What Inspired Deborah Harkness To Write The All Souls Trilogy?

Deborah Harkness’s journey to writing the 'All Souls Trilogy' is a fascinating blend of her personal and professional interests. As a historian, she has always been drawn to the intersections of science, magic, and history, particularly during the Renaissance and early modern periods. Her academic work often explored how people in the past understood the world around them, including their beliefs in alchemy and the supernatural. This curiosity led her to wonder how these historical elements could be reimagined in a modern context. The idea for the trilogy took shape when she began to question why vampires and witches, two iconic figures in folklore, were rarely depicted together in contemporary fiction. She wanted to explore their potential interactions and how their long lives could connect to significant historical events. The character of Matthew Clairmont, a vampire geneticist, allowed her to delve into the scientific aspects of immortality, while Diana Bishop’s role as a historian and witch provided a bridge between the past and the present. Harkness’s ability to merge her academic expertise with her love of storytelling resulted in a richly layered narrative that appeals to both history buffs and fantasy enthusiasts.

Another key inspiration for the trilogy was Harkness’s desire to challenge traditional portrayals of supernatural beings. She wanted to move beyond the typical tropes of vampires as brooding, solitary figures and witches as mere spellcasters. Instead, she envisioned them as complex individuals with rich histories and evolving relationships. The trilogy’s exploration of themes like love, power, and identity reflects her interest in creating multidimensional characters who grapple with both their supernatural abilities and their humanity. Harkness’s unique approach to blending history, science, and fantasy has made the 'All Souls Trilogy' a standout in the genre, offering readers a fresh perspective on familiar archetypes.

Deborah Harkness’s inspiration for the 'All Souls Trilogy' stems from her deep fascination with history, science, and the supernatural. As a historian specializing in the history of science, she often encountered stories of alchemy, magic, and the blurred lines between science and the occult. This academic background naturally seeped into her storytelling. The idea for the trilogy began when she noticed how often vampires and witches appeared in popular culture, yet their stories rarely intertwined with historical or scientific contexts. She wanted to create a world where these supernatural beings coexisted with real historical events and scientific theories. The character of Diana Bishop, a historian and witch, reflects Harkness’s own scholarly pursuits, while the rich historical details in the trilogy showcase her passion for weaving the past into a fantastical narrative. The trilogy is a testament to her belief that history and magic are not mutually exclusive but can coexist in a compelling and thought-provoking way.

Deborah Harkness’s inspiration for the 'All Souls Trilogy' is deeply rooted in her academic background and her love for storytelling. As a historian of science, she has spent years studying how people in the past understood the natural world, including their beliefs in alchemy and the occult. This research sparked her imagination, leading her to wonder how these historical ideas could be reimagined in a modern fantasy setting. The trilogy’s protagonist, Diana Bishop, is a historian and witch, a character that mirrors Harkness’s own scholarly interests. The idea of a witch who is also a historian allowed Harkness to explore the connections between the past and the present, as well as the ways in which history can shape our understanding of the supernatural.

Harkness was also inspired by the prevalence of vampires and witches in popular culture, but she wanted to take these figures in a new direction. She was particularly interested in how these beings, with their long lives, could be connected to significant historical events. This led to the creation of Matthew Clairmont, a vampire geneticist whose research into immortality ties into the trilogy’s exploration of science and magic. Harkness’s ability to weave together historical details, scientific concepts, and fantastical elements has made the 'All Souls Trilogy' a unique and compelling series. Her work demonstrates how the boundaries between history, science, and fantasy can be blurred to create a rich and immersive narrative.

Counterpoint: maybe the initial inspiration was intensely personal and small. A single image or scene. Perhaps it was just the image of a woman in a library, calling a lost book to her hands without knowing how she did it. Or a man watching her from the shadows, recognizing a power he hasn’t seen in centuries. Those potent, cinematic moments are often where stories begin. The massive historical and mythological scaffolding gets built around that initial, captivating scene.

For all we know, Harkness had a dream or a daydream of that very moment in the Bodleian—the moment Diana summons Ashmole 782. Everything else—the centuries of backstory, the Congregation, the time travel—could be the answer to the questions that moment raises: Why is this book important? Who is she? Who is he? Why is he there? A story often grows from a single, mysterious seed like that.