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A Guide to the Harry Potter Novels (Contemporary Classics in Children's Literature)
Julia Eccleshare
We all know that the Harry Potter books by J. K. Rowling are a phenomenon. Total worldwide sales of the four volumes exceed 100 million copies, and Ms. Rowling has been the first author since Roald Dahl to lure so many reluctant readers to eagerly buy and read books. This Guide studies reasons that could have caused Harry Potter's ineffable popularity. Strengths and weaknesses are analyzed in a clear and highly readable style. The books' elements are described and compared to other children's books, ranging from Lord of the Flies to Squirrel Nutkin, as the author tries to pin down the secrets of the series' huge success. It's fascinating to ponder what magic these books hold, but even with this perceptive analysis, the secret remains elusive. The four Harry Potter books have influenced children's book publishing in several ways. For one thing, publishers have turned from publishing books on social realism to books of fantasy and magic, many bearing the strapline. If you've enjoyed Harry Potter, you'll certainly enjoy this. They also are reissuing novels of fantasy and magic. In the past, children's books have been given gentle marketing. Ms. Rowling's publisher went beyond that with clever and consistent marketing that helped get the book off to a good start. Although marketing alone couldn't possibly account for its huge popularity, other publishers have adopted more aggressive marketing manners. This guide is one in a series "Contemporary Classics of Children's Literature" that provides a critical discussion of a range of contemporary classics of children's literature from Britain and elsewhere.
Hardcover, 112 pages
$99.95
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