Deborah Harkness

Born in 1965, Harkness grew up near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the daughter of an American-born father and a British-born mother.[1] She is a graduate of Mount Holyoke College (B.A., 1986), Northwestern University (M.A., 1990), and the University of California, Davis (Ph.D., 1994).[2] Harkness also studied abroad at Oxford University. She is a well-regarded historian of science and medicine,[3] as well as having taught courses about the history of magic and science.[4]

Harkness is a professor of history and teaches European history and the history of science[5] at the University of Southern California.[6] She has published two works of historical non-fiction, 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).[6]

In 2011, Harkness published her first work of fiction, A Discovery of Witches. The first novel in the All Souls trilogy, A Discovery of Witches is a historical fiction novel that tells the story of a modern-day witch who inadvertently calls up an ancient enchanted manuscript at Oxford University's Bodleian Library[7] thereby attracting the unwelcome notice of a host of magical creatures who live among humans, including other witches, daemons, and a 1,500-year-old French vampire.[8][6] The novel debuted at number two on The New York Times Best Seller hardcover fiction list,[9] and has been sold in at least 34 countries.[10] The book was called "a sophisticated fairy tale for adults" by the San Antonio Express-News.[11] The second novel in the series, Shadow of Night, was published a year later, becoming a number one success on The New York Times Best Seller list.[12] The third novel in the series is called The Book of Life.[13] The book was published on July 15, 2014, in hardback, e-book, and audiobook in the US, UK, Canada, and Ireland.

Harkness at book signing, August 2014

On January 9, 2014, the United States front cover and a two-page excerpt were released to the public on USA Today. On May 12, 2014, chapter 1 was released on Harkness' website.[14] Harkness is also the author of the award-winning wine blog, Good Wine Under $20.

Harkness released a companion book in May 2018 entitled The World of All Souls: The Complete Guide to A Discovery of Witches, Shadow of Night, and The Book of Life (All Souls Trilogy), followed in September 2018 by an All Souls series trilogy prequel/sequel entitled Time's Convert. The book features Marcus Whitmore, Matthew Clairmont's vampire son.[14]

Harkness is an executive producer of BadWolf's eight episode television series based on Harkness' novel, A Discovery of Witches. The series premiered in the UK on Sky One on September 14, 2018, and is now streaming on NOW TV.[15] The international distribution of the series is handled by Sky Vision.[16][17] It was revealed by Sky One on All Souls Day (November 2) 2018 that the TV series would be extended by seasons 2 and 3, corresponding to the A Discovery of Witches sequels Shadow of Night and The Book of Life.[18] Season 2 (10 episodes) was released in early 2021, and season 3 ( 7 episodes) in early 2022.[19]

Harkness currently lives in Southern California where she is a professor of history.[1]

• Comic-Con International's Inkpot Award for (2018)[21]
• Honorary Degree, Mount Holyoke College (2014)

Harkness' faculty profile on the University of Southern California's website also lists the following honors and awards:[2]

• Highly Commended, Longman-History Today Awards Book Prize, Spring 2009
• Recipient of National or International Prize in Discipline, Pfizer Award for Best Book in the History of Science, History of Science Society, Fall 2008
• Recipient of National or International Prize in Discipline, John Best Snow Prize for Best Book in British Studies, North American Conference on British Studies, Fall 2008
• Prize for Best Book, Pacific Coast Conference on British Studies, Spring 2008
• Huntington Library Research Fellowship Recipient, National Endowment for the Humanities Fellow, 2006–2007
• Guggenheim Fellowship Recipient, John S. Guggenheim Foundation Fellowship, 2004–2005
• Residency at the National Humanities Center, National Humanities Center, John E. Sawyer Fellow, 2004–2005
• NIH/NSF Career Development Award, National Science Foundation Senior Scholar's Award, 2001–2002
• Recipient of National or International Prize in Discipline, Derek Price Award for Best Article, History of Science Society, 1998
• American Council of Learned Societies Fellowship Recipient, ACLS Fellowship, 1997–1998
• Huntington Library Research Fellowship Recipient, NEH Fellowship, Huntington Library, 1997–1998
• Recipient of National or International Prize in Discipline, Nelson Prize for Best Article, Renaissance Society of America, 1997
• Jacob K. Javits Fellowship, U.S. Department of Education, 1989–1993
• Fulbright Award, Fulbright Fellowship to the United Kingdom, 1991–1992

• Deborah Harkness official website
• Deborah Harkness official Facebook page