Harry Potter and History starts off with a timeline - that of real world and wizarding world - which is the perfect set up for a book which intersperses historical events that the readers will be familiar with growing up and the big events that took place in the Harry Potter saga. The book is the perfect supplement to scholars and especially historians who love their Harry Potter history as it ties in with great events, such as the second World War, and how much Lord Voldemort and his Death Eaters so resembled Hitler and his SS regime.

Beyond history, aspects, characters, and themes from the Harry Potter books are noted for how alike they are with those in the real world. The Malfoys are undoubtedly like the prejudiced aristocrats living in great manors across Europe; the Hogwarts school system - as J.K. Rowling confirmed herself, having matriculated in one - is just like the boarding schools in the U.K. From prefect systems to Houses and uniforms, Hogwarts is perhaps a bit too familiar to young British fans of the series, as they schooled and dined with their fellow house-members, yet unfortunately could not do the magic that Harry, Ron, and Hermione were born with.

Of course, objects and people of the real world, including Nicolas Flamel and the countless potions ingredients, are explained in great detail. It's as though Harry Potter and History gives all the background information that you'd spend hours researching for either online or through encyclopaedias, but is there in a few hundred pages. For that key element, it's great to have while reading the Harry Potter books, especially if you want a bit more backstory to why certain characters were the way they were, how they grew up, and if the real British Ministry was as corrupt as the Ministry of Magic in the series.

Harry Potter and History, out now, can be ordered at Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk.