‘A Discovery of Witches’
Why it’s better than other fantasy stories of similar arc, and a look at differences between the book and its TV series
Caution: Some spoilers ahead
This February marked the decade anniversary of the publication of professor and author Deborah Harkness’ Book One of the All Souls series. The TV adaptation named after the first book, A Discovery of Witches, aired on Sky One for UK audiences in 2018, and on AMC for American audiences in 2019, starring Teresa Palmer as Dr. Diana Bishop (witch and historian), and Matthew Goode as Professor Matthew Clairmont (vampire and biochemist). Its third and final season recently completed filming in Wales.
Synopsis
Diana is a historian of science with a special interest in alchemy, something a bit obvious for a witch, but she doesn’t practice her magic (at least, not on purpose) or witchcraft. She is bit of an introvert who keeps to herself except for fellow academics. She spends most of her days in Oxford’s Bodleian Library and is in hopes for a permanent faculty position. She wants to blend in with other warmbloods (e.g., humans and daemons). But this quickly becomes a problem when she furthers her research on alchemy for an upcoming keynote lecture that could land her that faculty position, and calls up an ancient manuscript known as Ashmole 782, aka The Book of Life. This captures the attention of all creatures — witches, daemons, and vampires. Soon, they all crowd the library to watch her every move in hopes that she can call up the manuscript again after returning it, knowing something about the book wasn’t quite right in her possession. As a witch who refuses to practice her magic, Diana has no idea what her request has summoned. Professor Matthew Clairmont, vampire, is another creature drawn to the library after Diana’s encounter with the book. He later warns Diana that other creatures may want the manuscript for the wrong reasons. But what he doesn’t immediately tell her is that he is after the manuscript too, hoping it has some history that could help him with his research on understanding creature origins. Ashmole 782 had been bewtiched so no one could open or read it. Diana has been the only witch in centuries to hold it in her hands and get a peek inside. And she has no idea of its implications.
This changes as Matthew Clairmont begins to, well…stalk her in the library and elsewhere, but he assures her he’s not there to harm her despite being tempted by her witch’s blood (and yes, blood is temptation even to this controlled vampire). As witch and vampire form an unlikely friendship, it becomes something more that neither of them fully understand, as a rule centuries old forbidding interspecies relationships is about to be broken by a savvy vampire and an extremely powerful witch. With that, unleash the Romeo and Juliet love story with a fantasy/supernatural twist; a love story that plays with time, odds, fate, and destiny.
Unlike the stories that came before and after, the All Souls series isn’t overdone. And it’s smart — particularly the TV adaptation, which branches the books’ events concisely while visually paying tribute to the otherwise lost first-person narrative. The books are well written and the descriptions through Diana’s lens may even make readers chuckle in agreement on various, keen observations. The All Souls series is every story of this arc you know but with a PhD: enhanced. That being said, let’s dive in to what works about Book One and the show’s first season, and how they differ.
A Discovery of Witches: Book vs. TV Series
The Congregation- This group consists of nine members: three witches, three vampires, and three daemons. Of these nine Congregation members, there’s Peter Knox, a witch who is aggressive and eager to control Diana by silently communicating with her through telepathy; Baldwin de Clermont, brother to Matthew by vampire clan (not a blood relative); and Agatha Wilson, daemon. In the book, we meet Agatha early when she greets Diana in her go-to cafe. In the TV series, we meet Agatha as a Congregation member and mother to Nathanial Wilson, a daemon expecting a child with his daemon wife Sophie who, we learn in both the book and TV series, is born of witches and may be carrying a witch child. Regardless of the book vs. TV series timeline and introduction to these characters, the Congregation is a major subplot to the story, causing Diana and Matthew to be on the run as they defy Congregation rules as a couple and in search of The Book of Life. Centuries old to modern day, the Congregation was reinforced by Phillipe de Clermont, Matthew’s vampire father, to keep peace and equality among the three creature species and avoid being discovered by humans. There are tensions that unravel in the first season of the TV series, introducing vampire feuds — a struggle for power among different vampires against the de Clermont family — and daemons wanting equality as they struggle to be heard by vampires and witches. Discussed by all three creature species are the issues of vampires failing to sire properly, daemons going mad and committing suicide, and witches losing their powers over time. It’s no wonder The Book of Life is in high demand, and competitively.
Clairmont house and yoga- In the first book, Diana and Matthew’s friendship blossoms over sessions of breakfast (Diana does the eating) and yoga. Diana has a handle on her anxiety through exercise: running and rowing. Matthew, vampire and interested in the origins of creature species and Ashmole 782, often watches her row and makes sure no other creature is watching her as closely as he is — the act of a “predator” either on the hunt for its prey, or being protective as an act of “mating.” The TV series does indeed show their relationship begin in the Bodleian Library and at his home, but the book shows a more intimate and neutral side to Matthew Clairmont. The vampire isn’t “prejudiced,” as Diana claims in the show. This is also expressed in the book. Matthew has opened his grand home to a witch to host yoga for all creatures. Matthew invites Diana to see this side of him, gain her trust, and prove he means no harm with her or in search of Ashmole 782. The TV series avoids yoga, but the combination of scenes in the show uses dialogue directly from the book and are tied together nicely to emulate their trust and the beginning of their relationship, while also introducing Clairmont’s interest in studying creature species’ origins and what it means for the future of their kind.
Dinners and witchwind- In Book One of the All Souls series, Diana and Matthew discuss her lack of practicing magic or witchcraft, his vampire habits and knowledge of wines, and differences between creatures over meals. But of the most important meals are the dinners hosted in Diana and Matthew’s rooms on two separate occasions: first in Diana’s rooms, then later a continuation in his. Both of these go well for witch and vampire until Matthew is convinced taking Diana to his mother’s home in Sept-Tours, France is the best place to keep her safe from curious and not-so-charming or open-minded creatures. In the TV series, however, we see one dinner in Diana’s rooms, where tensions are high, but in this case, Matthew is restrained, resistive, and leaves Diana cold (no pun intended), only to return to her later after she summons witchwind (it is what it sounds like) in the library against Peter Knox and his intrusiveness trying to enter her mind in aggressive attempts to get her to lead him to Ashmole 782. In the book, Diana summons witchwind during a heated discussion with Matthew in his rooms after dinner, leaving both of them amazed at her abilities before taking off for Sept-Tours. Again, this change is narratively smooth for the storyline and ties well with introducing the Congregation early in the TV series, whereas readers won’t find out more details about the group until Book Three of the All Souls series, The Book of Life (though there are brief introudcutions to the Congregation in Book One).
Diana Bishop- A Discovery of Witches is written in first-person, following Diana’s actions and thoughts. Occasionally, readers see more into Matthew’s life with a third-person perspective. In the books, Diana is a bit clumsy in her general nervousness, as she often behaves like a witch in hiding, one whose parents were killed due to their strong abilities as witches. In the TV series, we do not know much of Diana’s thoughts, but Palmer’s acting is right on point to the character, and even makes Diana seem stronger, as she is already brave for an almost-clueless witch who suddenly has her world turned upside down.
Matthew Clairmont- Upon watching the first episode of A Discovery of Witches, Matthew pays Diana a surprise visit on a foggy evening as she stows away her canoe, giving her another warning about lingering creatures, and the importance of the book and her ability to access it. Aside from his creepy visits, he also breaks in to her rooms when she’s out rowing, hoping he will find Ashmole 782. He and other creatures wonder if Diana has stolen the book since it is no longer available at the Bodleian. In the first book, Matthew’s stalking (even if for the right reasons) is far more intrusive — he watches her while she sleeps, witnessing her powers when she illuminates with electricity as she dreams.
Gillian Chamberlain- As a witch also searching for a better position at Oxford, Gillian is competitive with Diana. In the book, she is often in Diana’s face about her lack of practicing magic. In the TV series, Gillian is nervous — sometimes twitchy and uncomfortable in her nervousness — that she isn’t a threat to Diana until she aligns herself with Peter Knox, thinking she can help the Congregation by providing details on Diana and her powers. In the book, however, Gillian is confident in her meanness, forward with Diana’s interest in acting more human and taunting her about her parents’ deaths. In both the book and show, we learn that Matthew leaves Gillian dry of blood in retaliation for provoking Diana with her aggression and breaking into Matthew’s lab hoping to steal information on his studies of creatures’ origins.
In a nutshell, A Discovery of Witches is like Charmed meets Twilight, only it’s so much better because it’s smarter, as the series’ author and heroine are historians and academics. Sure, there are the occasional cheesy lines like “What kind of spell have you put on me?” and “She’s bewitched him,” but the journey is worth any fantasy (or historical fiction) genre lover’s interest.
Season 3 of A Discovery of Witches is expected to air in early 2022. Season 1 and episodes of Season 2 are available to stream on AMC+ and Sundance Now. Read more about the books here.
