Quidditch Through the Ages

Quidditch Through the Ages is a 2001 book by British author J. K. Rowling, best known as the author of the Harry Potter series. Rowling’s book on Quidditch is another addition to the wizarding world she established in the Harry Potter books. In this work, Rowling writes from the perspective of a fictional author, Kennilworthy Whisp, a historian and Quidditch enthusiast. Whisp traces the origins of the wizarding world’s favorite sport, discussing the history of broom riding, the evolution of broom sports, and changes in Quidditch over the centuries. Combining humor and historical detail, Quidditch Through the Ages is an entertaining and informative book for Harry Potter fans. 

This guide refers to the Kindle edition of this book.

Plot Summary

In his Foreword, Hogwarts Headmaster Albus Dumbledore explains that this book is a classic in wizard education and that it has been made available to Muggles to raise funds for charities. As the game of Quidditch is played on brooms, Kennilworthy Whisp explains how European witches and wizards have been using brooms for flight since at least the 10th century. Over the years, brooms evolved from being slow and uncomfortable to the convenient, fast, and even fun mode of transportation that they are today.

Whisp analyzes several precursors to modern Quidditch. These include the Irish game Aingingein, in which players scored balls through burning barrels; Creaothcann, a Scottish game in which players caught rocks in cauldrons; the jousting game Shuntbumps; and the passing game Swivenhodge. The author next delves into the exact origins of Quidditch, naming the fictional English town of Queerditch Marsh as its place of invention. Citing a diary from the 11th century, Whisp explains that early Quidditch players pursued Quaffles and dodged Bludgers but did not play with a Snitch.

Whisp discusses the Snidget bird and its role in Quidditch. Hunting these tiny and valuable birds was a popular pastime in the medieval wizarding world, and in the 13th century, someone introduced a Snidget hunt into a Quidditch game. It soon became incorporated into the sport, prompting the overhunting and decline of this species.

As the game developed, 14th- and 15th-century Quidditch enthusiasts had to take precautions to avoid being detected by Muggles, with most playing on deserted fields at night to avoid arousing suspicion. By the 17th century, the Ministry of Magic took responsibility for regulating Quidditch playing and ensuring that everyone followed anti-Muggle precautions.

Drilling down into game specifics, the author explains how all the equipment and positions in Quidditch have evolved over the last 700 years. Among the most important of these changes is that Snidget birds are no longer pursued; they have been replaced with small golden balls called Snitches. 

Whisp explores the 13 teams in the professional Quidditch league of the UK and Ireland, including the most successful team, the Montrose Magpies, and the least successful, the Chudley Cannons. He also explores how Quidditch spread from the UK across the world when Europeans traveled to other continents to study alchemy, astronomy, botany, or local wildlife and taught the locals their favorite sport.

Next, the author traces the development of the modern racing brooms used by Quidditch players today and discusses inventive plays from modern professional Quidditch, like the Sloth Grip Roll and the Transylvanian Tackle. He concludes his book on a note of celebration as he praises Quidditch for bringing joy to witches and wizards around the world.