I will be braving the snow tonight to give a talk at the main branch of the New York Public Library in mid-Manhattan, 455 Fifth Avenue. It’s scheduled to start at 6:30 p.m. and I hope if you’re in the City tonight that you’ll drop by (for out of towners, the mid-Manhattan branch is the library across the street from the one with the postcard lions out front). The lecture is titled ‘How Harry Cast His Spell’ and I will be sharing my latest thoughts about setting and allegory as well as the five other keys that unlock the meaning and power of the Hogwarts Adventures. See you there!
Another Dorothy Sayers Hat Tip and More
February 2, 2009 by 2 Comments
Life is too short, frankly, even to try to keep up with the conversations on hundreds of Harry Potter fan web sites, though no doubt there is great value for serious readers that is hiding on the bigger electronic bulletin boards. I am happy and have to be content, given my priorities and projects, with staying current with the goings on here and at The Hogs Head.
Fortunately, friends of this blog often share with me the jewels they have found on other sites. This morning Bob Trexler sent me a posting by Chris at the always interesting and challenging Harry Potter for Seekers yahoo discussion group. The mavens there — and these are very serious readers and students of literary alchemy — are working their way through Deathly Hallows chapter by chapter and have made it to ‘The Muggle-Born Registration Commission’ and Harry’s adventure in the Ministry of Magic.
Chris’ post is worth reading in full (you may have to join the yahoo group to follow that link) but I share the conclusion here to get at three points made there: the reference to Dorothy Sayers’ Gaudy Night (I look forward to Inked’s reaction to this hat tip), the idea of Harry as noetic or spiritual discerning eye, and the thought that ‘Mary Elizabeth’ Cattermole is rescued because of her testifying truthfully in the heart of darkness. [Read more…]
Harry Potter as Timeless Classic – and Investment
February 1, 2009 by 2 Comments
The three quick but fail-proof tests of an English fiction ‘classic’ or ‘great book’ according to C. S. Lewis are “Does it make you better, wiser, and happier?’ with the necessary follow-up ‘Do you like it?’ (because if you don’t like it, the book’s no good). Those are grand tests on a personal and subjective level (and perhaps that is the only one that matters). Establishing a standard that can be shared universally requires a historical review. I assume that the qualities of proven English ‘greats’ provides a dependable test of future or possible ‘greats;’ it seems, then, that there are four shared qualities in English classics, namely, remaining in print for more than a century, asking the great questions about human life, offering Christian answers, and presenting these answers with artistry that fosters their experience and assimilation by a reader suspending disbelief.
Perhaps the acid test of a “classic,” though, is in monetary value (“follow the money”). Harry Potter has passed three of the four of the English classic criteria — failing only the ‘century in print’ standard — and passes Lewis’ ‘better, wiser, happier, and delighted’ litmus. Data from 2008 online booksellers now reveals that Ms. Rowling’s Hogwarts adventures also has become an investor’s classic and tough times hedge. [Read more…]
Putin and Dobby: Separated at Birth?
January 31, 2009 by 1 Comment
I frequently joke in my talks about how much Vladimir Putin looks like Dobby the house-elf — and share as an aside that this has been the subject of some conversation and controversy in Russia since the premiere of the Chamber of Secrets movie. For those skeptical or just curious about this possibility, I urge a trip to this ‘Duck of Minerva’ post on the subject. I hope those who check it out will share their reflections here.
Scrooge and Malthus: Satire versus Satirical Writing
January 30, 2009 by 6 Comments
Mr. Jerry Bowyer is an economist, author, Great Books lover and friend of this blog (HogPro All-Pros will recall it was Jerry and Susan Bowyer who spotted the ‘House of Gaunt’ with its ‘Dark Mark’ in Thackeray’s Vanity Fair). Forbes magazine ran a fascinating column by Mr. Bowyer last December on the allegorical and satirical meaning of Dickens’ Christmas Carol called ‘Malthus and Scrooge.’ I bring the column to your attention for two reasons.
First, it’s spot-on brilliant, it’s well written, concise, and it opens up the familiar Christmas pageant story to an aspect of Dickens’ writing that escapes most 21st century readers, namely, the 19th century targets at which Dickens was aiming. [Read more…]
Recent Conversation