Can't find the post that has this DWJ quote, so I'm making my own for easier reference.
A bunch of us on the DWJ mailing list were wondering about Howl's past - where did he go to school, what field did he study in, how did he e
"Howell Jenkins played rugby for Swansea University, and his doctoral thesis was on Spells -- his first degree was in Philosophy (probably Philosophy with something-or-other, but his interest was philosophy). One day he found himself being pursued by the four brothers of a young lady he'd played ever so slightly fast-and-loose with (no surprises there) who were chanting "Blood for Blod!" as they chased him down the street. Each of them was a huge forward who seemed to plan to use Howell's head for a ball.
Luckily a wing can generally run faster than a forward, and he stayed ahead of them as he made for the shelter of his sister's house, galloping up the steep streets and skidding on the corners like a centaur. He wasn't a magical practitioner in Wales, but he had been reading some particularly interesting spells that week, and as he ran he recited one of them; his hand on the doorknob of the house he intended to take refuge in, he cried out the final word of this spell, and as the door opened found that instead of his sister's hall, it opened into Mrs. Pentstemmon's foyer.
Since the pursuit was hot on his heels, he didn't hesitate, but dived through the door and slammed it behind him.
So now we know. That's how he got into Ingary. Of course, once he had demonstrated such powerful and completely untrained magical ability, Mrs. P had to train him, or there was no telling what trouble he might cause by accident.
It really wasn't her fault that after she *had* trained him, he still caused trouble both by accident and on purpose. It was simply in his nature."
