Deborah Harkness

Deborah Harkness is an American historian and novelist. Born in 1965 in Pennsylvania, she earned a Ph.D. in the history of science from Yale University and taught for several years at the University of Southern California. Her research focused on the history of alchemy and early modern science. In 2008, Harkness's debut novel, "A Discovery of Witches," was published. The book combines elements of historical fiction, fantasy, and romance, and it became a bestseller. It was followed by two sequels, "Shadow of Night" (2011) and "The Book of Life" (2015). The trilogy was praised for its well-developed characters, intriguing plot, and exploration of themes such as love, loss, and the search for knowledge. Harkness's novels have won numerous awards, including the British Book Awards Literary Fiction Award in 2009 and the Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Award for Best Historical Romance in 2011. They have been translated into more than 37 languages and have sold over 15 million copies worldwide. The "All Souls" trilogy has also been adapted into a popular television series.