The Ivory Tower and Harry Potter: Perspectives on a Literary Phenomenon [Paperback]

Pat Pinsent (Author), Mary Pharr (Author), Jann Lacoss (Author), M. Katherine Grimes (Author), Roni Natov (Author), David K. Steege (Author), Farah Mendlesohn (Author), Eliza T. Dresang (Author), Terri Doughty (Author), Lana A. Whited (Editor)

Book Description

Age Level: 18 and up | Grade Level: 13 and up

 

Now available in paper, The Ivory Tower and Harry Potter is the first book-length analysis of J. K. Rowling's work from a broad range of perspectives within literature, folklore, psychology, sociology, and popular culture. A significant portion of the book explores the Harry Potter series' literary ancestors, including magic and fantasy works by Ursula K. LeGuin, Monica Furlong, Jill Murphy, and others, as well as previous works about the British boarding school experience. Other chapters explore the moral and ethical dimensions of Harry's world, including objections to the series raised within some religious circles. In her new epilogue, Lana A. Whited brings this volume up to date by covering Rowling's latest book, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"[Whited] has brought together an impressive array of scholarship to address the phenomenon that is Harry Potter. . . . From historical literary cousins to socio-political interpretations of the series' setting, from textual comparisons to fan club communities, the essays span a wide range of scholarly perspectives. . . . This is an exciting and substantial contribution to early scholarship about an important body of literary work."--Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

"The Ivory Tower and Harry Potter will be indispensable to those interested in the larger literary and sociological issues raised in and around these books."--Mythprint

"A highly scholarly and insightful text, offering new perceptions on beloved favorites, The Ivory Tower and Harry Potter is a welcome addition to Literary Criticism reference collections and highly recommended for scholars and non-specialist general readers who enjoy J. K. Rowling's . . . canon of deftly written and increasingly influential fantasy."--Midwest Book Review

From the Publisher

Edited with an Introduction and Epilogue by Lana A. Whited

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  
• Paperback: 424 pages
• Publisher: University of Missouri Press; New edition edition (August 2, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0826215491
• ISBN-13: 978-0826215499
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 5.8 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #575,804 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Complicated, February 8, 2011

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Maria - See all my reviews

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This review is from: The Ivory Tower and Harry Potter: Perspectives on a Literary Phenomenon (Paperback)

I think this book covers some interesting topics, but for a danish girl like me, the language was a little too sophisticated. I especially enjoyed the essays on gender and language. All in all a hard but good book.