Book Review: The Life and Lies of Albus Dumbledore

The Life and Lies of Albus Dumbledore is a great book, if you like melodrama and cheesy romance. As a historical biographical novel, it is perhaps one of the worst I have laid my hands on.

I shall begin by explaining that I am not completely convinced that everything Dubledore’s supporters have said is true. The circumstances surrounding his death are still suspicious, and there are several unexplained facts about The Battle of Hogwarts, which those involved have simply refused to clear up. I suspect there are some secrets that are being hidden, and that everything is not as it seems.

Having said that, I believe almost all of the facts presented to the public by the Hogwarts establishment are true. Therefore Reeta Skeeter is a hokum, who wrote the book immediately after the death of Dumbledore for cheap publicity and to perhaps stir controversy against him in favour of the Ministry.

Skeeter’s so-called research is laughable, since it has been contradicted by first-hand memories of several respected wizards. First and foremost, Elphis Doge, has made it clear that all the facts of the book are either hyperboles or outright lies. To quote him, “[the book] contains fewer facts than a Chocolate Frog Card”. Secondly, several of those interviewed for the book died mysteriously a few days after talking to Skeeter, raising questions not only about Skeeter’s veracity but also her motives. Thirdly, the lies have not been properly fabricated, and the true story according to Skeeter has several obvious holes that even her supporters have been unable. You always have to be suspicious of biographies that are completed in less than four weeks, no matter how accomplished the author may be.

The size of the book is bothersome too. Though 900 pages are not exceptional for biographies, these particular 900 pages are difficult to plough through because rather than telling what did happen, the book mostly hypothesizes what could have happened, and then extrapolates the results to prove the author’s points. Almost all of Dumbledore biographies are more informational and true than this one. The author obviously wanted to make a quick buck following the death of the celebrated wizard, so she spends more time in spinning outrageous tales than moving on with the story.

However, Skeeter must be given credit for telling a fine tale, albeit a false and defamatory one. Were this book a novel, and were the real characters, places, and events replaced by imaginary ones, this would probably be one of the greatest works of fiction of the decade. Perhaps, like several other books by celebrated wizards, her books could even be sent out to the Muggle world as fantasy. She could even seen as a competitor to Mirandaw Shawbeck, whose series of seven books based loosely the first seven years of Harry Potter’s life at Hogwarts became the bestselling muggle series ever, making her one of the richest British witch of our time.

For the storytelling, I give this book 9 out of 10.

For historical accuracy, and authenticity as a ‘biography’, it gets 2 out of 10.

If it were a fiction, it would be considerably higher, but this book gets an overall of 3 out of 10. Buy it if you are looking for a thriller, forget it if you are interested in history or Albus Dumbledore’s actual life. If you are interested in actual biography, Minerva McGonagall’s The Greatest Headmaster is a great read.