J.K. Rowling fills her books with references to history, myths, legends and literature. The Magical Worlds of Harry Potter reveals the stories behind the stories.

All the questions you ever wanted to ask about the fantastical world in which Harry lives are answered here. Discover the astonishing origins of magical creatures, the clues to hidden meanings in names, and amazing facts about real-life wizards and ancient magical spells. From Alchemists to Unicorns, Basilisks to Veela, this fascinating compendium brings another dimension to Harry's adventures.