The Sorcerer's Companion: A Guide to the Magical World of Harry Potter (Paperback)

~ (Author), Elizabeth Kronzek (Author) "Are you unusually susceptible to colds and infections?..." (more)
Key Phrases: village wizards, witch persecution, hex signs, Middle Ages, Dark Arts, Nicholas Flamel (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Harry Potter aficionados: remember when Buckbeak, Hagrid's pet Hippogriff, was put on trial by the Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures? This crazy idea was not invented by Harry Potter's creator, J.K. Rowling. In fact, from medieval times all the way up to the 19th century, animals and even insects were often charged with crimes, arrested, imprisoned, tried, convicted, and sometimes executed. Harry Potter's fantastic world of magic has its roots in true history, mythology, and folklore; father-daughter team Allan Zola Kronzek and Elizabeth Kronzek have now made this wealth of astonishing information available to Muggles in their Sorcerer's Companion. From astrology to Grindylow to reading tea leaves to witch persecution, this fascinating volume gets to the bottom of every magical mystery connected with Hogwarts. Readers learn the unusual method by which premodern Europeans protected themselves from the cry of the uprooted Mandrake, involving a loyal dog and a rope. (Professor Sprout's solution was to have her herbology students wear earmuffs). Hermione probably knew, when she was hexed by Draco Malfoy so that her teeth suddenly grew past her chin, that hexes originated in Europe. But did she know the connection between hexes and the folk magic of the Pennsylvania Dutch? For fans of the tremendously popular Harry Potter series, or anyone who is intrigued by magical lore, the Sorcerer's Companion will quickly become a true friend. (Ages 9 and older) --Emilie Coulter

From Publishers Weekly

Father/daughter team Allan Zola Kronzek and Elizabeth Kronzek target the wizard's mature fans with The Sorcerer's Companion: A Guide to the Magical World of Harry Potter. Each alphabetically organized entry contains a potent blend of fact, fiction and folklore. The "Broomstick" entry, for instance, details the effects of a purported "flying ointment" that witches rub into their brooms to prepare for takeoff. The section on "The Sorcerer's Stone" explains the ancient Egyptian art of alchemy. A note at the end of each section shows readers where to find the reference in the Harry Potter books. Thorough research and period prints combine to create a memorable book.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Broadway; 1st edition (September 18, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0767908473
• ISBN-13: 978-0767908474
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (79 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #544,007 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

138 of 140 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Folklore 101, January 4, 2002

By	Jonah Cohen (Connecticut) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is a good book that covers a lot of basic mythology, folklore, superstition and history, and (tangentally) connects it to the Harry Potter series.

First, the good stuff: it includes a lot of entries (accurate - so far as I can tell) about a lot of supernatural creatures, beliefs and other topics. Want to know the different mythologies of the phoenix from different countries, and which parts J.K. Rowling made up for her books? It's here. Want to know the historical beliefs about unicorns, how they differ from the "classical" interpretation of the glowing white horse with the long slender horn, when (and possibly how) these beliefs came about? You got it.

Also good: there are many helpful illustrations. The writers treat the superstitious beliefs of different times and places with a certain respect, not saying "man, they were idiots for believing in ghosts!" or anything like that. But skeptics won't be disappointed, either. For example, when frankly talking about how many alchemists were charlatans who only pretended to create gold with the "sorceror's stone" (or, more accurately, the philosopher's stone) --- it even tells you HOW it was possible to fake this wondrous transmutation. Nice.

On to the bad stuff... actually, not BAD stuff, but things you should know the books is NOT about.

While it uses the Harry Potter books as a jumping off point, it doesn't really go into depth about the HP series. For example, no entries on Argus, Remus or Minerva (despite some famous residents of Hogwarts who bear those names, often as none-too-subtle cues on their characters). It won't comment on the (rather obvious) symbolism of Dumbledore having a pet phoenix, when one of his hallmarks is giving people a second chance.

[Still, it's rather disturbing to read the negative reviews of some people on Amazon who refused to read the book simply because it was about the mythology of magic, and not enough about Harry + co. Don't get me wrong - I love Rowling's work. I bet she'd be a little dismayed to learn that her writing has caused some readers to be interested in only her writing, and not inspired them to read more about different, if related, subjects.]

The book also shouldn't been seen as an in-depth guide to mythology, but then, it wouldn't be easy for any one volume to do that. Vampires, for example, get 2 pages here, but whole books could be written just on the mythology of vamps in different cultures (and pop culture).

There's some mention of literature - Bram Stoker is referenced in the vampire entry, the one on cauldron's refers to the famous "eye of newt" scene in MacBeth. But there's only a little of this. No commentary on the influence of, say, Tolkien, on Rowling's work.

Including "Harry Potter" in the title of this book is quite possibly a bid to increase sales. That being said, it's a good read, and a solid intro to the mythology of the magical.

123 of 128 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Harry Potter fans will love this book!, September 26, 2001

By	Dore M. Karasin "dore_and_cyndi" (Richford, NY USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The Sorcerer's Companion greatly enriches the experience of reading the Harry Potter books. Rowling's imagination has a basis in folklore - this book tells the reader all about hinkypunks, grindlylows and kappas. The reader learns about what arithmancy means, its history, and how to do a little of it. The subject matter of the book is so broad; this book is hard to put down and it's not even fiction!

The book's subject matter is compelling and engrossing. The Kronzeks' writing style is also excellent. The style is friendly and appropriately interesting for children as well as fascinating for adults, just like the Harry Potter books.

The Sorcerer's Companion is also a really gorgeous book; the front cover has a beautiful illustration and what seem to be foil details; it looks like an old-fashioned tome. The pages are rich with graphics and lush detailing. These things don't detract from the words but make the whole experience of reading this book even more satisfying.

This book is terrific for kids and grown-ups!

49 of 51 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great investment for Harry Potter fans, November 12, 2001

By	Beau Yarbrough (Hesperia, CA) - See all my reviews

This is easily the best of the small cottage industry that's sprung up, offering unauthorized Harry Potter books. The Sorcerer's Companion is a brief encyclopedia to real world magic and myth used in the Harry Potter books.

The authors cover arithmancy, grindylows, witch hunts and much more in a style that's suitable for kids, but meaty enough for adults. I like to think I know a fair bit about such things, and I found myself learning quite a bit.

Hopefully, when JKR one day actually authorizes a book (maybe incorporating information about the people, places and things in the books), she'll give the Kronzeks a call.

This is a must buy for anyone wild about Harry.