It’s Harry Potter’s world and we just live in it

A little while ago the Bio-Medical Library hosted a display of 6 panels from “National Library of Medicine that explore the connections between elements of the Harry Potter books and Renaissance medical and scientific philosophy and tradition. According to the NLM web site, “Although a fantasy story, the magic in the Harry Potter books is partially based on Renaissance traditions that played an important role in the development of Western science, including alchemy, astrology, and natural philosophy. This exhibition, using materials from NLM, explores Harry Potter’s world and its roots in Renaissance magic, science, and medicine.” (http://hsl.lib.umn.edu/news/2012/dec3/harry-potter-display-nov-30th-2012-jan-26-2013-2nd-floor-bio-medical-library-diehl-ha).

Well, being the Harry Potter fanatic that I am, I decided to go a step further and track down some of the Renaissance books that the Wangensteen Historical Library has (some of you will recall that I got to hold their lovely 1st edition Origins a while back). So armed with the official exhibit brochure and a friend in the stacks, I was off on my own tour of the wonderful old books. Sadly they did not have a Nicholas Flamel, but they had some equality fun books (such as Renaissance books with the unicorns and dragons). The Wangensteen is an amazing library, has an equally amazing staff, and is open to the public.