Open at the Close: Literary Essays on Harry Potter

The Harry Potter novels have achieved great success but have received limited attention from literary critics and scholars. This book aims to change that by assembling and highlighting the best literary critical work on the novels, focusing on their importance to twenty-first-century literate culture. Contributors address Harry Potter primarily as a literary phenomenon, interrogating the novels from multiple perspectives and drawing various conclusions. The book explores what makes the novels exceptionally compelling, irresistible to readers, and relevant in our time.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 234 pages
Publication date: 06 May 2022
Publisher: University Press of Mississippi

Despite their incredible success spanning decades, the Harry Potter novels have garnered relatively limited attention from literary critics and scholars. While popular books, articles, blogs, and fan sites for general readers abound, and while philosophers, historians, theologians, sociologists, psychologists, and even business professors have undertaken book-length studies and edited essay collections about Harry Potter, literature scholars, outside of the children's books community, have paid scant regard to the Potterverse. Could it be that scholars remain hesitant to acknowledge popular novels, particularly those with genre labels such as children's literature or fantasy, as worthy subjects for academic study?

This book aims to challenge that oversight by assembling and highlighting some of the finest literary critical work by scholars who are actively striving to elevate the significance of these novels in twenty-first-century literate culture. In Open at the Close, contributors deliberately approach Harry Potter primarily as a literary phenomenon rather than a cultural one. They engage with the novels from diverse perspectives, drawing upon various methodologies, and reaching different conclusions, yet they converge around a central question: What is it about these books that makes them so exceptional, captivating, and relevant in our time?

At the core of this inquiry lies the fundamental allure of the Harry Potter novels. What is it that captivates their readers and keeps them engaged, even after countless readings and discussions? Contributors to this book delve into various aspects of the novels to unravel the secrets of their enduring popularity. They examine the storytelling, character development, themes, symbolism, and cultural impact of the series, exploring how these elements contribute to the novels' lasting resonance.

One of the key themes that emerges from the contributions is the power of storytelling. The Harry Potter novels are renowned for their intricate plotlines, well-developed characters, and immersive world-building. Contributors analyze how J.K. Rowling's storytelling techniques engage readers on multiple levels, from the emotional journey of the protagonists to the intricate mysteries and political intrigue that unfold throughout the series. They also discuss the role.

Weight: 410g
Dimension: 151 x 228 x 20 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781496839329