A Discovery of Witches

About “A Discovery of Witches”

A 2011 novel by Deborah Harkness follows historian Diana Bishop, who discovers an alchemical manuscript in the Bodleian Library. Diana, a witch with a powerful lineage, has avoided magic since her parents' deaths as a child, believing human fear outweighs witchcraft. Her discovery draws the attention of witches, daemons, and vampires in Oxford, including the vampire geneticist Matthew Clairmont. Diana is attracted to Matthew despite the dangers of the magical world. As they explore the manuscript and their growing feelings, the balance of peace in their world begins to break down.