Quotessence
Home / Quotes / Quote by Deborah Harkness

Quote by Deborah Harkness

“Scholars do one of two things when they discover information that doesn't fit what they already know. Either they sweep it aside so it doesn't bring their cherished theories into question or they focus on it with laserlike intensity and try to get to the bottom of the mystery.”

Quote by Deborah Harkness

Work

A Discovery of Witches: A Novel

The story follows Diana Bishop, a historian and reluctant witch, who discovers an enchanted alchemical manuscript in the Bodleian Library. As she studies the text, she inadvertently attracts the attention of beings from different supernatural communities, including a powerful vampire and a centuries-old demon. The narrative explores themes of magical heritage, forbidden knowledge, and the complex relationships between different supernatural species. The novel blends historical scholarship with paranormal elements, creating a story that interweaves academic settings with magical intrigue. more

Author

Deborah Harkness
Deborah Harkness

Deborah Harkness is an accomplished American novelist, recognized for her contributions to the fantasy genre. Born on April 5, 1965, she has captivated readers with her 'All Souls' trilogy, which masterfully intertwines elements of history, magic, and romance. Harkness's novels are celebrated for their richly detailed world-building and complex characters. more

You May Also Like

“This is another lie. We are only seeking Man. We have no need of other worlds. A single world, our own, suffices us; but we can't accept it for what it is. We are searching for an ideal image of our own world: we go in quest of a planet, a civilization superior to our own but developed on the basis of a prototype of our primeval past.”

“Between the scribe who has read and the prophet who has seen there is a difference as wide as the sea. We are today overrun with orthodox scribes, but the prophets, where are they? The hard voice of the scribe sounds over evangelicalism, but the Church waits for the tender voice of the saint who has penetrated the veil and has gazed with inward eye upon the Wonder that is God. And yet, thus to penetrate, to push in sensitive living experience into the holy Presence, is a privilege open to every child of God.”

“...it’d be like looking for a needle in a burning haystack.' 'Oh, I’ve done that,' Mark said airily. 'It’s a game we used to play, after we got rid of all our livestock and didn’t need our hay no more. You throw a match into the haystack, give the fire a three-second head start, and begin looking. You can find the needle every time if you work quick”