Literature in the Wizarding World

Literature in the wizarding world encompasses a vast collection of written works, from educational textbooks and historical accounts to popular periodicals and children's stories. These texts, typically written on parchment and bound in leather, are the primary medium for the transmission of knowledge, culture, and news. Books are central to a magical education at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and are a vital resource for witches and wizards seeking information on everything from potion-making to the Dark Arts. The Hogwarts Library houses an extensive collection, while shops like Flourish and Blotts serve as the main commercial hub for new and required reading.

A wide variety of books and periodicals are mentioned throughout the series, serving different functions within wizarding society.

These are books required for various subjects at Hogwarts.

• A Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration by Emeric Switch
• A History of Magic by Bathilda Bagshot
• Advanced Potion-Making by Libatius Borage
• Advanced Rune Translation
• Break with a Banshee by Gilderoy Lockhart
• Confronting the Faceless
• Defensive Magical Theory by Wilbert Slinkhard
• Dragon Breeding for Pleasure and Profit
• Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by Newt Scamander
• Flesh-Eating Trees of the World
• Gadding with Ghouls by Gilderoy Lockhart
• Holidays with Hags by Gilderoy Lockhart
• Magical Drafts and Potions by Arsenius Jigger
• Magical Hieroglyphs and Logograms
• Magical Me by Gilderoy Lockhart
• Magical Theory by Adalbert Waffling
• Men Who Love Dragons Too Much
• Numerology and Grammatica
• One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi by Phyllida Spore
• The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection by Quentin Trimble
• The Monster Book of Monsters
• The Standard Book of Spells (Grades 1-7) by Miranda Goshawk
• Travels with Trolls by Gilderoy Lockhart
• Unfogging the Future by Cassandra Vablatsky
• Voyages with Vampires by Gilderoy Lockhart
• Wanderings with Werewolves by Gilderoy Lockhart
• Year with the Yeti by Gilderoy Lockhart

These books document the history and prominent figures of the wizarding world.

• Armando Dippet: Master or Moron? by Rita Skeeter
• Great Wizarding Events of the Twentieth Century
• Hogwarts, A History
• Prefects Who Gained Power
• The Healer's Helpmate
• The Life and Lies of Albus Dumbledore by Rita Skeeter
• The Rise and Fall of the Dark Arts
• Snape: Scoundrel or Saint? by Rita Skeeter (Pottermore)

This category includes books detailing forbidden magic or how to defend against it.

• A Compendium of Common Curses and Their Counter-Actions
• Jinxes for the Jinxed
• Magick Moste Evile
• Secrets of the Darkest Art
• Self-Defensive Spellwork

These are works read for entertainment, including children's stories and comics.

• The Adventures of Martin Miggs, the Mad Muggle (comic book)
• The Tales of Beedle the Bard
• Toadstool Tales by Beatrix Bloxam (Pottermore)
• Sonnnets of a Sorcerer
• Warlock's Hairy Heart (from The Tales of Beedle the Bard)

Magazines and newspapers are the primary source of current events and specialized information.

• Challenges in Charming
• The Daily Prophet
• The Evening Prophet
• The Practical Potioneer
• The Quibbler
• The Sunday Prophet
• Transfiguration Today
• Witch Weekly

Literature is not merely background detail; specific books are often central to the plot of the novels.

• Research and Discovery: Hermione Granger's diligent research in the Hogwarts Library was instrumental in solving many of the series' central mysteries. She discovered the nature of the Basilisk in Chamber of Secrets, learned the recipe for Polyjuice Potion, researched Nicolas Flamel in Philosopher's Stone, and found information on Horcruxes in Deathly Hallows.
• Tom Riddle's Diary: This enchanted diary was one of Lord Voldemort's Horcruxes. It served as the primary antagonist in Chamber of Secrets, possessing Ginny Weasley and unleashing the Basilisk.
• The Half-Blood Prince's Copy of Advanced Potion-Making: This textbook, heavily annotated by a young Severus Snape, allowed Harry Potter to excel in Potions. It was also the source of the dangerous Sectumsempra curse.
• The Life and Lies of Albus Dumbledore: Rita Skeeter's posthumous and defamatory biography of Albus Dumbledore created a crisis of faith for Harry, while also revealing crucial truths about Dumbledore's past with Gellert Grindelwald and the Deathly Hallows.
• The Tales of Beedle the Bard: A book of wizarding fairy tales bequeathed to Hermione by Dumbledore. It contained “The Tale of the Three Brothers,” which provided the key to understanding the nature and origin of the Deathly Hallows.
• Secrets of the Darkest Art: A book detailing the creation of Horcruxes, which Dumbledore had hidden in his office. Hermione summoned it with an Accio charm, and its contents confirmed the process Voldemort used to achieve immortality, guiding the trio's quest to destroy him.

The wizarding world is largely ignorant of or uninterested in Muggle literature. Raised in a Muggle home, Hermione Granger was familiar with fairy tales like “Cinderella” and “Sleeping Beauty,” which were completely foreign to pure-bloods like Ron Weasley. This illustrates the deep cultural divide enforced by the International Statute of Secrecy. The only known Muggle text seen at Hogwarts is a copy of a driving manual that Arthur Weasley enchanted to discuss parking meters.

• J.K. Rowling wrote and published real-world versions of three books mentioned in the series: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, Quidditch Through the Ages, and The Tales of Beedle the Bard. The proceeds from these books were donated to charity.
• The Pottermore (now Wizarding World) website has expanded the list of known wizarding literature, providing titles and authors for many books not mentioned in the original seven novels.
• For the film adaptations, graphic design studio MinaLima created elaborate and detailed props for many of the books, including unique cover art and readable interior pages for textbooks like Advanced Potion-Making and periodicals like The Quibbler. (film)