Harry Potter & Imagination: The Way Between Two Worlds

by Travis Prinzi

"What we achieve inwardly will change outer reality." Those words, written by Plutarch and quoted by J.K. Rowling in her 2008 Harvard commencement speech, sum up both the Harry Potter series and Travis Prinzi's analysis of the best-selling books in Harry Potter & Imagination: The Way Between Two Worlds. Great imaginative literature places the readers between two worlds - the story world and the world of daily life - and challenges readers to imagine and to act for a better world. Starting with Harry Potter's great themes, Harry Potter & Imagination takes readers on a journey through the transformative power of those themes for both the individual and for culture by placing Rowling's series in its literary, historical, and cultural contexts. Prinzi explores how fairy stories in general, and Harry Potter in specific, are not merely tales that are read to "escape from the real world," but stories with the power to transform by teaching us to imagine better. . - .[Endorsement]: . - . "Harry Potter & Imagination offers a challenging and rewarding tour of the inspirations for and meanings behind J.K. Rowling's lauded series. Travis Prinzi ably explores how the Harry Potter books satisfy fundamental human yearnings, utilize mythological archetypes, and embody their author's social vision. From Arthurian romance and Lovecraftian horror to postmodernism and political theory, Prinzi provides new insights into the Harry Potter phenomenon. Harry Potter & Imagination will not only fascinate and entertain readers, but will also convince them that fairy tales matter." [Dr. Amy H. Sturgis, editor of Past Watchful Dragons] - . - [Endorsement]: . - . "There is no more insightful commenter on the Harry Potter novels than Travis Prinzi - and Harry Potter & Imagination is an ideal showcase for his original thinking and lucid writing. This trail-blazing guidebook into the world of Harry Potter - showing the imaginative way between two worlds - is a must read." [John Granger, author of The Deathly Hallows Lectures and other books]

Genres: Harry Potter, Nonfiction, Literary Criticism, Reference

332 pages, Paperback

First published December 10, 2008

Reviews

[Weaver · Rating 1 out of 5]

I found the editing poor, the essays insubstantial, and the constant references to Tolkein, Lewis, and the Bible more harmful than helpful in deepening the analysis. He overuses these examples to a point that he spends too little time actually analyzing and supporting his argument (when he has one). I was just generally very frustrated with this book and will probably be selling it soon.

[Adam Ross · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was really uneven. Prinzi is a skilled commentator, but some of the essays were better than others. The first chapter (on Harry Potter as faerie story) was fairly weak, not because the argument cannot be made, but because he does not make it very well. The book solidly improves until the last three chapters, which were tremendously irritating, being explorations of politics, gender, and social justice in the Potter books. I felt it was here that Prinzi was weakest, not merely because I hate (particularly) explorations of feminism and gender in literature, but because I didn't think he demonstrated his points as well as he should have. But the vast bulk of the middle sections of the book are the real meat of it, and are simply fascinating and brilliant. You walk away from them understanding more about what Rowling was doing with the Harry Potter books when you're done.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this. It's still kind of a foreign experience reading commentary on the Harry Potter books instead of the Harry Potter books themselves, but I could get used to a bit of it. Things I learned: Jo Rowling is a lot smarter than I gave her credit for, it's time to revisit my stockpile of notes about Tolkien and Lewis, and I'm still pretty glad that I didn't take literary theory in college. Part I was my favorite, for the aforementioned Lewis/Tolkien reasons. My only critique: beware, typos abound.

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some really excellent thoughts in here. I love literary analysis and criticism of the Harry Potter series. It helps me understand why these books have had such an impact on me and my generation and why I'm so excited for Emmalyn to start her own journey through the series.

While I don't always agree with every view the author takes, some of the best analysis I've read on the importance of free will and choice can be found here.

The thesis of this book is that stories have the power to transform and inform. The Harry Potter series teaches us so much about or world and does so in accessible digestible ways for young readers that resonate throughout their lives.

[Drmkk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thorough and unique examination of the Harry Potter series it’s place in fairy tale, use of archetypes, and a look at the political philosophy underlying the work.

[Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great analysis of the Harry Potter books. I learned interesting new things about not only JK Rowling, but also about some of the other authors Rowling is compared to. If you are looking for something new to read in the Potter universe, this is a good place to start. As others have said, there were a lot of typo errors, which got fairly distracting at times. Hopefully there will be a revised edition at some point to fix those.

[Lotzastitches · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some notes on ipod

[George · Rating 2 out of 5]

One of the best in-depth analyses of the themes & characters & issues addressed in the Harry Potter series.

[Saroon · Rating 4 out of 5]

i like when something i read makes me want to write about what i read. some of the chapters in this book gave me ideas for new papers/essays that could be written someday.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

i like when something i read makes me want to write about what i read. some of the chapters in this book gave me ideas for new papers/essays that could be written someday.