the magical.
Sadly, I also have complaints, especially with the supposed translations because here, even more than in the actual story, at least the German was atrocious. As mentioned in my status update, it sounded at least as bad as when someone types a phrase into the google translator and it's just lazy on the author's part but also bad from the publisher/editor (it doesn't take much to properly translate words or small phrases).
Anyway, I loved the trilogy, will read the upcoming new book about Marcus and his girlfriend and thought this would be nice, especially because she included a list on wines and foods and music and I always like to go into such details with favourite stories.
An added bonus were the illustrations, portraits and pictures from historical books and scripts that were strewn in and were very pretty (in case of the illustrations) and the right style for this sort of compendium.
A pretty cool companion to the trilogy in case you want to know more about certain aspects or refresh your memory.
May 9, 2018
Imaginary worlds are just as deserving of guidebooks as the real world places we all love, and the All Souls universe now has a Baedecker's worthy of it. The World of All Souls is an amazing guide to my favorite universe. Talk about a swoon worthy total package. It's a work that definitely needs to be savored, and its clever set up allows you pop in to explore a compelling topic or meander through. It's definitely a book I'll revisit again and again.
The highlights for me include the character profiles (which include not a few shocking revelations), the outtakes from A Discovery of Witches and Shadow of Night, the literature section, and the lovely discussion of the writing process (a must read for any aspiring author or curious reader).
The illustrations range from playful to intricate - ranging from stark and symbolic to high style and artistic. They are so LUSH - even in gray scale. The rendition of Mary Sidney's lab stopped me in my tracks I was so overwhelmed by the detail and thought that leapt from the page. The literature section is especially sumptuous. Between the deftly chosen quotes and illustrations I'll revel in it for hours.
Whether you're new to this world thanks to the upcoming TV series or have obsessively chased zebras down rabbit holes for years looking for eggs, this compendium will have something to amaze, delight, and surprise you. It shouldn't surprise anyone - after all, Professor Harkness always has a lesson or two up her sleeve.
And if this still doesn't satisfy your craving check out our slightly obsessive podcast on the All Souls World at www.daemonsdiscuss.com.
The highlights for me include the character profiles (which include not a few shocking revelations), the outtakes from A Discovery of Witches and Shadow of Night, the literature section, and the lovely discussion of the writing process (a must read for any aspiring author or curious reader).
The illustrations range from playful to intricate - ranging from stark and symbolic to high style and artistic. They are so LUSH - even in gray scale. The rendition of Mary Sidney's lab stopped me in my tracks I was so overwhelmed by the detail and thought that leapt from the page. The literature section is especially sumptuous. Between the deftly chosen quotes and illustrations I'll revel in it for hours.
Whether you're new to this world thanks to the upcoming TV series or have obsessively chased zebras down rabbit holes for years looking for eggs, this compendium will have something to amaze, delight, and surprise you. It shouldn't surprise anyone - after all, Professor Harkness always has a lesson or two up her sleeve.
And if this still doesn't satisfy your craving check out our slightly obsessive podcast on the All Souls World at www.daemonsdiscuss.com.
August 4, 2018
A must-read for hardcore fans of All Souls trilogy, but do not expect to be WOWed. Illustrations are amazing but beside two deleted secenes and one new interview with author, written part left much to be desired.
July 25, 2024
This was background info and explication of the world of All Souls. I'm glad I finished since the new book comes out tomorrow! This series is right up my alley: I was a history major and had a science minor. My favorite single college class was history of science. And I grew up reading Asimov and Heinlein then started reading fantasy later. So this series was just perfect for me! I really enjoyed how much history was in both the series and this volume. I also found the various books (or scrolls) fascinating that were listed in this work. It was so much fun to see the real buildings that she based her make believe buildings on! I am glad however at around $40 that I checked this out from the library!
July 2024: again, her newest book, ‘Black Bird Oracle’ is out but I’ll wait to read till I get to see Deborah Harkness on Saturday! I found an officially used copy that looks like new for considerably less than the original price. Now I can send the library copy back and go on to a short book to fill the time till Saturday!
July 2024: again, her newest book, ‘Black Bird Oracle’ is out but I’ll wait to read till I get to see Deborah Harkness on Saturday! I found an officially used copy that looks like new for considerably less than the original price. Now I can send the library copy back and go on to a short book to fill the time till Saturday!
May 9, 2018
All this book is, is retelling what the entire trilogy is about. There's about 2 hrs of just going over each character's name and what the names mean. Very boring. You must be a die hard fan of this trilogy to enjoy this and care about any of this. I was very disappointed. Not what I expected at all. 14 hrs of this. Yes, I got the audiobook. There's no way I could have "read" this.
October 6, 2018
There were parts of this guide that I very much enjoyed, and other parts that were unsuited for an audiobook. In other words, this should be read as a physical book (printed book) or an ebook. I definitely do not recommend the audiobook.
February 26, 2018
I love the All Souls Trilogy by Deborah Harkness so I was thrilled to get to read this preview of the guide to the series. It looks to be fascinating and engaging even though I only saw a few pages of it. I eagerly look forward to reading the complete work later this year. I am reviewing this book based on an ARC received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest opinion.
December 23, 2017
As always love anything relating to Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness.
May 27, 2018
The World of All Souls is the perfect companion to the All Souls Trilogy. It allows the reader to experience the All Souls universe in vivid technicolor!
As a reader, you not only get to know some of the minute details of the characters, their backgrounds, and origins, you’ll also get to experience some of the places mentioned in the books! And this is not just by listing geographical locations, but by exploring the minute details of the places. Rooms like Mary Sidney’s laboratory are illuminated brilliantly by the illustrator, Colleen Madden.
As it’s not required reading to the trilogy, I’ll say its existence adds value to the overall universe. There are two thrilling outtakes that allow us to read even deeper into the series while expanding our fascination with the main characters as well as some of the beloved secondary characters (who for me, were almost more important).
This book should adorn any All Souls lover’s shelf, whether they picked up the series in the beginning, or are just now discovering the series now. Highly recommend!
As a reader, you not only get to know some of the minute details of the characters, their backgrounds, and origins, you’ll also get to experience some of the places mentioned in the books! And this is not just by listing geographical locations, but by exploring the minute details of the places. Rooms like Mary Sidney’s laboratory are illuminated brilliantly by the illustrator, Colleen Madden.
As it’s not required reading to the trilogy, I’ll say its existence adds value to the overall universe. There are two thrilling outtakes that allow us to read even deeper into the series while expanding our fascination with the main characters as well as some of the beloved secondary characters (who for me, were almost more important).
This book should adorn any All Souls lover’s shelf, whether they picked up the series in the beginning, or are just now discovering the series now. Highly recommend!
September 26, 2024
The final book in the trilogy, this book wraps up the series in a quite satisfactory way but does leave a few doors open if Harkness wanted to continue the story. I would have given it 4 and a half stars because at times it does tend to go on a bit at times. I love that Harkness is an Elizabethan scholar. As an historian, it is a joy to see the references to real events and persons from the era. I found it especially interested on researching topics like Gerbert and Ashmole 782 that Gerbert was a real pope, Sylvester II, who was rumored to be a sorcerer and that Ashmole 782 is an actual book that is missing. It is a fun and engaging read.
May 11, 2018
I wasn’t even aware that this book was a thought until it popped up on my library’s website. I grabbed it thinking it was the new book coming out, didn’t pay that much attention, just knew it was in the series. Turns out this book is essentially the bible of the series. The author goes into depth with so much of what makes the books. I especially liked when she talked about how the book came to be and how it sold. I did listen to the audio book, but will check out the print version as the it sounds like there are pictures that would be great to read and the audio version I had didn’t have a pdf file attached to look at. If you are a fan of this series this book is a must read.
March 23, 2018
I received this as an ARC from Netgalley.com.
First line: Dear Reader, Welcome—or welcome back—into a world of daemons, humans, vampires and witches, where a reluctant witch and a fifteen-hundred-year-old vampire discover the secrets left in a mysterious manuscript.
Summary: A complete companion guide to the All Souls Trilogy. There are synopses of each book, the races, characters and locations plus so much more.
Highlights: I wish this had been out when I was reading the stories so I could refresh myself on the storylines and characters. But this is very handy to have before the release of the miniseries on BBC. I loved the characters and the storylines of the books. This is a perfect companion for any reader of the All Souls Trilogy.
Lowlights: Very nice to read when in Adobe format but not as a Kindle book. But having it as a hardback will be even better!
FYI: Don’t be daunted by the size of the books. They are rich and wonderfully written.
First line: Dear Reader, Welcome—or welcome back—into a world of daemons, humans, vampires and witches, where a reluctant witch and a fifteen-hundred-year-old vampire discover the secrets left in a mysterious manuscript.
Summary: A complete companion guide to the All Souls Trilogy. There are synopses of each book, the races, characters and locations plus so much more.
Highlights: I wish this had been out when I was reading the stories so I could refresh myself on the storylines and characters. But this is very handy to have before the release of the miniseries on BBC. I loved the characters and the storylines of the books. This is a perfect companion for any reader of the All Souls Trilogy.
Lowlights: Very nice to read when in Adobe format but not as a Kindle book. But having it as a hardback will be even better!
FYI: Don’t be daunted by the size of the books. They are rich and wonderfully written.
March 10, 2021
As a companion book to the series, it is AMAZING!
July 18, 2018
This book is basically the Bible of All Souls trilogy. So much information, it’s a massive book, I skimmed a lot of details I didn’t really need or want to know, but love all the little details about Philippe. I also appreciate Deb giving us Matthew’s entire library collection and the books he enjoyed and the ones that shaped his worldview over the years.
May 26, 2025
Must read for any Harkness fans! A re-creation of all the characters, species, homes, clothing, playlists (my favorite!) and recipes from the original trilogy. Illustrated beautifully and includes excerpts and comments from Harkness about the writing and choices she made when writing these fan favorites. Love!
August 17, 2018
What an amazing reference guide for the All Souls Trilogy, although I wouldn't expect anything less from Ms. Harkness. Not necessarily a book to sit down and read cover to cover, but a great resource to look up additional information about characters, settings, items, magic, history, etc.
May 25, 2018
Brilliant! Must have for any DOW fans.
June 10, 2018
This book is a compendium of information about the All Souls Trilogy. Some of the information can be found in the books, but much of it is only hinted at or not mentioned at all in the books. For fans of the All Souls world, this book is an excellent read as it gives you insights both into the author's creation of the books, but also into the characters, locations, organizations, and events in the trilogy. There are also outtakes -- chapters that were removed from the books before final publication. In addition to all of the information, there are gorgeous illustrations throughout the book. You really can't just sit down and read this book front to back, you instead explore it, a little here and a little there, one chapter making you wonder about something that you then look up in another chapter. This book is not just an encyclopedia of knowledge taken from the books, it is much more than that. I will enjoy looking back through it again and again.
January 20, 2019
Have I mentioned how much I have loved every moment of this series? Maybe once or twice??
No seriously, it has taken over my LIFE since September and I can't believe there was ever a time I wasn't head over heels with this series. Like, who was I back then??? I could gush all fucking day about how fab all these books are, but I'll just say that this companion guide is amazing. Every little Easter egg chucked in the series is included in detail, with background and reasoning for why it's in there. Poems quoted in the series? In here. Books mentioned? In here. Hell, even the wine drank and the recipes made, it's all. in. here. Anything you could ever dream of wanting is probably in here, and there's even small, tiny snippets every now and then of details pertaining to characters that weren't included in the books. Oh, and there are TWO deleted scenes - Lord above I fangirled.
This book was a fascinating insight into the All Souls world and was so incredibly detailed on everything from Elizabethan doublets and footwear to locations in London, and a list of the chairs used in the books with accompanying illustrations. There are illustrations of Mary Sidney's lab, of the Bishop house's keeping room, and there's extensive sections on the science and history behind the books - it feels like I've had a whistle-stop tour of Deborah Harkness' brain. There's also a complete character list with little bios for each - fiction and nonfiction - which I loved cause Elizabeth I got a pretty sizeable section and, as everyone who knows me knows, Lizzie is one of my faves so... yeah. There's that.
I just felt totally spoiled by this entire companion and even though it probably bruised my arm whilst carrying it round Waterstones, and even though it's so seriously heavy you could build houses with it, it's made me want to re-read the series AGAIN for the second time this year, and it's only twenty bloody days in. I seriously need more All Souls books ASAP.
No seriously, it has taken over my LIFE since September and I can't believe there was ever a time I wasn't head over heels with this series. Like, who was I back then??? I could gush all fucking day about how fab all these books are, but I'll just say that this companion guide is amazing. Every little Easter egg chucked in the series is included in detail, with background and reasoning for why it's in there. Poems quoted in the series? In here. Books mentioned? In here. Hell, even the wine drank and the recipes made, it's all. in. here. Anything you could ever dream of wanting is probably in here, and there's even small, tiny snippets every now and then of details pertaining to characters that weren't included in the books. Oh, and there are TWO deleted scenes - Lord above I fangirled.
This book was a fascinating insight into the All Souls world and was so incredibly detailed on everything from Elizabethan doublets and footwear to locations in London, and a list of the chairs used in the books with accompanying illustrations. There are illustrations of Mary Sidney's lab, of the Bishop house's keeping room, and there's extensive sections on the science and history behind the books - it feels like I've had a whistle-stop tour of Deborah Harkness' brain. There's also a complete character list with little bios for each - fiction and nonfiction - which I loved cause Elizabeth I got a pretty sizeable section and, as everyone who knows me knows, Lizzie is one of my faves so... yeah. There's that.
I just felt totally spoiled by this entire companion and even though it probably bruised my arm whilst carrying it round Waterstones, and even though it's so seriously heavy you could build houses with it, it's made me want to re-read the series AGAIN for the second time this year, and it's only twenty bloody days in. I seriously need more All Souls books ASAP.
May 19, 2018
Honestly, this was not for me. You SHOULD NOT read it while you are reading the series, because even if you wanted to look up a specific character you would be treated to spoilers for the series. Spoilers are throughout this and I can seriously only recommend you read it after you have read the entire series. I have yet to read All Souls Universe (because at the time of writing this review, it isn't even released yet). However, it doesn't even appear to contain winkwinknudgenudge information about the upcoming series. Fans of the series are unlikely to find much in this they didn't already know and there is nothing there to look through for the future.
I'm not certain what I was expecting, but this was not it. I was hoping for more connection to the series. Instead, most of this is very brief descriptions of historical things or things introduced in the books. Things like describing places and characters and books. The book is broken up in different parts for different things.
Author Interview
This was the best part of the entire thing. We got to see into the mind of Deborah Harkness. I found it super interesting to see how the series I adore came about.
Synopses
This is exactly what it sounds like. About 10 minutes each (30ish minutes total) of just a very dry accounting of what happened in each book. There are no new ties between them you may not have noticed. There is nothing new at all.
Creatures
This is again just exactly what you expect. It is about 35-40 minutes total of a description of each creature type, what they are like, what they typically do. None of this at all could not be gleaned from just rereading the series.
Characters
This was a very, very long section (over 75 minutes total!!!). I am perhaps most disappointed in this section overall. It is simultaneously too little information and too much. Of the characters we know and love, there is nothing further added in this and it is frustrating. Everything about them is left the way we know of it in the series in such a way even I could have written it if I really cared to. Then, there were the characters you've completely forgotten about. Pretty much every single character in this series is written down here down to a random maid (and not even one of theirs!), some of which are more filled out than others. In fact, the only people that are actually filled out at all from stuff not in the series are the actual historical figures Harkness wove into her series.
Organizations
This section, about 25 minutes long, described a bunch of the organizations that came up in the series. This section actually had the most new stuff about the series that I saw. Or maybe I just don't remember the organizations that came up as well as the other stuff so far. Every organisation in this series is rooted in history, and we get a lot of mini history lessons here.
Outtakes
Smack dab in the middle of this book is one of the few things I came to this book for. Further insight into the story. There are two outtakes, one from A Discovery of Witches, one from Shadow of Night. The first one is a rough chapter from Matthew's point of view shortly after they get to France in A Discovery of Witches. I liked this one, but I can see why it got cut. The second outtake is as they pass through France on the way to Sept Tours in Shadow of Night. I can definitely see why this got cut because it really just doesn't quite fit in.
Locations
This was a bit more interesting for some parts, like London, and less interesting for others, like Yale. She flips between a lot of information to basically no new information at what feels like random. The best part of this section was actually the pictures. We see a bunch of historical pictures of what things would have looked like when they traveled to the past. These pictures gave life to the story. I kind of wished I had looked things up before now to see into the world a bit more. A lot of the places that exist in the series, don't actually exist anymore in real life, especially in England. It was nice to get a small little bit about what it was like back then.
Magic
Relatively short section describing the different types of Magics witches use throughout the series. There are a few insights in the world-building in this section, and I was pleased at this. There was also the historical information, but mostly it was just talking about magic.
Science
This is all based on "what if". It is all "if Matthew was reading something during this extremely long time period, what would he be reading? What would he be thinking about it?" Overall, pretty predictable.
Alchemy
I tried to get into this section, I really, really did. My eyes kept glazing over. It is all just describing different alchemical processes and such. I honestly did not read this series to learn about alchemy.
Decorative Arts
I actually really enjoyed this section! It relied heavily on using pictures to show the world. It showed a lot of portraits, a lot of chairs, some objects, no seriously a lot of chairs, and things of that manner. There was also some fashion and jewelery added.
Lifestyles
A less interesting section than the one with pictures. This contained some recipes, some information about wine you may not know unless you actually know wine, some tea which I'd be surprised you didn't know existed, some descriptions of yoga and rowing, which I'm sure you know the basics of. Basically, this section just tells you a lot of things you already know.
Literature
This was another section I really tried to like but just eyes glazed over on. I tried. It goes over more alchemy texts. It goes over a bunch of mythology connected to the characters. There is a section of a bunch of different books they came across or Matthew owned and a brief description. Then what another long section just the same as before, just with poetry and plays instead. Lastly there is a bunch of phrases translated into english and more reading to look at if you so wish it.
Other:
One of the things I thought I would like best about this was the pictures. However, I was left baffled by a lot of the inclusions. Most of them are very tiny, some of them were like.. rocks with kanji on them. It was baffling. I don't really even remember any portraits of the characters, only small portrait miniatures of the actual historical figures. Well, except for the eyes. There were a lot of random eyes. Once again I was just left disappointed.
This just really, really was not for me. Coming from someone who absolutely adored the series, this was just boring, even if it was connected to the series. If you're looking for a way to connect what you love with the history of the world, this will probably not do it for you. If history bores you, this will bore you, too. However, if you love history and want to know more this is definitely what you want.
I'm not certain what I was expecting, but this was not it. I was hoping for more connection to the series. Instead, most of this is very brief descriptions of historical things or things introduced in the books. Things like describing places and characters and books. The book is broken up in different parts for different things.
Author Interview
This was the best part of the entire thing. We got to see into the mind of Deborah Harkness. I found it super interesting to see how the series I adore came about.
Synopses
This is exactly what it sounds like. About 10 minutes each (30ish minutes total) of just a very dry accounting of what happened in each book. There are no new ties between them you may not have noticed. There is nothing new at all.
Creatures
This is again just exactly what you expect. It is about 35-40 minutes total of a description of each creature type, what they are like, what they typically do. None of this at all could not be gleaned from just rereading the series.
Characters
This was a very, very long section (over 75 minutes total!!!). I am perhaps most disappointed in this section overall. It is simultaneously too little information and too much. Of the characters we know and love, there is nothing further added in this and it is frustrating. Everything about them is left the way we know of it in the series in such a way even I could have written it if I really cared to. Then, there were the characters you've completely forgotten about. Pretty much every single character in this series is written down here down to a random maid (and not even one of theirs!), some of which are more filled out than others. In fact, the only people that are actually filled out at all from stuff not in the series are the actual historical figures Harkness wove into her series.
Organizations
This section, about 25 minutes long, described a bunch of the organizations that came up in the series. This section actually had the most new stuff about the series that I saw. Or maybe I just don't remember the organizations that came up as well as the other stuff so far. Every organisation in this series is rooted in history, and we get a lot of mini history lessons here.
Outtakes
Smack dab in the middle of this book is one of the few things I came to this book for. Further insight into the story. There are two outtakes, one from A Discovery of Witches, one from Shadow of Night. The first one is a rough chapter from Matthew's point of view shortly after they get to France in A Discovery of Witches. I liked this one, but I can see why it got cut. The second outtake is as they pass through France on the way to Sept Tours in Shadow of Night. I can definitely see why this got cut because it really just doesn't quite fit in.
Locations
This was a bit more interesting for some parts, like London, and less interesting for others, like Yale. She flips between a lot of information to basically no new information at what feels like random. The best part of this section was actually the pictures. We see a bunch of historical pictures of what things would have looked like when they traveled to the past. These pictures gave life to the story. I kind of wished I had looked things up before now to see into the world a bit more. A lot of the places that exist in the series, don't actually exist anymore in real life, especially in England. It was nice to get a small little bit about what it was like back then.
Magic
Relatively short section describing the different types of Magics witches use throughout the series. There are a few insights in the world-building in this section, and I was pleased at this. There was also the historical information, but mostly it was just talking about magic.
Science
This is all based on "what if". It is all "if Matthew was reading something during this extremely long time period, what would he be reading? What would he be thinking about it?" Overall, pretty predictable.
Alchemy
I tried to get into this section, I really, really did. My eyes kept glazing over. It is all just describing different alchemical processes and such. I honestly did not read this series to learn about alchemy.
Decorative Arts
I actually really enjoyed this section! It relied heavily on using pictures to show the world. It showed a lot of portraits, a lot of chairs, some objects, no seriously a lot of chairs, and things of that manner. There was also some fashion and jewelery added.
Lifestyles
A less interesting section than the one with pictures. This contained some recipes, some information about wine you may not know unless you actually know wine, some tea which I'd be surprised you didn't know existed, some descriptions of yoga and rowing, which I'm sure you know the basics of. Basically, this section just tells you a lot of things you already know.
Literature
This was another section I really tried to like but just eyes glazed over on. I tried. It goes over more alchemy texts. It goes over a bunch of mythology connected to the characters. There is a section of a bunch of different books they came across or Matthew owned and a brief description. Then what another long section just the same as before, just with poetry and plays instead. Lastly there is a bunch of phrases translated into english and more reading to look at if you so wish it.
Other:
One of the things I thought I would like best about this was the pictures. However, I was left baffled by a lot of the inclusions. Most of them are very tiny, some of them were like.. rocks with kanji on them. It was baffling. I don't really even remember any portraits of the characters, only small portrait miniatures of the actual historical figures. Well, except for the eyes. There were a lot of random eyes. Once again I was just left disappointed.
This just really, really was not for me. Coming from someone who absolutely adored the series, this was just boring, even if it was connected to the series. If you're looking for a way to connect what you love with the history of the world, this will probably not do it for you. If history bores you, this will bore you, too. However, if you love history and want to know more this is definitely what you want.
June 13, 2024
"The World of All Souls" by Deborah Harkness is a captivating companion book that offers fans of the All Souls Trilogy an immersive and richly detailed exploration of the series' universe. This beautifully crafted guide is a treasure trove of information, enhancing the beloved world created by Harkness and providing deeper insights into its characters, history, and magical elements.
Harkness, along with her co-authors, presents an impressive compilation of essays, illustrations, and annotations that delve into the lore and intricacies of the All Souls world. From the detailed character profiles to the fascinating historical contexts, each page is filled with engaging content that enriches the reader's understanding and appreciation of the trilogy.
The book's structure is thoughtfully organized, allowing fans to easily navigate through its diverse sections, whether they are looking to learn more about the de Clermont family, the alchemical themes, or the various magical creatures that populate the series. The inclusion of beautiful artwork and maps further brings the world to life, making it a visual delight as well.
What makes "The World of All Souls" particularly special is its ability to deepen the connection between readers and the series. It not only answers lingering questions but also sparks new curiosities, encouraging fans to revisit the trilogy with fresh perspectives and renewed enthusiasm.
Overall, "The World of All Souls" is a must-have for any fan of Deborah Harkness's work. It is a comprehensive and enchanting guide that celebrates the rich tapestry of the All Souls universe, making it an invaluable addition to any reader's collection.
Harkness, along with her co-authors, presents an impressive compilation of essays, illustrations, and annotations that delve into the lore and intricacies of the All Souls world. From the detailed character profiles to the fascinating historical contexts, each page is filled with engaging content that enriches the reader's understanding and appreciation of the trilogy.
The book's structure is thoughtfully organized, allowing fans to easily navigate through its diverse sections, whether they are looking to learn more about the de Clermont family, the alchemical themes, or the various magical creatures that populate the series. The inclusion of beautiful artwork and maps further brings the world to life, making it a visual delight as well.
What makes "The World of All Souls" particularly special is its ability to deepen the connection between readers and the series. It not only answers lingering questions but also sparks new curiosities, encouraging fans to revisit the trilogy with fresh perspectives and renewed enthusiasm.
Overall, "The World of All Souls" is a must-have for any fan of Deborah Harkness's work. It is a comprehensive and enchanting guide that celebrates the rich tapestry of the All Souls universe, making it an invaluable addition to any reader's collection.
did-not-finish
December 11, 2022As someone who has both a history and library degree- what a fantastic research guide! Even though I have a love for history and research this book was dense especially since I had just finished the trilogy a month before reading the book. I think if I had read the books when they were released and was more removed from the original work I would have found this book more enjoyable instead of a deeply comprehensive summary of the trilogy. I stopped reading at page 280 after I realized it was too much. I stopped when I got to the chapter on how Matthew would have studied science throughout the centuries, which wasn't necessary but offered interesting insight to the character. I started flipping and skimming through the book at this point. I did stop and read the captions to illustrations, diary entries, jewelry, clothing, chairs, etc. If you really want to see what goes into developing a semi-historically accurate book, I think this is an excellent example of a thorough research guide for a book trilogy. I would have liked to read the book in its entirety, but I knew my attention span, the library due date, and my desire to read other books were going to hinder that process. From what I have read and glanced over, I still give it a 4/5 stars even though I did not finish.
January 26, 2019
Awesome! I have been a hardcore fan of the All Souls Trilogy since the first book came out in 2011. I never get tired of reading about Matthew and Diana, and doubt I ever will! This book truly is an excellent companion to the series, and delves into so many of the fascinating details contained in the books. Here you will find in-depth character profiles, setting descriptions, deeper looks into the science and spirituality of the books, and so much more. The audio version is wonderful, too, as it contains snippets of the original audiobooks (read by the incomparable Jennifer Ikeda), and plenty of snippets from Deb herself! This is a must-have for any AST fans.
December 24, 2022
The first bit of the book is an interview with Deborah Harkness, which I really liked. I think she’s a fascinating author having come to the process as primarily an historian. I also really appreciated the summaries of each of the books in the trilogy, which I wish I’d read before resuming the series with Time’s Convert as there was a large time gap between my reading of book 3 and 4. After that, the book felt more like a reference text. While it was interesting, and I am fascinated by the history that informs the All Souls world, it was very dry for the most part. This is why I almost always read fiction. So most of the rest of the book I only skimmed, with the exception of the history of science portion, which held a special interest for me. I’m giving this book a 4/5 for the parts I read. If other readers don’t want to read the whole, lengthy volume, I grant you permission to skip the boring parts and enjoy the parts that interest you. The book is well formatted for selective reading. I read the ebook. 4/5
Read
December 3, 2018I have been savoring The World of All Souls for the past several months, enjoying my forays into Ms. Harkness’ spectacular world a little at a time. I finally sat down to finish it and loved every minute of it. Seeing pictures of the actual areas in which the trilogy occurs as well as castles and buildings Ms. Harkness used as inspiration helped bring the world of the Clairmonts and Bishops to life. The illustrations are fabulous, as is the additional information about each of the characters and their backgrounds. I cannot wait for the TV series to premiere in the US next year!
August 18, 2019
I think the All Souls series is my fave and will be forever and this book just made me want to read it all over again. As a writer myself, I find it interesting and helpful to know other writers’ writing process and their ways in research and style. This book explained everything from the characters’ backstories to their astrology signs to all the different places featured in the books. It was an absolute pleasure to read and would sure go back to it when I want to learn about Alchemy and magic. Love it!
April 3, 2022
If you haven't read the All Souls Trilogy you need to read that before picking up this companion guide as there are definitely spoilers. It was interesting to get some inside info of the people, places, history, etc. of the series. The audiobook was good but it is definitely a book you would want to spend some time with to get the most out of it. There is an accompanying pdf ebook that has pictures and stuff but I couldn't download it from the digital library to my Chromebook so I know I missed some stuff. Eventually I will get a print copy of it so I can enjoy it more.
April 19, 2021
For fans of the All Souls Trilogy I absolutely loved this. I found the illustrations very interesting and very beautiful. The various sections from descriptions of the various creatures to fashion/jewelry/lifestyle that is intertwined in the All Souls world a real treat. Also the deleted scenes from A Discovery of Witches and Shadow of Night to be a great treat. This book isn't something you need to read cover to back because it's a guide/encyclopedia. There are only spoilers to the first three books. I found reading the Alchemy section very interesting just because I remember after reading A Discovery of Witches I wanted to know more about the subject matter. I am real glad that Deborah wrote this and gave the fans something more to enjoy in this world.
August 5, 2019
This was a comprehensive reference book for the All Souls’ trilogy. At first, it felt a bit like reading a dictionary, but it ended up being so much more! I read it cover-to-cover, but it can also be used as a reference to further explore the world of the books while reading them.
I have to really commend the illustrator, Colleen Madden, b/c the drawings are just magical. 😉
I have to really commend the illustrator, Colleen Madden, b/c the drawings are just magical. 😉
July 9, 2018
Excellent. Very informative. Beyond all the historical references, including photos, glossary, etc. one of the most enjoyable parts of the book were two small sections where the author gave you a quick short story from a place in the books where she could insert a little something interesting.
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