How Harry Cast His Spell: The Meaning behind the Mania for J. K. Rowling's Bestselling Books

by John Granger

More than any other book of the last fifty years (and perhaps ever), the Harry Potter novels have captured the imagination of children and adults around the world. Yet no one has ever been able to unlock the secret of Harry's wild popularity . . . until now. Updated and expanded since its original publication as Looking for God in Harry Potter (and now containing final conclusions based on the entire series), How Harry Cast His Spell explains why the books meet our longing to experience the truths of life, love, and death; help us better understand life and our role in the universe; and encourage us to discover and develop our own gifts and abilities.

Genres: Nonfiction, Harry Potter, Christianity, Literary Criticism, Literature, Books About Books, Reference

304 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2008

Reviews

[Jon Cheek · Rating 4 out of 5]

Granger explains much of the Christian symbolism in the Harry Potter books. Some of the points he makes are obvious. Some of his points were new to me and highly interesting. Other points he makes seem to be a bit of a stretch. Overall, an enjoyable read.

[Seth · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this book John Granger succeeds phenomenally in describing--and defending the very existence of--the Christian symbolism and doctrine that veritably burst from the seams of the Harry Potter series. There is a reason the books are so popular: Rowling is writing subversively edifying Christian fiction in the tradition of all the "greats" of classic English literature, for the postmodern reader of the 21st century. A golden quote from the final chapter:

J.K. Rowling delivers difficult truths to a postmodern audience in such a way that they accept the ideas they would otherwise reject, even laugh about. The existence of the soul? The importance of choosing to believe? The certainty of a life after death and a judgment of those with atrophied souls and darkened hearts? Rowling smuggles these golden wheelbarrows and quite a bit of Christian doctrine and ideas about the human person via her story line right past the most skeptical, even cynical, readers in history. (269)

Near the end, Granger lists the following classic works of literature as "most helpful in understanding Harry Potter" from the perspectives of character, plotting, literary alchemy, and Christological symbolism: Dante's The Divine Inferno, Swift's Gulliver's Travels, Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities, Austen's Emma, Stoker's Dracula, and Hughes' Tom Brown's Schooldays.

I read Granger's first book on this topic, The Hidden Key to Harry Potter, published in 2002 when only 4 of the 7 books had been published. (I also read Looking for God in Harry Potter, a re-working of Hidden Key and published in 2006.) Based on his analysis of the gospel themes and the literary alchemical formulas that he recognized Rowling was using, Granger made a lot of predictions about the rest of the books--and got a ton of them right. Now that the series is complete, and that Rowling has directly confirmed the Christian content of the books, Granger's thesis is totally vindicated.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves great literature, or loves Harry Potter, or who thinks the latter doesn't belong in the former.

[Brian · Rating 3 out of 5]

In some respects, very irritating. On the scale of Evangelicals who either virulently react to anything put out by our culture and with those who embrace and consume anything hinting at redemption, Granger falls decidedly closer to the latter category, and his work is hardly that of a Michael Ward.

Granger successfully shows that just because something is easy to read does not mean that it is easy to write. He has my respect because he has done his homework and I think he successfully shows that in some places Rowling's work is remarkably Christian. However, he feels like too much of an American to offer even the slightest of critiques. While it is true that so-called Western culture cannot really escape its Christian roots, many of its more recent varieties have been heretical. I do not mean that in a formal sense. (Isn't it slightly Gnostic to say that Gnosticism is everywhere in modern films, even though the religion has zip actual presence in America?) What I mean is that Christian symbolism is used, liberal-like, to get away from narrow, nasty doctrines, such as exclusivism, or to soften all sins except the sin of hurting other people's feelings, intolerance, or just general meanness. I think Granger actually shows that Rowling is quite Christian when it comes to Voldemort, and he certainly shows many helpful themes in the book. He doesn't really reckon with "post-Christendom" or the cultural momentum behind modern multiculturalist society or with how well Rowling paints that narrative.

Thus, I think he has nothing worthwhile to say about where we need to place Rowling's works culturally. It is clear to me that Rowling is a progressive Christian at the very least and if she is confused, she is badly, badly confused and not at all the way forward. However, C.S. Lewis is at my elbow warning me not to judge authors based on their personal views but on the works of art in themselves. We all know that people are inconsistent, and a heretic or drunk may write a very good book indeed. Is that the case with Rowling? I think the question is open and depends on whether the reader is getting the tolerance vibes. If they are and can identify the limitations, well and good, but if they can't, I can see the books tilting them towards the Progressive Evangelical package.

Anyway, back to the book. Granger should have known better than to cite examples of death and resurrection as clearly Christian symbols, but he is insightful when he points out that the fifth, sixth, and seventh books are nigredo, albedo, and rubedo stages in alchemy, and ibid with the Goblet of Fire or Christmas, Theophany, and the Via Dolorosa in the final book. He is also right to be looking for symbolism in the names, even if he does not get Harry Potter's right, in my opinion. That is fairly true of the book as a whole, which means you can probably save yourself some money and just read his blog.

So in short, I think Granger is like any one of us. He is not particularly well-educated and not especially discerning, but he writes effectively and has good things to say and has read up, like every certifiable internet geek should.

[Angel Leya · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a writer, cracking the code of JK Rowling's success with the Harry Potter series has definitely been on my mind. So when this book popped on my radar, I was intrigued. I grabbed it during a sale, and set to reading it almost immediately. I have to say, while the writer waxes a bit academic at times, the overall information given has been incredibly helpful.

That being said, it's not a road map for writing a bestseller. The book is not even intended for that, but the principles, the themes explored, and the very Christian message throughout the Potter series are incredible when laid out like it is here. I know it has given me a new perspective on my own writing.

If you're curious as to why the world has taken so easily to Pottermania, I think this book provides a lot of great information. And while the book doesn't exactly say it's any one thing, I think the author has hit the nose with his assessment of the stories that are so widely loved.

[Barry · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s a shame that so many Christians regard the Harry Potter books as somehow harmful just because they are about a world of magic. Rowling employs a surprising amount of Christian imagery and symbolism, some of it obvious, but much of it is deeper and more subtle. And more importantly, the virtues that she extols — loyalty, courage, humility, and self-sacrificial love — are those embraced by Christians. I find it fascinating how the deeply Christian storyline in these books is so strongly appealing to so many people of differing beliefs. Almost as if we were somehow prewired to respond to a story about the world being set to rights through the willing death of a loving savior.

[Chelsea · Rating 3 out of 5]

John Granger's daughters once asked him if they could read the Harry Potter series. He told them "no" citing the usual reasons that the books went against their Christian beliefs but the girls weren't accepting his answer. So he decided he would read the book to better explain why it wasn't appropriate. What he found instead was an argument of how Harry Potter was full of Christian symbolism and morals.
This is the third edition of this book in which John Granger analyzes the Harry Potter books under the Christian microscope. I really enjoyed the discussion and break down of book to book. My main issue was this needed an editor. Often times themes would be repeated or descriptions were over used and it became a dry, dull read. It wasn't overly preachy for what it was and stands as a decent argument for those who feel HP is anti-Christian. But as a person of Faith and an HP fan it was a nice look at the symbolism and meaning within.

[Matt Pitts · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my second John Granger book to complete. His understanding of literature and insight into the Harry Potter books continues to delight and add depth to my reading/listening.

[Christina Dawson · Rating 3 out of 5]

it was ok

[Stuart · Rating 5 out of 5]

It has been over eight years since Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows book was released and only four years since Part 2 of the movie with the same name was released. Pottermania had been dwindling to some degree, despite Rowling's efforts to keep fans engaged through her frequently updated website Pottermore. A recent release of a fully illustrated Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone and the upcoming play Harry Potter and the Cursed Child has whipped Potter-heads back into a frenzy, and it is for that reason that I am reviewing an older book called How Harry Cast His Spell.

How Harry Cast His Spell is the third edition of a book which was previously titled "Looking for God in Harry Potter." Personally, I preferred the original title, but to each their own. The author is John (no relation to Hermione) Granger. Granger is a professor with a degree in classical languages and literature. He is now considered a "Harry Potter expert." In his novel, Granger discusses a variety of topics including magic; good and evil; love and death. However, there are several deep literary concepts he covers which are extremely fascinating - 1. literary alchemy, 2. symbolism and name meaning, and 3. doppelgangers.

Alchemy is a truly fascinating subject that for the most part involved people trying to transform lead into gold. In the literary form of alchemy, it is the character (Harry Potter) who transforms from lead into gold, both in every book and as a character as a whole. Granger makes other alchemical connections with Hermione being mercury and Ron being sulfur, the two agents need to transform lead. I could go on and on about this, but buy the book! The Christian symbolism is abundant in the Harry Potter series, but it is subtle like in Lord of the Rings and not completely beat you over the head like the Chronicles of Narnia. Harry is a Christ-figure but he is not supposed to be Jesus Christ, because despite all of his good qualities, he is with sins and flaws. The doppelganger theory is one that is best illustrated in the case of Jekyll and Hyde, but is seen throughout the Harry Potter series, primarily in Harry and Voldemort, but also in certain wizards and their animagi or patronus forms. Peter Pettigrew as a rat is particularly on the nose.

In addition to these themes Granger talks about, there are also individual chapters devoted to the spiritual keys of each of the first six Harry Potter books and three chapters dedicated to Deathly Hallows. The reason for three with the last book is because there is much more to talk about, including Harry's struggle with faith and Harry's own Passion narrative and how it symbolizes Christ's Passion. At the end of the book is an FAQ, which includes brief rebuttals to some Christians who paint Harry Potter as occult. Reading through this 300 page book, I found myself going back through the stories in my head and seeing all the symbols and theme I missed when originally reading it. My wife, HUGE Harry Potter fan that she is, even pointed out some stuff that the author missed or could have included. That's not a knock against this book, in 300 pages, the author did a fine job covering as much as he could without bogging the reader down, Though, I could have kept reading if the book had been twice as long as it was truly fascinating. If you are a Harry Potter fan, who wants to understand the Christian meaning of Harry Potter, read this book. If you know someone who is anti-Harry because they think it's demonic, buy them this book. Granger does a masterful job of not only showing you why you and your children should read Harry Potter, but why you and your children need to read it!

[Annalea · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's been a long time since I have read Looking for God in Harry Potter, but I remember being excited by its insights into the Harry Potter series. Unfortunately, that book was published before the series ended and the last 2 or 3 books weren't yet written.

I had hoped that this updated edition would be just as insightful, but I was disappointed. My memory may be wrong, but How Harry Cast His Spell just doesn't seem to go into the same amount of detail about literary alchemy and symbolism.

While this book purports to be an update to Looking for God, the two have entirely different focuses. LfG focused on showing readers that J.K. Rowling had stuffed her series full of Christian imagery and thinking, and thus there was a greater focus on those symbols and structures. In this update, Granger takes that premise as a given and uses it as a jumping off point to prove that it is the reason that the series became so popular.

Granger's logic seems to be that Harry Potter has Christian imagery, Harry Potter is popular, thus the Christian imagery is the reason for the popularity. Frankly, while I might agree with Granger about the way the Christian themes whisper to masses, I don't think that is a provable premise. Thus, I found the focus of Looking for God much more interesting; it allowed me to learn about Rowling's story crafting while drawing my own conclusions about it's place in the grand scheme of things.

This book was still enjoyable and interesting, especially the chapter on book 7, it just didn't live up to my (perhaps too) high expectations.

[Evan Hays · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an excellent book. This is a must read for anyone who has read Harry Potter--yes, even if you didn't really like Harry Potter. Reading How Harry Potter Cast His Spell will explain clearly how Rowling's genius comes through in her storytelling. This is a fun read, even though it gets into some technical aspects of literature.

In case I haven't made it clear before, the Harry Potter books are genius, will stand the test of time and be considered great/classic literature some day, are thoroughly Christian, and very much deserve to be mentioned in the same breath as the works of other epic fantasy writers who write with a Christian lens, like Lewis and Tolkien.

How Harry Potter Cast His Spell explains why I am right about each of those (if you are at all skeptical), and explains why people like me will continually re-read the Harry Potter books until we die.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was like taking a college-level literature class on Harry Potter. John Granger's research insights can only be classified as those of someone who has an in-depth understanding of centuries of literature. Although it is a continuation of "finding God in Harry Potter" with the last two books of the series included, it provides insights and understanding that no casual reader could discern on their own. Although I could only read it in very short sittings because of the depth and complication of that information, I heartily recommend it for any Harry Potter enthusiasts.

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was... disappointing. The summary, and especially the title, felt misleading. This was not at all what I was expecting to read. Moreover, while a lot of the connections and ideas presented were interesting, many others felt like leaps in logic and stretches that I doubt were necessarily what Rowling intended.

[Stephanie Mccall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone came out when I was 11, so I should've been getting my letter along with Harry (unless you account for the fact, this was 1997 and my letter would've been a casualty of the Second Wizarding War) ;) But I grew up in a Christian home (still practice), and the witchcraft controversy was hot. I was the kind of kid who wanted to "be good," so I never bothered asking to read the books, although years later, my parents said, "We would've been fine with it." Anyway, long story short, I didn't read HP until adulthood and then got really into it. But I did want to know some definitive answers on whether there were Christian underpinnings to the series, since I'd heard different perspectives and would be psyched if there were.\


Well, John Granger not only read my mail, but answered my question with an enthusiastic "yes." How Harry Cast His Spell elucidates exactly how and where to find Christ and Christian teachings in all seven Harry Potter books (including the fact that yes, seven is the number of completion, which is not coincidental). Granger does clarify, these themes are not as blatant as you might find in the Narnia books or even Lord of the Rings, but they aren't supposed to be. J.K. Rowling is a different kind of author, and Harry Potter is a different kind of hero in a different universe. For instance, Harry can be read as a Christ *figure,* but does not necessarily represent Christ Himself.

Granger goes into exquisite detail on many other points, from the basics (the battle between good and evil, first seen in Gryffindor vs. Slytherin, griffin vs. serpent, and then carried through to bigger conflicts), to basic symbolism of creatures like unicorns, to the deeper symbolism and connections in concepts like alchemy. He spends an entire chapter, one of my favorites, delving into Prisoner of Azkaban, the symbolism of dementors, and the Christian response to depression and overall mental health. He also spends parts of chapters examining different characters' roles in their stories, whether those are major (Dumbledore as mentor) or minor (Cedric Diggory, who appears in only one book but, Granger argues, was a send-up of C.S. Lewis, which I loved).

I also loved Granger's underlying thesis, which involves literature as a vital tool in communicating the Gospel, when used correctly, and how much literature and Christianity tie into each other whether their authors set out to create "Christian" books or not. As a writer for the inspirational market, I took that to heart, because there are still so many wooden, preachy books out there, and we as authors must continue improving. Yet, I also drew hope and inspiration from the fact that we continue being inspired and spurred on thanks to authors like Granger and Rowling.

I did dock a star based on a few personal preferences. One has to do with sheer length and the fact that Granger goes through every detail of every book--I loved it, but whew, I got tired. More importantly, I did have some critiques/questions Granger didn't answer. For example, I have asked myself this since reading the series: If Gryffindor and Slytherin are important and symbolic, what are Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff's roles? (As a Ravenclaw, I don't like to think my House is just "kinda there." ;) I also would've liked if Granger delved more deeply into some characters, such as examining Snape's good side or Dumbledore's bad side.

Those things aside--and remember, they're mostly preference-based--How Harry Cast His Spell is a wonderful book and reference. Especially if you are a parent wondering if your kids should read the HP series, keep it around, and maybe read the series together with this as a guide. I also recommend this one for teachers, professors, or just any HP fan who also follows Christ and wants to know more about how the two intersect. Again, you might get tired, but you'll be amazed!

[Kristin · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

Don't be fooled into thinking How Harry Cast His Spell was a bad book because it took me all of 3 months to read it! This is a must-read for Harry Potter fans, particularly those who have an interest in its spiritual symbolism.

How Harry Cast His Spell is chock full of interesting facts and details regarding each book, the series as a whole, how various groups of people have associated it with religious cults/beliefs (or anti-religious groups), the meaning behind the names of many of the locations, objects, and characters, along with supporting data, all the while writing it in a very easy-to-read, organized fashion.

I tip my hat to John Granger as he seemed to cover every possible angle at which people have viewed the beloved series. I had personal interest reading this book as I've been approached by many Christians in the past rebuking me for my "sin" of reading or being interested in this series. If you want to debunk the unsupported myths that many ignorant Christians hide behind, do yourself a favor and pick up this book. While it serves a far greater purpose than just authenticating the Christian allegorical nature of Harry Potter, it's a great source to show another person why the series has such a deep affect on its readers, and it's a detailed explanation as to why people not only love Harry Potter, but also revisit the series over and over again.

It's been over 10 years since Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows was published, yet the popularity of the series seems only to grow as it's introduced to the next generations. How Harry Cast His Spell reveals why.

[C.J. Moore · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book on the Christian themes present within the HP series and what makes the series so attractive to both the religious and the non-religious (especially Christians and non-Christians). Granger was stronger in the first half when he wrote on the general theme of the series. I felt that his second part on each individual book wasn't as strong, though his chapters on the Deathly Hallows were great.

I wasn't following him as much on two things that he believes are vital to the redemptive themes contained therein: (1) alchemical processes and (2) etymological significances. I think the former has to do with me as a reader not knowing as much about alchemy as I need to; the latter has to do more with Granger, as he makes some stretches when it comes to various names in the books and what they meant.

I am glad that he eliminated allegory as the literary structure we must use to draw out redemptive or Christian themes. It just doesn't work. We can't and shouldn't see Harry as Jesus, God the Father as Dumbledore, Ron and Hermione as Christ's disciples, etc.

The book would be strengthened if Granger could get Rowling to confirm, in some way or another, his hunches. He pulls from some of her same interview quotes over and over again to prove that his case isn't mere speculation but that this was actually Rowling's intention. It won't convince many.

[Alexis · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book took me a long time to finish, for the main fact that I was reading other books at the same time as this one and pushed this off to the side.

I enjoyed this book and I was VERY surprised with the contents of this book and the information I got from it. I never realized how connected the themes of Harry Potter were with the themes of Christianity. This book helped me understand why I am so obsessed with this series and why it has captured me so deeply and why I keep coming back for more and more. I will say that a lot of times I caught myself getting confused with what the author was talking about especially when he was describing the alchemist themes of the book that is why I gave it 3 stars.

It is amazing how thought out this series was and how much JK Rowling put into her books. It really blows my mind and helps me appreciate her even more for her talent as a writer. If you are a fan of the Harry Potter series than I recommend this book, it really opens your eyes to the deeper meaning behind the series.

[Leora · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fascinating and delightful read! It was the perfect follow-up to my reread through the entire Harry Potter series. John Granger’s depth of understanding English literature and how it is evidenced in the series, his enthusiasm as a fan, and his humor all made for such an enjoyable and rewarding read. I was captivated by the many ways Rowling used literary alchemy throughout the series, and I loved seeing all of the references to Christian themes, imagery, and symbolism (resurrection, baptism, Christ-figures, repentance, sacrificial love, love for our enemies, changing and choosing to believe, etc.,). Granger also did a great job of pointing out how deeply so many Christians have misunderstood the Harry Potter books, oftentimes without ever having cracked one of the books open. Indeed, the Christian messages—while not didactic—are obvious and edifying. I’m looking forward to reading another book by John Granger next!

[Kalman Buterbaugh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall I appreciated Granger's analysis of the Harry Potter books. He does a good job showing some of the ways why there are such phenomenal works of art, and while occasionally I think he speculates beyond what was intended in the text, he does recognize a lot of symbolism in the books that definitely seems legitimate and I appreciate his emphasis on the Christian meaning.

It was a little hard to get past the glaring theological differences between myself and Granger (he seems to identify more with a traditional Catholic theology), although I believe Rowling is probably closer to Granger's beliefs than my own, so it probably helps his analysis. Probably my greatest frustration with the book was Granger's endorsement of the "universal" Christianity in Harry Potter, what he essentially seems to see as the removal of exclusivity from Christianity.

[Viewpoints Radio · Rating 5 out of 5]

On June 26, 1997, one boy changed the world. That young boy was named Harry Potter, the famous protagonist of the seven-book series by JK Rowling. If you are unfamiliar with either of those names, there is a large chance you are living with the confundus charm. With 160 million copies sold in the U.S. alone and over 400 million copies sold worldwide, Harry Potter has truly taken the world by storm. Author John Granger discusses this worldwide obsession 20 years after the release of the first book. We had the chance to speak with Granger about his books and about his love for Harry Potter on our weekly podcast Viewpoints Radio. If you would like to hear the full story, check out this link! https://viewpointsradio.wordpress.com...

[Bree · Rating 1 out of 5]

My teens & I tried to read this. We really wanted to like it & get a lot out of it, but it’s just not happening. He speaks over the head of the average Joe, & I struggled to follow his reasoning. We tried the intro, got bogged down & tried chapter 1. Got completely baffled by what he was saying & didn’t agree with what we could understand, so skipped to chapter 2. Same thing. I don’t know why this book has been rated so highly. I resent the money I spent on it. We’re much happier discussing Christian aspects of the Harry Potter books & films on our own, or even googling & discussing from there.

[Ben · Rating 5 out of 5]

How Harry Cast His Spell was far more insightful than I was expecting. While Granger does, perhaps, overstate his case at times, he nevertheless makes a number of strikingly insightful observations. There is far more depth in Rowling’s stories than one might initially perceive. It was a very interesting read.

“…the rule in traditional cultures, and even in cultures such as ours, is that story, in whatever form, is meant to instruct and change us.”
~ John Granger, How Harry Cast His Spell, Chapter 4.

[Maya Joelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good explanation of the Christian elements and allusions in Harry Potter. The author has written numerous other, similar books; this is the only one I recommend, as many of them are simply restatements of the others.

Recommended for anyone who enjoyed the Harry Potter series, or for Christians who are skeptical of the books and want to read more about the possible Christian elements before reading the books.

[Julie Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I recently listened to a podcast specializing in deep meaning in novels do several episodes on Harry Potter and the Philosopher's (Sorcerer's) Stone. It was really interesting and led to me to look for information about the following six novels of the series.

This book fills the bill. Not only does John Granger have chapters about Christian and literary symbolism, names, and themes, but he then goes through each book looking beneath the surface. This led me to reread the series for the first time in years, which I enjoyed immensely. Granger's commentary showed me some new ideas about the books and that made them even more meaningful. I enjoyed this a lot. Definitely recommended.

[Audrey The Media Mystic · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so special! It's enlightening and encouraging, especially to anyone who was taught that Harry Potter is demonic because it reveals that that's so far from the truth. It's quite the opposite. It also will bless you to read and watch stories differently because there is a deep mystery of Christ hidden all around us.

[Catherine Richards · Rating 5 out of 5]

“The (Harry Potter) books both satisfy and support our design for spiritual experience and our longings to resist evil and serve the good. Starved as we are for such stimulus in a desacralized city, Harry arrives like water in the heat of a desert.” John Granger

[Drmkk · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I first read the Harry Potter series I enjoyed it. Then I found John Granger's interpretation of it and realized how sorely lacking is my knowledge of literature. This book really taught me how completely uneducated I am.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book that will change the way you read Harry Potter books whether you are a fan of Christianity or not. I want to reread all the books again to discover a new layer of meaning.

[Rayna · Rating 4 out of 5]

“The Harry Potter stories, in their formulaic journeys that end every year with love’s triumph over death in the presence of a Christ symbol, find their power and popularity in the resonance they create in our hearts. We connect with them because they point toward the True Myth that lifts us above our mundane ego concerns.”-J. Granger

[Christina Green · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book not a book I would reread again.