I would be willing to wager that most of the country is reading one book. famously, it was said once of Tolkien’s books: the world is divided between those who are reading Lord of the Rings and those who are going to read it. No doubt the same can be said of the final Harry potter book. everyone is reading them, intending to read them, or waiting for them to be made into films.

Amazingly for something so new, Harry has become part of our culture. Everyone I know, adults and kids alike, is familiar with these characters and stories, and they have only been around 7 or 8 years. This is especially noteworthy at a time when kids are turning away from traditional occupations such as reading in favour of computer games, although, needless to say, potter is now also available in game form.

Now, I love these books as much as anyone; dad was reading them to us earlier and they seem to have great power. Forgive the pun, but they’re quite magical. I agree that they’re getting progressively darker too. However, I raise my eyebrow at the fact that jk Rowling is now in quite an enviable position. The world is reading her books, hanging off every word. She, it seems to me, now wields some considerable power.

Everything, every piece of art, is created to express ideas or a meaning. Everything is political, including, or perhaps especially prose fiction. books – ell books express a political view. Now, I have no problem with what Rowling is saying; indeed, I agree with most of what she says (overt or implicit), yet the fact remains Rowling has all our ears. She has everyone’s attention, and is able to argue whatever she wishes to an audience the size of which is without precedent. I hope it not too facetious of me to compare the potter series to the bible, for with it’s huge readership comes monumental power. Although this is testament to her skill, and also to the power of literature, we must never lose sight of the fact that such power can be abused. As moody warns: constant vigilance.