Oliver Anthony: Is He a Member of Generation Hex?

Rowling was asked on her 2007 Open Book Tour of North America if she had any advice for her readers, young and old. She responded promptly and in the affirmative: “Don’t trust the press or the government.”

The years since have only confirmed the wisdom of that pointed advice, especially during the Covid, Trans, and Ukraine hysterias.

If postmodernity as a historical period per the angry Algerians of literary criticism is characterized by its collective “incredulity toward the metanarrative,” that is as true for those who grew up reading Harry Potter. This is true, I think, even though almost all of that fandom’s leadership were sucked into the Orwellian nightmares from the political left of the last fifteen years.

I thought of the skepticism about everything we are told by the media and government that is prevalent and growing today — “How many times can we be duped into changing our status flags on Facebook before we catch on?” seems a commonplace feeling — when I read that Anthony Oliver’s ‘Rich Men North of Richmond’ marked its first anniversary in the public square.

Here is that unforgettable song of raging against the machine as sung by its remarkable writer:

And here are Oliver’s reflections on the year that has passed by, his gratitude to his supporters, his determination not to be pigeon-holed by media or political partisans, and his commitment to working to help others have a life with roots in the land, not their ‘Smart’ phones.

No, I have no idea if Oliver Anthony read Harry Potter as a boy. He seems to be a cross between Wendell Berry, the free-wheelin’ Bob Dylan, and abolitionist John Brown (it’s the beard).

I wouldn’t be surprised, though, if he did read it all. There’s a magical touch and Gryffindor quality to him.

What if her were a character in the Saga? Where would he be sorted? Whom does he resemble?

The Sorting Hat might put him in Hufflepuff to be guided by Professor Sprout but he shows shades of Ravenclaw insight; I think, though, if you gave the young Albus Dumbledore some time in the mountains with a pick and a banjo, that he might have been singing songs like ‘Rich Men North of Richmond.’

Tomorrow, ‘Rowling, Jimi Hendrix, and the Defining Decision of Her Life.’ Stay tuned!