Mahjuja M. Taznin investigates Hany Potter's unprecedented popularity in publishing history

THIS book is the fourth and latest in a seven part series of novels about a boy named Harry Potter. The story In this book is based on the past and present happenings of hls life. Harry Is the protagonist of the series, which originates from Harry's unique past. At the age of one. nis parents are murdered by Voldemort, who was at the time, reigning as the all-powerful Dark wizard of the secret wizard world, while at the same time, Hany becomes the Innocent cause of Voldemort's downfall and so, Voldemort's greatest enemy.

The story Is set in a magical parallel world of wizards and other supernatural beings. Hls past gets Harry involved in the adventures depicted In Uie novel. Besides these events, the story’ Is really easy to pertain to. because it deals with the common strife that might arise In the life of teenagers e.g. adjusting with lhe crowd, crushes. etc. However, there are hidden themes In the novel dealt In a subtle way which would easily penetrate the understanding of young jM’ople. for example, the spirit of fellowship, consideration for .others, doing what isjust and the need to evalu-

adventure entwined with the life of the protagonist l.e. Harry' at the age of one. becomes the cause for the downfall of the region of the all-powerful Dark wizard Voldemort. making Hany a hero In the wizard world. Voldemort is the Dark lord, an evil and power

hungry sort of dictator. This Voldemort is the prime antagonist of the series. So there Is a good versus evil theme in the story too.

The author seems to get some of her ideas from real history. like the attitude of Dark wizards'of the wizard world Is similar to nazi racism. Hie terror of Voldemort's reign reflects that of the region of Hitler. Then the trial ol Dark wizards after Voldemort's fall resembles that of the trial after the defeat of Hiller. Also there are adaptations of real world phenomenon. ordinary wizarding levels or O.W.Ls substitute O levels. There are moreover, wizards of different nationality e.g. British. Bulgarian. French.’ etc., forming a parallel world of their own. Internationally. Harry Potter Is a British wizard and so. the story takes place in the parallel wizard world of Britain. The quidditch game represents soccer. which is one of Britain's popular games and the International Quidditch Cup signifies the Soccer World Cup. Also, while the Dark wizards support a dictator. Lord Voldemort. the good wizards have a democratic system In the form of a Ministry of Magic, heading different wizard nations. The

British wizards have security agents called Aurora who spy out Dark wizards and a wizard jail for those who break wizard laws.

The author confesses she has an obsession for names and throughout the novel one finds a colorful array of names e.g. Dumbledore, Hermione, etc. She also slates that most of these names have been developed from words, which describe some special nature of that character and. some of them are actually the names of places, e g. Snape (J K. Rowling, on Larry King Live. CNN. October 21.2OO0.)

Though the novel is aimed at older children and adolescents. Il deals powerfully with some serious matters such as death e.g. the murder of a stock character: a good, brave, and considerate boy. killed by Voldemort at the climax of the story The episode is treated in a penetrating wav so that it gets depicted as a somber truth and not a distant, disengaged event. This gives evidence that the book Is not a happily ever-after story tale. All these things give the story an easy acceptance but also, reality which makes it apart fiction.