An Unofficial 'The Rest Is History' Reading List

368. The History Behind Hogwarts: Ancient Schools and Revolting Students

September 13, 2023

Description

“To be a boy at one of these schools was to be alternately tyrant and slave.” More gruesome even than the Battle of Hogwarts, 18th century British Public schools were hotbeds for violence and...
Read more here

Books Referenced

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Author: J.K. Rowling

Context:

Explicitly mentioned as the source of a quote from the Sorting Hat, described as coming out in 2003

The Old Boys

Author: David Turner

Context:

Described as 'an excellent book' and 'probably the best sort of short, single volume history of the public schools' - referenced multiple times throughout the episode

Peter Pan

Author: J.M. Barrie

Context:

Referenced in discussing Captain Hook's last words when being swallowed by the crocodile, with the quote 'Floreat Etona'

The Fairy Queen

Author: Edmund Spencer

Context:

Mentioned when listing famous literary figures who attended public schools - 'Edmund Spencer, who wrote The Fairy Queen'

King James Bible

Author: Various Translators

Context:

Referenced when noting that six of its translators went to Merchant Taylors school

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

Author: J.K. Rowling

Context:

Explicitly cited as the source for a quote about the Battle of Hogwarts, noted as published in 2007

Lord of the Flies

Author: William Golding

Context:

Referenced twice as a comparison to the violent, unsupervised conditions at 18th century public schools