timeline

[poppy at moonprincess.co.uk]

No: HPFGUIDX 30301

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., CB <eleri at a...> wrote:
> At 07:29 PM 11/27/01 +0000, you wrote:
> The question would be then, I think, just how much research did JKR 
do on 
> the real Flamel. Did she do a cursory examination of the mythology 
of the 
> Philosopher's Stone, and take only the names and the minimal 
background? Or 

Hi Eleri, 
Timelines make my head spin, so I'm not even going to try to work out 
which timeline works best. However, I'm inclined to think that JKR 
knows a fair bit about alchemical lore, Flamel included -- I've seen 
this theory posited by those who want to persuade us that the books 
are "evil", but that's not where I'm taking this, don't worry! :-) 

One of the reasons I have for thinking she has this knowledge (apart 
from the fact that I see a fair bit of alchemical imagery in the 
books which I've banged on about in earlier posts), is that I think 
JKR read European languages/literature at university (am I correct?).

Well, lang/lit was also my field of study and we read a fair number 
of texts (esp from earlier centuries) some of which alluded to 
alchemy. The vibrant (not to say bizarre!) imagery of the alchemists 
seems to have captured the imagination of many of Europe's most 
influential and respected writers (for example, Chaucer, Novalis, Ben 
Johnson). As students, we were expected to pick up on these 
references when we came across them. 

So, I'd guess that Flamel is just part of JKR's general knowledge and 
didn't need tons of reseach. If anything in HP doesn't fit historical 
facts, it could be that she's conciously changed it for artistic 
reasons.

What I'd love to find out, is whether (Nearly Immortal) Nick Flamel 
(as JKR's character) had any dealings with any of the Hogwarts ghosts 
when they were alive!

Hope this is useful/interesting/on-topic...

happy reading,
Amalia