Jellyn's Full Review: Quidditch Through the Ages Books
Quidditch Through the Ages is the definitive book on Quidditch. Then again, it's the only book on Quidditch. J. K. Rowling, creator of Harry Potter, released this book with Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them as a set of Harry's schoolbooks.
What is This Book?
It's important to note that this is a schoolbook, not a textbook. In Sorcerer's Stone/Philosopher's Stone, Harry borrows this book from the school library. I reckon he figured once he made the Gryffindor Quidditch team, he'd better find out exactly what this wizarding sport actually was.
Presented here is a duplicate of the exact book from the Hogwarts library. The design on the cover makes it appear a bit worn, as if it's well-read. In addition to the title and the author, Kennilworthy Whisp, there's a drawing of a winged snitch on the cover. Lending authenticity to its library status is also a depiction of a wax seal stamped with 'Property of Hogwarts Library'.
What's Quidditch?
If you've read any of the Harry Potter books or see any of the movies, then you know that Quidditch is a popular wizarding sport played on broomsticks. There are seven players on a team, four different player positions, 4 balls of 3 different types, and 3 goal hoops on each side. Three Chasers try to throw the Quaffle through one of the opposing team's goals while one Keeper acts as goalie. Two Beaters try to keep the two self-propelled and dangerous iron Bludgers from hitting their team members with the use of bats. And one Seeker tries to catch the speedy and difficult-to-spot golden Snitch. Each Quaffle goal is worth ten points and catching the Snitch ends the game and yields the Seeker's team an extra 150 points. Simple, isn't it?
Contents
On the very first page is a sign-out form for this library book. Harry Potter fans will be familiar with nearly every name on this list. See if you can figure out who 'M. Bulstrode' and 'K. Bell' are. Unfortunately, this sign-out list doesn't hold up to great scrutiny. If we are to believe it, then four students, including Cedric Diggory and Angelina Johnson, are borrowing books from the school library during the summer. And Harry really should've borrowed this book closer to October than March!
Next we have a very short About the Author section, where we can learn what qualifications Mr. Kennilworthy Whisp has to write this book. Hey, he likes vegetarian cookery! I wonder if he's written any cookbooks as well.
Then we've got a Table of Contents, should you choose to jump right to a particular section. This is followed by the Foreword, written by Albus Dumbledore. He tells us about Comic Relief UK, the charity to whom the proceeds from the sale of this book go. He also warns against defacing the book, as Madam Pince, the librarian, has placed not a few curses and hexes on the library books to protect them from careless or destructive students. Or Headmasters.
The actual text of the book covers various Quidditch-related subjects. We get a history of the broomstick, first of all. Because what's a game of Quidditch without brooms to play it on? We also read a bit about other broom-related games. Then we discover the evolution of Quidditch from its humble origins in Queerditch Marsh, from which you can see the name was derived.
Details are given about each of the balls, from the Quaffle's gripping charm, to the problems with lead Bludgers, to the Snitch's origin as a bird. We also learn more about each of the positions and some of the ways in which a player can foul.
Also invaluable is a listing of all the professional Quidditch teams in the UK and Ireland league, as well as a brief discussion of world teams. And what book on Quidditch would be complete without a discussion of the various makes and models of racing brooms?
My Thoughts
I've found this an invaluable resource in playing Quidditch games online in a real-time roleplaying environment. However, I suppose most of you aren't involved in such things. It's also a very fun, amusing, and interesting read. You can read it straight through from cover to cover in no time at all and be entertained the entire way.
If you're dying to know more about Quidditch, then why don't you have this book already? It's also a great way to tide a Harry Potter fan over until the next book is out.
Unfortunately, there are some disappointments with the book. It's only 56 pages long (at least my copy). You would expect a library book about Quidditch to be rather more lengthy and involved. Also, there are only ten fouls listed out of a reported 700. At least one foul not listed appears in Prisoner of Azkaban; 'You do not attack the Keeper unless the Quaffle is within the scoring area'. Obviously asking for all 700 fouls to be listed is ridiculous, but I don't think it's asking too much that all fouls that appear in the books should be included here. If Rowling releases an updated version, I hope she'll add to the list of fouls.
There are a few illustrations, that is to say sketches, in the book, but not very many. I didn't pick up this book for the illustrations, but others may be disappointed by the number or quality of them.
Details
My copy is ISBN: 0439295025 and paperback. The cover price is 3.99$ US (14 Sickles 3 Knuts). Don't use this price as a basis for wizarding to Muggle conversion, as it's been contradicted elsewhere, but still, it's an amusing touch.
If you prefer, there is a hardcover version, and you can often find this book paired with Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them as a set.
This paperback is more than an exciting new book for Harry Potter fans Proceeds from the sale of this book will aid Comic Relief UK (not affiliated wi...More at Buy.com Marketplaces
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