Deborah Harkness

Author:
Deborah Harkness

Date of birth: 05-Apr-1965
Place of birth: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania USA

About the author:
Deborah Harkness is an American author and historian best known for her All Souls Trilogy, a popular series of novels that mix fantasy, romance, and historical fiction. Her writing is praised for its rich detail, complex characters, and seamless blending of academic scholarship with supernatural storytelling.

Born in 1965, Harkness earned her PhD in history from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), specialising in the history of science during the Renaissance. She is a professor of history at the University of Southern California (USC), where her academic work focuses on early modern science and medicine.

Harkness’s debut novel, A Discovery of Witches (2011), introduces readers to Diana Bishop, a historian and reluctant witch who discovers a mysterious manuscript in Oxford’s Bodleian Library, leading her into a hidden world of witches, vampires, and daemons. The book was a critical and commercial success, praised for its blend of historical detail and supernatural intrigue.

The novel launched the All Souls Trilogy, followed by Shadow of Night (2012) and The Book of Life (2014). The trilogy has been translated into multiple languages and adapted into a television series, further expanding its popularity.

Besides fiction, Harkness has published several scholarly works and essays, reflecting her deep engagement with history and science. Her ability to merge her academic expertise with compelling storytelling has earned her a dedicated readership and critical acclaim.

Deborah Harkness continues to write and teach, contributing to both literary and academic communities. She lives in California with her family.