Dating (Re: Horse Feathers)

[Geoff Bannister]

No: HPFGUIDX 93865

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, bufo_viridis at i... wrote:
> Geoff:
> > Another point. I looked up Flamel on the web and it is suggested 
that 
> > he was born in 1330. If so, then extrapolating forward with the 
entry 
> > in the "enormous old book" would give us 1996. (1330 + 665 +1). 
But 
> > since the action is taking place in 1992, there is a slight 
> > discrepancy.
> > 
> > Even so, it lends credence to the idea that the library books are 
> > self-updating (or that JKR found a different date).

Viridis:
> The dating of HP books is always a problem. Is the Flamel's birtday 
really sure? Because if was born ca. 1330, than everything is fine 
(1296 is still *circa* 1330). 

Geoff:
I don't quite see why 1296 comes into the equation.....

I had another browse and from various sources got birth years of:

1330, around 1330, in the early fourteenth century and in the 16th 
century(!!).

Looking at your date of 1296 (which still puzzles me), that would 
date the book's publication as 1962. OK, so it isn't self-updating. 
But then, why is it described as an enormous /old/ book? A 
description likethat makes me visualise one of these leather bound 
huge volumes dating from the 19th century......