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{{User sandbox}}
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{{Infobox book
{{Infobox song <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Songs -->
| Name = Breathe on Me
| name = Shadow of Night
| title_orig =
| Artist = [[Britney Spears]]
| Album = [[In the Zone]]
| translator =
| track_no = 4
| author = [[Deborah Harkness]]
| illustrator =
| Recorded = 2003; Metrophonic Studios, London, England
| cover_artist =
| Genre = [[Techno]], [[trip hop]]
| Length = 3:43
| country = USA
| language = English
| Writer = [[Steve Anderson (musician)|Steve Anderson]], Lisa Greene, Stephen Lee
| Label = [[Jive Records|Jive]]
| series = ''All Souls'' trilogy
| subject =
| Producer = [[Mark Taylor (producer)|Mark Taylor]]
| genre = [[Contemporary fantasy]], [[romance novel|romance]], [[vampire fiction|vampire]], [[witchcraft]], [[alchemy in art and entertainment|alchemy]]
| Tracks = # "[[Me Against the Music]]"
| publisher = [[Penguin Books]]
# "(I Got That) Boom Boom"
| release_date = July 10, 2012
# "Showdown
| media_type = Print ([[Hardcover]], [[Paperback]])
# "'''Breathe on Me'''"
| pages =
# "Early Mornin'"
| isbn = ISBN ?
# "[[Toxic (song)|Toxic]]"
| preceded_by = [[A Discovery of Witches]]
# "[[Outrageous (song)|Outrageous]]"
| followed_by = TBA
# "Touch of My Hand"
# "The Hook Up"
# "Shadow"
# "Brave New Girl"
# "[[Everytime]]"
}}
}}
'''''A Discovery of Witches''''' is a 2011 [[historical novel|historical]]-[[fantasy literature|fantasy]] novel and the debut novel by American scholar [[Deborah Harkness]]. It follows the story of Diana Bishop, an [[alchemy#History|alchemical history]] professor at Oxford University who, after accidentally calling an elusive, long-thought-lost manuscript, is forced to embrace the [[witchcraft|magic]] in her blood she has sought to keep out of her life and engage in a forbidden romance with charming [[vampire]] Matthew Clairmont.


The book received mostly positive feedback from literary critics. It was praised for its intelligence and the mixture of history with fantasy, although some critics felt the plot was trite and the pacing was slow. Comparison were made between other popular fantasy series, namely ''[[Twilight (series)|Twilight]]'' and [[Harry Potter]]. The novel began as a "thought experiment" for Harkness, who had previously only published works of historical [[non-fiction]]. She drew upon her academic background as a historian and her studies of alchemy, magic and the occult.
"'''Breathe on Me'''" is a song by American recording artist [[Britney Spears]]. The song was written by [[Steve Anderson (musician)|Steve Anderson]], Lisa Greene, and Stephen Lee, and produced by [[Mark Taylor (producer)|Mark Taylor]], for Spears' fourth [[studio album]], ''[[In the Zone]]'' (2003). "Breathe on Me" is noted for its sensual lyrics and [[trip hop]] influences, drawing comparisons to the work of [[Madonna (entertainer)|Madonna]] and [[Kylie Minogue]]. The lyrics of the song use heavy breathing as a metaphor for sex, as a woman begs a man to "breathe on me." The song culminates in a bridge resembling [[orgasm|sexual climax]].


''A Discovery of Witches'' was first published in hardcover on February 8, 2011 by [[Penguin Books]], becoming a [[New York Times Best Seller list|''New York Times'' Best Seller]] upon its release. It has since been released in paperback and also as an [[ebook]]. The novel has been translated into more than 36 languages around the world. ''A Discovery of Witches'' is the first installment in the ''All Souls'' trilogy, followed by ''Shadow of Night'' (2012) and a yet-to-be-released final novel. [[Warner Bros.]] have purchased the rights to create a film adaptation.
"Breathe on Me" received generally mixed reviews from contemporary critics, some of whom praised the song's production while others criticized Spears' [[Lolita]] persona. Despite not being released as a single, official remixes of the song were commissioned and released. Spears performed the song at [[Rain Nightclub]] ahead of the album's release. It was also performed on [[The Onyx Hotel Tour]] (2004), [[The M+M's Tour]] (2007), and [[The Circus Starring Britney Spears]] (2009).


==Background==
==Background==
According to Harkness, the novel began as "a thought experiment" after she noticed the plethora of novels surrounding vampires and magic at an airport bookshop.<ref name="nzherald">{{cite web|last=Pellegrino|first=Nicky|title=Deborah Harkness: Once bitten..|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=10718563|work=[[The New Zealand Herald]]|publisher=[[APN News & Media]]|accessdate=17 November 2012|date=11 April 2011}}</ref> As a historian, she noted that people today were interested in reading about the same sorts of subjects as they would have in the past: the supernatural. "In some ways I think their popularity right now is about our feeling that we still want there to be magic and enchantment in the world," theorises Harkness. "Magic provides a way of still having room for possibilities, an unlimited sense of what the world offers. Magic is always there when science is found wanting."<ref name="nzherald" /> Harkness has studied magic and the [[occult]] since 1983, which provided much of the inspiration for the novel.<ref name="latimes">{{ cite web | url=http://articles.latimes.com/2011/apr/10/entertainment/la-ca-deborah-harkness-20110410|title= Deborah Harkness' 'A Discovery of Witches' started with airport bookstores|last=Timberg|first=Scott|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|publisher=[[Tribune Company]]|date=10 April 2011|accessdate=3 January 2013}}</ref>
After the [[Dream Within a Dream Tour]] in support of ''[[Britney (album)|Britney]]'' finalized in July 2002, Spears announced she would take a break from her career for six months. In November 2002, she revealed that she had started working on her next studio album. She explained, "Well, actually, I just said that I wanted two or three weeks off. [....] And the whole world was like, 'Ohmigod, [''[[sic]]''] she's gone..."<ref name=blender>{{Cite journal|url=|title=Britney Busts Loose! - Blender|work=[[Blender (magazine)|Blender]]|publisher=Alpha Media Group|date=2003-12-20|last=Shaw|first=William|issn=1534-0554|ref=harv}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1458526/20021105/spears_britney.jhtml|title=Britney Spears' Hiatus Is History - Music, Celebrity, Artist News &#124; MTV|date=2002-11-05|accessdate=2012-12-05|last=Moss|first=Corey|work=[[MTV]] | publisher=[[]Viacom Media Networks]]}}</ref> When asked by ''[[The Hollywood Reporter]]'' about the direction of the record, Spears responded it was an organic evolution, adding, "It should just happen naturally from the way you feel. [...] Whatever happens, happens".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1459045/20021206/spears_britney.jhtml?headlines=true|title=Britney Spears To Work With Rodney Jerkins Again - Music, Celebrity, Artist News &#124; MTV|date=2002-12-06|accessdate=2012-12-05|last=D'Angelo|first=Joe|work=[[MTV]] | publisher=[[]Viacom Media Networks]]}}</ref> [[Steve Anderson (musician)|Steve Anderson]], Lisa Greene and Stephen Lee wrote "Breathe on Me" at Metrophonic Studios in London, England. Before meeting with the other writers, Anderson thought of two concepts for songs specifically for Spears: one he had worked on "for ages", and "Breathe on Me", which he drafted on the morning of the sessions. Greene and Lee did not like the first concept, and they wrote "Breathe on Me" with Anderson. The song was produced by [[Mark Taylor (producer)|Mark Taylor]], who kept most of the programming done by Anderson. With Taylor, Spears recorded "Breathe on Me" and "[[And Then We Kiss]]", which did not make the album.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.muumuse.com/2010/09/glitter-and-diamonds-interview-with-steve-anderson-part-one.html|title=Glitter and Diamonds: Interview with...Steve Anderson! (Part One) &#124; MuuMuse|last=Stern|first=Bradley|publisher=MuuMuse.com. Bradley Stern|date=2010-09|accessdate=2010-01-12}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.muumuse.com/2011/09/britney-spears-and-then-we-kiss-original-version-leaks.html/|title=Daily B: The Original Version of 'And Then We Kiss' Surfaces|last=Stern|first=Bradley|publisher=[[MuuMuse]]|accessdate=2012-12-05}}</ref>


The writing of the novel took place in the early mornings "in the blissful quiet before [she] switched on [her] email", while she also continued teaching at [[The University of Southern California]] during the day, and blogging about wine in the evenings.<ref name="nzherald"/> Aside from [[Anne Rice]] novels that she "read and loved" in her twenties, Harkness claims she has not read other vampire fiction such as ''[[The Historian]]'' or the ''[[Twilight (series)|Twilight]]'' series.<ref name="nzherald"/>
Spears described "Breathe on Me" as "very vibe-y, trance-y," explaining that the song "is basically about being with a guy and not even having to really be with each other, but just the intensity and the anxiety between not saying anything. You don't even have to touch me, just breathe on me."<ref name="Freaky">{{ cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1479236/britney-gets-just-little-freaky.jhtml | title=Britney Gets 'Just A Little Freaky' On In The Zone|last=Vineyard|first=Jennifer|publisher=MTV. MTV Networks|date=2003-09-23|accessdate=2012-12-05}}</ref> Britney's "[[Lolita]] persona is revived" on the track.<ref name="BBC">{{ cite web | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/3268411.stm | title=Bhangra Britney gets lost in music|last=Bishop|first=Tom|work=[[BBC News]] |publisher=[[BBC]] |date=2003-11-21|accessdate=2012-12-05 }}</ref>


==Composition==
==Synopsis==
While studying in [[Oxford University]]'s Bodleian Library, American scholar Diana Bishop uncovers a bewitched alchemical manuscript, the long-lost and sought-after Ashmole 782. Diana has long tried to keep magic out of her life; she is descended from a long line of witches, but she is determined to remain untouched by her family's legacy. She banishes the manuscripts to the stacks, but Diana finds it impossible to hold the world of magic at bay any longer. Witches are not the only otherworldly creatures to live alongside humans. Creative, destructive daemons and long-lived vampires also inhabit this world. The discovery of Ashmole 782 draws the attentions of witches, daemons, and vampires alike. It is believed that the manuscript contains important clues about the past and the future, and creatures want to know how Diana Bishop has been able to get her hands on the elusive volume. Perhaps most drawn to Diana is the 1500-year-old vampire Matthew Clairmont, a geneticist with a passion for Darwin. Finding an ally in the vampire, Diana and Matthew embark on a journey to understand the manuscript's secrets. As their relationship develops, the witch and the vampire engage in a forbidden romance, drawing the attention of the Congregation, a nine-member governing clique overseeing all supernatural beings. As Diana and Matthew make enemies, they fall further in love, threatening to unravel the very fragile peace that has long existed between creatures and humans.
"Breathe on Me" is a pop sing with [[techno]]<ref name="Slant">{{ cite web | url=http://www.slantmagazine.com/music/review/britney-spears-in-the-zone/366 | title=Britney Spears: In The Zone | last=Cinquemani | first=Sal | publisher=[[Slant Magazine]] |date=2003-11-12 | accessdate=2012-12-05 }}</ref> and [[trip hop]] influences<ref name="Freaky"/> that lasts for three minutes and forty-three seconds. The track "includes moaning and heavy breathing."<ref>{{ cite web | url=http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/11/17/entertainment/main584136.shtml | title=Britney Gets A 'Walk Of Fame' Star | publisher=[[CBS News]]. [[CBS]] | date=2003-11-17 | accessdate=2012-12-05 }}</ref> Britney pleads, "Boy, don't stop, 'cause I'm half way there / It's not complicated, we're just syncopated."<ref name="JAM">{{ cite web | url=http://jam.canoe.ca/Music/Artists/S/Spears_Britney/AlbumReviews/2003/11/17/771911.html | title=Album Review: In The Zone | last=Stevenson | first=Jane | work=[[Jam!]] | publisher=[[Canoe.ca]] | date=2003-11-17 | accessdate=2012-12-05 }}</ref> The "sexy thump" of the song is briefly interrupted as Spears whispers, "Monogamy is the way to go / Just put your lips together and blow,"<ref name="Slant"/> a reference to [[Lauren Bacall]] in the 1944 film ''[[To Have and Have Not (film)|To Have and Have Not]]''.<ref name="MuuMuse">{{ cite web | url=http://www.muumuse.com/2012/05/muumuse-breatheheavy-present-the-singles-that-never-were.html/ | title=MuuMuse And BreatheHeavy Present: The Singles That Never Were | last=Stern | first=Bradley | publisher=[[MuuMuse]] | date=2012-05-03 | accessdate=2012-12-05 }}</ref> The song was described as "ambient-techno" as Spears explores "the eroticism of restraint."<ref name="Slant"/> The track has "swirling beats and pounding bass."<ref name="Popeater">{{ cite web | url=http://www.popeater.com/2011/03/29/britney-spears-femme-fatale-best-songs-you-dont-know/ | title=The Five Best Britney Spears Songs You Probably Don't Know | last=Mitchell | first=John | work=[[PopEater]] | publisher=[[AOL]] | date=2011-03-29 | accessdate=2012-12-05 }}</ref>


==Publication history==
Jennifer Vineyard of [[MTV News]] wrote, "Of the songs on In the Zone,"Breathe on Me" most earns the trip-hop comparisons."<ref>{{ cite web | url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1479887/britney-talks-sex-on-new-lp.jhtml | title=Britney Album Preview: Sex, Sex And More Sex|last= Vineyard|first=Jennifer|publisher=MTV. MTV Networks|date=2003-10-22|accessdate=2012-12-05}}</ref> The song received comparisons to Australian singer [[Kylie Minogue]],<ref name="BBC"/><ref name="SMH">{{ cite web | url=http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/11/20/1069027249390.html | title=Britney Spears, In the Zone | last=Zuel | first=Bernard |work=[[Sydney Morning Herald]]|publisher=[[Fairfax Media]]|date=2003-11-21 | accessdate=2012-12-05 }}</ref> a frequent collaborator of Steve Anderson, particularly her songs "[[Breathe (Kylie Minogue song)|Breathe]]" and "[[Confide in Me]]" (the latter of which was co-written by Anderson).<ref name="AfterElton">{{ cite web | url=http://www.afterelton.com/2012/12/britney-spears-5-underrated-tracks | title=5 Underrated Britney Spears Tracks, In Honor of Her 31st Birthday! | last=Viriel | first=Louis | publisher=[[AfterEllen.com and AfterElton.com|AfterElton.com]] | date=2012-12-02 | accessdate=2012-12-05 }}</ref> "Breathe on Me" was also likened to the work of [[Madonna (entertainer)|Madonna]], who Spears collaborated with on "[[Me Against the Music]]".<ref name="Slant"/><ref name="RTE">{{ cite web | url=http://www.rte.ie/ten/2003/1205/spearsb.html | title=Britney Spears - In The Zone | last=McGee | first=Linda | work=[[RTE.ie]] |publisher=[[Raidió Teilifís Éireann]] | date=2003-12-05 | accessdate=2012-12-05 }}</ref>
''A Discovery of Witches'' first achieved attention from publishers at the 2009 [[Frankfurt Book Fair]]. It was then published by [[Viking Press]] for a North American release in February 2011. The novel was commercially successful, debuting at #2 on the [[New York Times Best Seller list|''New York Times'' Best Seller list]],<ref>{{cite web|title=Best Sellers|url=http://www.nytimes.com/best-sellers-books/2011-02-27/overview.html|work=[[The New York Times]]|publisher=[[The New York Times Company]]|accessdate=17 November 2012|date=Feb 27, 2011}}</ref> Two months after publication, ''A Discovery of Witches'' was already in its seventh printing.<ref name="latimes"/>


==Critical reception==
==Remixes==
The novel was generally praised and deemed a strong literary debut. Rating the novel a B+, ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'''s Karen Valby was positive in her review, labeling it an "extraordinarily fun debut" and remarking that "Harkness writes with thrilling gusto about the magical world. Whether she's describing a yoga class for witches, daemons, and vampires or Diana's benignly haunted house, it's a treat to suspend disbelief." Though she thought the novel dragged for a bit, "the pages turned faster, almost as if on their own" as the action picked up and "by the most satisfying end, Harkness had made me a believer."<ref>{{cite web|last=Valby|first=Karen|title=A Discovery of Witches Review|url=http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20460950,00.html|publisher=[[Time Inc.]]|work=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|accessdate=4 December 2012|date=26 January 2011}}</ref> ''[[Parade (magazine)|Parade]]'' gave the novel a glowing endorsement, writing, "Harkness’ sure hand when it comes to star-crossed love and chilling action sequences in striking locales makes for an enchanting debut."<ref>{{cite web|title=A Discovery of Witches, Mr. Sunshine|url=http://www.parade.com/parade-picks/2011/02/06-discovery-of-witches.html|publisher=[[Advance Publications]]|work=[[Parade (magazine){{!}}Parade]]|accessdate=4 December 2012|date=6 February 2011}}</ref> ''[[O, The Oprah Magazine]]'' listed "A Discovery of Witches" as one of its 15 Books to Watch for in February 2011, deeming it "romantic, erudite, and suspenseful" and noting "Harkness attends to every scholarly and emotional detail with whimsy, sensuality, and humor."<ref>{{cite web|last=McGee|first=Celia|title=15 Books to Watch for in February 2011|url=http://www.oprah.com/book/A-Discovery-of-Witches-A-Novel-by-Deborah-Harkness?editors_pick_id=28748|work=[[O, The Oprah Magazine]]|publisher=[[Hearst Corporation]]|accessdate=4 December 2012|date=26 January 2011}}</ref> In a starred review, ''[[Library Journal]]'' judged that "A Discovery of Witches" to be an "enchanting novel... an essential purchase" and that Harkness "is an author to watch". On the novel, the review elaborated: "readers will find themselves invested in Diana’s success at unlocking the secrets of the manuscript. Although not a nail-biting cliff-hanger, the finale skillfully provides a sense of completion while leaving doors open for the possibility of wonderful sequel adventures. This reviewer, for one, hopes they come soon!"<ref>{{cite web|last=Renfro|first=Crystal|title=Fiction|url=http://www.libraryjournal.com/lj/reviewsbook/887651-421/fiction.html.csp|work=[[Library Journal]]|publisher=[[Media Source]]|accessdate=4 December 2012|date=15 December 2010}}</ref>
"Breathe on Me" was intended to be released as a single in 2004, but the ''In the Zone'' era was cut short due to a knee injury Spears received on the set of "[[Outrageous (song)|Outrageous]]" music video. Official remixes of "Breathe on Me" were commissioned by [[Jive Records]]. [[James Holden (producer)|James Holden]] produced remixes of the song.<ref name="Holden">{{ cite web | url=http://www.muumuse.com/2010/12/daily-b-the-official-james-holden-remixes-for-breathe-on-me.html/ | title=Daily B: The Official James Holden Remixes For "Breathe On Me" | last=Stern | first=Bradley | publisher=[[MuuMuse]] | date=2010-12-21 | accessdate=2012-12-05 }}</ref> Bradley Stern of [[MuuMuse]] wrote, "The remix takes the throbbing trance perfection of the original and brings it to somewhat spookier new heights, stretching and distorting the singer’s sexy moans into lonesome cries on top of spaced-out synthesizers and bright flourishes of electronica." [[Stuart Price]] also produced the Jacques Lu Cont remixes of the song; the Jacques Lu Cont Mix appeared on the bonus remix disk of ''[[Greatest Hits: My Prerogative]]'' in 2004 and Jacques Lu Cont's Thin White Duke Mix appeared on ''[[B in the Mix: The Remixes]]'' in 2005.<ref name="Remixes">{{ cite web | url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1512630/surprise-britney-releasing-album-this-month.jhtml | title=Surprise: Britney's Releasing An Album In Just Two Weeks | last=Vineyard | first=Jennifer | work=[[MTV]] | publisher=[[Viacom Media Networks]] | date=2005-11-08 | accessdate=2012-12-15 }}</ref> The former was described as "faster and brighter, with a looped [[Giorgio Moroder]]-style beat" while the latter "is half as long even though it slows the beat down to something slinky and lounge-y, even slightly off-key, making the song darker and dirtier."<ref name="Remixes"/>


Critics praised Harkness' attention to detail and history, rare in paranormal romance novels. The ''[[San Antonio Express-News]]'' described it as a "rare historical novel that manages to be as intelligent as it is romantic [and] it is supernatural fiction that those of us who usually prefer to stay grounded in reality can get caught up in."<ref>{{cite web|last=Bennett|first=Steve|title=A Potent Spell Cast|url=http://www.mysanantonio.com/default/article/A-potent-spell-cast-1018503.php|publisher=[[Hearst Corporation]]|work=[[San Antonio Express-News]]|accessdate=17 November 2012|date=17 February 2011}}</ref> Nisi Shawl of ''[[The Seattle Times]]'' noted that "though the quality of "Discovery's" prose remains no more than clear and serviceable, its erudite references to the leather-bound boards of incunabulae and secret ingredients in medieval inks make it a welcome relief."<ref>{{ cite web | url=http://seattletimes.com/html/books/2014256352_br18witches.html|title='A Discovery of Witches': at Oxford University, unrest among the supernatural set|work=[[The Seattle Times]] |publisher=[[The Seattle Times Company]]|last=Shawl|first=Nisi|date=17 February 2011 | accessdate=3 January 2013}}</ref> A 'Best Book of the Month' for February 2011, ''[[Amazon.com]]'' described the novel as "a mesmerizing and addictive read, equal parts history and magic, romance and suspense... This smart, sophisticated story harks back to the novels of Anne Rice, but it is as contemporary and sensual as the ''Twilight'' series-with an extra serving of historical realism."<ref>{{cite web|title=A Discovery of Witches: A Novel (All Souls Trilogy)|url=http://www.amazon.com/Discovery-Witches-Novel-Souls-Trilogy/dp/0670022411/ref=br_lf_m_1000654881_1_3_rvw?ie=UTF8&s=books&pf_rd_p=1287346382&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_t=1401&pf_rd_i=1000654881&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=152BBJ932EC6C5T8QZFV|publisher=[[Amazon.com]]|accessdate=4 December 2012|date=8 February 2011}}</ref>
==Reception==
{{double image|right|Femme_fatale_tacoma6.jpg|112|Electrocute @ Spaceland 2.jpg|125|[[Britney Spears]] (''left'') and [[Nicole Morier]] (''right'') wrote several songs together, including "Mmm Papi" and "[[Whiplash (Selena Gomez & the Scene song)|Whiplash]]".}}


In a more mixed review for ''[[The Guardian]]'', Jenny Turner panned the quality of the writing but admitted the ideas were interesting: "This is a very silly novel. Characters and relationships are stereotyped. The historical background is a total pudding. The prose is terrible. And yet, the ideas have just enough suction, somehow, to present an undemanding reader with some nice frissons."<ref>{{cite web|last=Turner|first=Jenny|title=A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2011/feb/12/discovery-witches-deborah-harkness-review|work=Culture|publisher=[[The Guardian]]|accessdate=4 December 2012|date=Feb 12, 2011}}</ref> [[Elizabeth Hand]], writing for ''[[The Washington Post]]'', criticized the subject matter and wrote that "this novel’s pacing is so torpid that readers may feel that aged, too."<ref>{{ cite web |url=http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2011-03-03/entertainment/35207549_1_matthew-clairmont-deborah-harkness-witches |title=Books: ‘A Discovery of Witches’ by Deborah Harkness, reviewed by Elizabeth Hand|last=Hand|first=Elizabeth|work=[[The Washington Post]]|publisher=[[The Washington Post Company]]|date=3 March 2011|accessdate=3 January 2013 }}</ref> Comparisons have been made between "A Discovery of Witches" and other popular fantasy series - namely ''[[Twilight (series)|Twilight]]'', in the dynamics of Diana and Matthew's relationship, and [[Harry Potter]] in the co-existence of magical and non-magical creatures.<ref>{{cite web|last=Hand|first=Elizabeth|title=Books: 'A Discovery of Witches' by Deborah Harkness|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/03/02/AR2011030206303.html|work=Book World|publisher=[[The Washington Post]]|accessdate=17 November 2012|date=March 3, 2011}}</ref> The novel was also compared to the work of [[Diana Gabaldon]]. Harkness said that she is a huge fan of Gabaldon and sees the comparisons as flattering.<ref name="nzherald"/>
"Breathe on Me" received generally favorable reviews from contemporary critics. Tom Bishop of [[BBC News]] described the track as "a sumptuous seduction bearing the stamp of [[Kylie Minogue|Kylie]] collaborator Steve Anderson."<ref name="BBC"/> Louis Viriel of [[AfterEllen.com and AfterElton.com|AfterElton.com]] labeled it one of Britney's most underrated songs, and a highlight from ''In the Zone''. He said the song is a "sinister triumph" and "a steamy, yet icy affair that recalls the naughtiness of Kylie."<ref name="AfterElton"/> Linda McGee of [[RTE.ie]] compared "Breathe on Me" favorably to [[Madonna (entertainer)|Madonna]], commenting that "the pop princess treads, convincingly, on the territory of the Queen of Pop."<ref name="RTE"/> Jane Stevenson of [[Jam!]] called the track a "throbbing" and "sexy, sweaty dance tune."<ref name="JAM"/> [[MuuMuse]] referred to "Breathe on Me" as "the single that never was," while<ref name="MuuMuse"/> while [[PopEater]] named the song the best Britney Spears song that "you probably don't know."<ref name="Popeater"/>


==Film adaptation==
The song, however, drew criticism for the revival of Spears' [[Lolita]] persona.<ref name="BBC"/> Elysa Gardner of ''[[USA Today]]'' wrote, "Purring and moaning through overheated numbers such as Breathe on Me and Early Mornin', she still sounds creepily like a little girl trying to excite the older boys."<ref>{{ cite web | url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/music/reviews/2003-11-17-britney-beatles_x.htm | title= Britney lost in 'Zone' | last=Gardner | first=Elysa | work=[[USA Today]] | publisher=[[Gannett Company]]|date=2003-11-17 | accessdate=2012-12-05 }}</ref> Bernard Zuel of the ''[[Sydney Morning Herald]]'' pinpointed "Breathe on Me" as a weaker track from the album: "Breathe On Me is breathy tosh that sounds frighteningly like Kylie."<ref name="SMH"/>
[[Warner Bros.]] purchased the film rights to ''A Discovery of Witches'' in the summer of 2011.<ref>{{cite web|last=Brown|first=Phil|title=Warner Brothers Acquires A DISCOVERY OF WITCHES|url=http://collider.com/warner-brothers-a-discovery-of-witches-movie/103971/|publisher=Collider.com|accessdate=17 November 2012|date=July 21, 2011}}</ref> The film is still in the early stages of development, with few details released beyond the signing-on of playwright [[David Auburn]] to pen the screenplay and producers [[Denise Di Novi]] and Allison Greenspan.<ref>{{cite web|last=Eisenberg|first=Eric|title=Deborah Harkness' A Discovery Of Witches To Be Adapted By David Auburn|url=http://www.cinemablend.com/new/Deborah-Harkness-Discovery-Witches-Adapted-By-David-Auburn-28743.html|publisher=[[Cinema Blend]]|accessdate=17 November 2012|date=Jan 10, 2012}}</ref>


==Live performances==
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
"Breathe on Me" was performed for the first time as part of a surprise thirty-minute set at [[Rain Nightclub]] at the [[Palms Casino Resort]] in [[Las Vegas, Nevada]] on September 14, 2003.<ref name="Palms">{{ cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1478233/britney-shocks-vegas-with-surprise-show.jhtml | title=Britney Romps On Bed, Loses Shirt At Surprise Vegas Show|last=Vineyard|first=Jennifer|work=[[MTV]] | publisher=[[Viacom Media Networks]]|date=2003-09-15|accessdate=2012-12-05}}</ref> Spears and her dancers crawled on the floor, onto a [[daybed]], and pretended to make out with one another. One of the dancers ripped Spears' top off, exposing her red bra.<ref name="Palms"/> The song was also performed as part of Spears' headlining set at [[Staples Center]] in [[Los Angeles, California]] for the annual [[KIIS-FM Jingle Ball]].<ref>{{ cite web | url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1480992/fans-puzzled-by-britney-set-at-holiday-show.jhtml | title=Steamy Britney Set Brings Holiday Concert To An Anticlimax |work=[[MTV]] | publisher=[[Viacom Media Networks]] | last=Moss | first=Corey | date=2003-12-08 | accessdate=2012-12-15 }}</ref>


⚫
[[:Category:2011 novels]]
Spears performed the song on [[The Onyx Hotel Tour]] in support of ''In the Zone'' in 2004. Following a costume change, Spears reappeared on a mini platform where she descended to the main stage on a [[dance pole|pole]].<ref name="Onyx">{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1485517/20040303/spears_britney.jhtml|title=Britney Strips, Gyrates, Sweats, Flirts At Tour Kickoff| date=2004-03-04|accessdate=2012-12-05| last=Wallace|first=Brian|work=[[MTV]] | publisher=[[]Viacom Media Networks]]}}</ref> She wore pink lingerie and "cavorted on one of the stage's two beds with a male dancer, thrashing her sizable blonde mane to and fro."<ref name="Onyx"/> The performance also "featured boy-on-boy and girl-on-girl action from her dancers."<ref>{{ cite web | url=http://articles.nydailynews.com/2004-04-12/entertainment/18263905_1_onyx-hotel-britney-spears-dirty-old-men | title=Britney Still Firing Blanks | last=Farber | first=Jim | work=[[Daily News (New York)|New York Daily News]] | publisher=[[Mortimer Zuckerman]] | date=2004-04-12 | accessdate=2012-12-15 }}</ref> It was described as "easily the raciest in the oversexed show."<ref>{{ cite web | url=http://www.seattlepi.com/default/article/Britney-ready-for-Vegas-in-a-show-rated-R-for-1139522.php | title=Britney ready for Vegas in a show rated 'R' for racy | last=Stout | first=Gene | work=[[Seattle Post-Intelligencer]] | publisher=[[Hearst Corporation]] | date=2004-03-12 | accessdate=2012-12-15 }}</ref>
[[:Category:Contemporary fantasy novels]]

On 2007's [[The M+M's Tour]], which included six secret shows at [[House of Blues]] venues, Spears "seductively gyrated on the chair before her dancers returned and pulled a male fan from the audience to be serenaded by Spears."<ref>{{ cite web | url=http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20012207_20037605,00.html | title=Britney's Comeback Rolls on with Second Show | last=Alexander | first=Reagan | work=[[People (magazine)|People]] | publisher=[[Time Inc.]] | date=2007-05-03 | accessdate=2012-12-15 }}</ref> The song was performed on 2009's [[The Circus Starring Britney Spears]] tour alongside "Touch of My Hand". Spears stripped "down to panties and a barely-there sheer top with strategically placed cones, and sang while suspended inside a giant picture frame that slowly spun around center stage. Landing on a couch adorned with men, she donned a blindfold and ascended halfway to the rafters again. Finally, it was just her grinding away with a muscleman."<ref>{{ cite web | url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/music/news/2009-03-04-britney-concert_N.htm | title=Britney in concert: The Circus is finally back in town | last=Shriver | first=Jerry | work=[[USA Today]] | publisher=[[Gannett Company]] | date=2009-03-04 | accessdate=2012-12-15 }}</ref>

==Credits and personnel==
*Britney Spears — [[lead vocals]], [[background vocals]]
*Steve Anderson — songwriting, keyboards, programming
*Lisa Greene — songwriting
*Stephen Lee — songwriting
*[[Mark Taylor (producer)|Mark Taylor]] — producer, engineering, mixing

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

{{Britney Spears}}
{{Britney Spears singles}}

[[:Category:Britney Spears songs]]
[[:Category:Songs written by Britney Spears]]
⚫
[[:Category:2003 songs]]

Revision as of 20:53, 3 January 2013

Shadow of Night
AuthorDeborah Harkness
LanguageEnglish
SeriesAll Souls trilogy
GenreContemporary fantasy, romance, vampire, witchcraft, alchemy
PublisherPenguin Books
Publication date
July 10, 2012
Publication placeUSA
Media typePrint (Hardcover, Paperback)
ISBNISBN ? Parameter error in {{ISBNT}}: invalid character
Preceded byA Discovery of Witches 
Followed byTBA 

A Discovery of Witches is a 2011 historical-fantasy novel and the debut novel by American scholar Deborah Harkness. It follows the story of Diana Bishop, an alchemical history professor at Oxford University who, after accidentally calling an elusive, long-thought-lost manuscript, is forced to embrace the magic in her blood she has sought to keep out of her life and engage in a forbidden romance with charming vampire Matthew Clairmont.

The book received mostly positive feedback from literary critics. It was praised for its intelligence and the mixture of history with fantasy, although some critics felt the plot was trite and the pacing was slow. Comparison were made between other popular fantasy series, namely Twilight and Harry Potter. The novel began as a "thought experiment" for Harkness, who had previously only published works of historical non-fiction. She drew upon her academic background as a historian and her studies of alchemy, magic and the occult.

A Discovery of Witches was first published in hardcover on February 8, 2011 by Penguin Books, becoming a New York Times Best Seller upon its release. It has since been released in paperback and also as an ebook. The novel has been translated into more than 36 languages around the world. A Discovery of Witches is the first installment in the All Souls trilogy, followed by Shadow of Night (2012) and a yet-to-be-released final novel. Warner Bros. have purchased the rights to create a film adaptation.

Background

According to Harkness, the novel began as "a thought experiment" after she noticed the plethora of novels surrounding vampires and magic at an airport bookshop.[1] As a historian, she noted that people today were interested in reading about the same sorts of subjects as they would have in the past: the supernatural. "In some ways I think their popularity right now is about our feeling that we still want there to be magic and enchantment in the world," theorises Harkness. "Magic provides a way of still having room for possibilities, an unlimited sense of what the world offers. Magic is always there when science is found wanting."[1] Harkness has studied magic and the occult since 1983, which provided much of the inspiration for the novel.[2]

The writing of the novel took place in the early mornings "in the blissful quiet before [she] switched on [her] email", while she also continued teaching at The University of Southern California during the day, and blogging about wine in the evenings.[1] Aside from Anne Rice novels that she "read and loved" in her twenties, Harkness claims she has not read other vampire fiction such as The Historian or the Twilight series.[1]

Synopsis

While studying in Oxford University's Bodleian Library, American scholar Diana Bishop uncovers a bewitched alchemical manuscript, the long-lost and sought-after Ashmole 782. Diana has long tried to keep magic out of her life; she is descended from a long line of witches, but she is determined to remain untouched by her family's legacy. She banishes the manuscripts to the stacks, but Diana finds it impossible to hold the world of magic at bay any longer. Witches are not the only otherworldly creatures to live alongside humans. Creative, destructive daemons and long-lived vampires also inhabit this world. The discovery of Ashmole 782 draws the attentions of witches, daemons, and vampires alike. It is believed that the manuscript contains important clues about the past and the future, and creatures want to know how Diana Bishop has been able to get her hands on the elusive volume. Perhaps most drawn to Diana is the 1500-year-old vampire Matthew Clairmont, a geneticist with a passion for Darwin. Finding an ally in the vampire, Diana and Matthew embark on a journey to understand the manuscript's secrets. As their relationship develops, the witch and the vampire engage in a forbidden romance, drawing the attention of the Congregation, a nine-member governing clique overseeing all supernatural beings. As Diana and Matthew make enemies, they fall further in love, threatening to unravel the very fragile peace that has long existed between creatures and humans.

Publication history

A Discovery of Witches first achieved attention from publishers at the 2009 Frankfurt Book Fair. It was then published by Viking Press for a North American release in February 2011. The novel was commercially successful, debuting at #2 on the New York Times Best Seller list,[3] Two months after publication, A Discovery of Witches was already in its seventh printing.[2]

Critical reception

The novel was generally praised and deemed a strong literary debut. Rating the novel a B+, Entertainment Weekly's Karen Valby was positive in her review, labeling it an "extraordinarily fun debut" and remarking that "Harkness writes with thrilling gusto about the magical world. Whether she's describing a yoga class for witches, daemons, and vampires or Diana's benignly haunted house, it's a treat to suspend disbelief." Though she thought the novel dragged for a bit, "the pages turned faster, almost as if on their own" as the action picked up and "by the most satisfying end, Harkness had made me a believer."[4] Parade gave the novel a glowing endorsement, writing, "Harkness’ sure hand when it comes to star-crossed love and chilling action sequences in striking locales makes for an enchanting debut."[5] O, The Oprah Magazine listed "A Discovery of Witches" as one of its 15 Books to Watch for in February 2011, deeming it "romantic, erudite, and suspenseful" and noting "Harkness attends to every scholarly and emotional detail with whimsy, sensuality, and humor."[6] In a starred review, Library Journal judged that "A Discovery of Witches" to be an "enchanting novel... an essential purchase" and that Harkness "is an author to watch". On the novel, the review elaborated: "readers will find themselves invested in Diana’s success at unlocking the secrets of the manuscript. Although not a nail-biting cliff-hanger, the finale skillfully provides a sense of completion while leaving doors open for the possibility of wonderful sequel adventures. This reviewer, for one, hopes they come soon!"[7]

Critics praised Harkness' attention to detail and history, rare in paranormal romance novels. The San Antonio Express-News described it as a "rare historical novel that manages to be as intelligent as it is romantic [and] it is supernatural fiction that those of us who usually prefer to stay grounded in reality can get caught up in."[8] Nisi Shawl of The Seattle Times noted that "though the quality of "Discovery's" prose remains no more than clear and serviceable, its erudite references to the leather-bound boards of incunabulae and secret ingredients in medieval inks make it a welcome relief."[9] A 'Best Book of the Month' for February 2011, Amazon.com described the novel as "a mesmerizing and addictive read, equal parts history and magic, romance and suspense... This smart, sophisticated story harks back to the novels of Anne Rice, but it is as contemporary and sensual as the Twilight series-with an extra serving of historical realism."[10]

In a more mixed review for The Guardian, Jenny Turner panned the quality of the writing but admitted the ideas were interesting: "This is a very silly novel. Characters and relationships are stereotyped. The historical background is a total pudding. The prose is terrible. And yet, the ideas have just enough suction, somehow, to present an undemanding reader with some nice frissons."[11] Elizabeth Hand, writing for The Washington Post, criticized the subject matter and wrote that "this novel’s pacing is so torpid that readers may feel that aged, too."[12] Comparisons have been made between "A Discovery of Witches" and other popular fantasy series - namely Twilight, in the dynamics of Diana and Matthew's relationship, and Harry Potter in the co-existence of magical and non-magical creatures.[13] The novel was also compared to the work of Diana Gabaldon. Harkness said that she is a huge fan of Gabaldon and sees the comparisons as flattering.[1]

Film adaptation

Warner Bros. purchased the film rights to A Discovery of Witches in the summer of 2011.[14] The film is still in the early stages of development, with few details released beyond the signing-on of playwright David Auburn to pen the screenplay and producers Denise Di Novi and Allison Greenspan.[15]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Pellegrino, Nicky (11 April 2011). "Deborah Harkness: Once bitten." The New Zealand Herald. APN News & Media. Retrieved 17 November 2012.
  2. ^ a b Timberg, Scott (10 April 2011). "Deborah Harkness' 'A Discovery of Witches' started with airport bookstores". Los Angeles Times. Tribune Company. Retrieved 3 January 2013.
  3. ^ "Best Sellers". The New York Times. The New York Times Company. Feb 27, 2011. Retrieved 17 November 2012.
  4. ^ Valby, Karen (26 January 2011). "A Discovery of Witches Review". Entertainment Weekly. Time Inc. Retrieved 4 December 2012.
  5. ^ "A Discovery of Witches, Mr. Sunshine". Parade. Advance Publications. 6 February 2011. Retrieved 4 December 2012.
  6. ^ McGee, Celia (26 January 2011). "15 Books to Watch for in February 2011". O, The Oprah Magazine. Hearst Corporation. Retrieved 4 December 2012.
  7. ^ Renfro, Crystal (15 December 2010). "Fiction". Library Journal. Media Source. Retrieved 4 December 2012.
  8. ^ Bennett, Steve (17 February 2011). "A Potent Spell Cast". San Antonio Express-News. Hearst Corporation. Retrieved 17 November 2012.
  9. ^ Shawl, Nisi (17 February 2011). "'A Discovery of Witches': at Oxford University, unrest among the supernatural set". The Seattle Times. The Seattle Times Company. Retrieved 3 January 2013.
  10. ^ "A Discovery of Witches: A Novel (All Souls Trilogy)". Amazon.com. 8 February 2011. Retrieved 4 December 2012.
  11. ^ Turner, Jenny (Feb 12, 2011). "A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness". Culture. The Guardian. Retrieved 4 December 2012.
  12. ^ Hand, Elizabeth (3 March 2011). "Books: 'A Discovery of Witches' by Deborah Harkness, reviewed by Elizabeth Hand". The Washington Post. The Washington Post Company. Retrieved 3 January 2013.
  13. ^ Hand, Elizabeth (March 3, 2011). "Books: 'A Discovery of Witches' by Deborah Harkness". Book World. The Washington Post. Retrieved 17 November 2012.
  14. ^ Brown, Phil (July 21, 2011). "Warner Brothers Acquires A DISCOVERY OF WITCHES". Collider.com. Retrieved 17 November 2012.
  15. ^ Eisenberg, Eric (Jan 10, 2012). "Deborah Harkness' A Discovery Of Witches To Be Adapted By David Auburn". Cinema Blend. Retrieved 17 November 2012.

Category:2011 novels Category:Contemporary fantasy novels

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