posted on 03 Feb 2021

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone by J.K. Rowling

There are lots of reasons why I’ve never read any Harry Potter until now: I don’t much like fantasy, its ubiquity makes you feel like you’ve read it already, the films, the fame and wealth of the author, the way it has shaped what publishers are looking for in children’s literature - to name but a few. Oh, yes, and the ultimately irritating fact that the name of the chief protagonist is very similar to my own – something dullards never tire of reminding me of.

But in truth, probably the key reason was an icy crystal of regret that sits in my heart because I was once poised to buy a first edition of the book when it was published back in 1997 and decided not to because I told my companion – and I quote – ‘it’s just another heap of junk about wizards’. I’d picked it up in the bookshop because of the name thing and I was damned if I was going to be rooked into buying it just because of that. If only I had, I’d be many thousands of pounds richer than I am today. If  that’s not a reason to harbour a grudge, I’m not sure what is.

Now, all these years on and the Potter legend has become one of publishing’s greatest success stories, it somehow feels churlish to maintain my studied indifference. What is it about the books that has created a generation of readers with such fanatical dedication to the Potter world? How has it sustained a film franchise, endless products sold in dedicated shops and changed so comprehensively the landscape of late twentieth and early twenty-first century children’s literature?

These are big questions to bring to the table and a heavy load for the first book in the series, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, to carry. But right from the beginning I was unexpectedly captured – not, I have to admit, by the story but more by the skill of the writing. There’s nothing flashy here; no tricks, no clever time loops, no irony, no knowing winks to the audience. What you see is what you get and I’m forced to fall back on a wretched cliché here: it’s good old-fashioned storytelling.

I say ‘old-fashioned’ because, of course, it’s hugely influenced by the previous generations of children’s books that set their ripping yarns in public school settings. Take a brilliantly synthesised version of all those hockey sticks, sports field heroics, school bullies and the inevitable mystery surrounding a teacher or two and give it all a magical twist – it’s a school for wizards! – and it all plays out perfectly. Take the magic away from the characters here and you still have a yarn that would do service in any early 20th century children’s public school adventure.

Rowling’s skill is to take the essence of the old successful children’s books and appear to modernise them. But, behind the fantasy façade this is still a story of children removed from their parents, placed in jeopardy, looked over by a benign guardian and ultimately triumphing as good overcomes evil. But to make this work isn’t easy and that’s Rowling’s real triumph. This only works if you create characters that convince and about whom you can care - and there’s some real belting creations here. Hagrid, the giant faithful retainer, the wicked step-family in the shape of the repulsive Dursley’s and the head of Hogwarts school, Dumbledore are all successful creations. But it’s the children themselves – Harry, Ron and Hermione – who have to do the heavy lifting and Rowling has created three-dimensional characters who she will be able to develop on in what turns out to be a further half dozen books.

None of this is really about my conversion to fantasy or to reading more of the Potter series but I do think it’s right to acknowledge what an unexpectedly good read this was – even if I’m not likely to continue the journey in the near future.

 

Terry Potter

February 2021