[HPforGrownups] Why Harry Potter cannot be set in 1991-?

[Shaun Hately]

No: HPFGUIDX 79257

On 29 Aug 2003 at 21:07, sebfish5 wrote:

> This has probably been mentioned before but I have seen no sign of 
> it. Harry Potter, as worked out by the fans, is set in 1991, due to 
> the deathday cake. However, in book one (which I have leant, along 
> with 2, to a unbeliever, so I cannot give exact quotations)
>  
> "You could let me stay in the house?" said harry hopefully, he could 
> watch dudleys T.V and maybe have a go on dudleys playstation for 
> change.

The problem is your memory is incorrect (though it's pretty good). The 
quote from book 1 is:

"You could just leave me here," Harry put in hopefully (he'd be able to 
watch what he wanted on television for a change and maybe even have a go 
on Dudley's computer)"

> 
>  In 1991, unless I am VERY much mistaken, being a videogame player, 
> the playstation 1 was not around. Please correct me if I am wrong, 
> but I am 99% sure that the playstation was not released six years 
> before the N64, on may 1st 1997.
> 
>  If i am correct, then when is Harry Potter set, or has this 
> argument been cleared up?

The Playstation isn't mentioned until Book 4 - which is 1994, if we take 
the statement about Nearly Headless Nick's death day in Book 2 as 
correct. The Playstation was available by 1994 - although for Dudley to 
have one, it would have had to be imported as there had not been a 
British release yet. It's not impossible - it seems to a lot of people 
that Dudley is spoiled enough that he could have got an imported 
machine.

Yours Without Wax, Dreadnought
Shaun Hately | www.alphalink.com.au/~drednort/thelab.html
(ISTJ)       | drednort at alphalink.com.au | ICQ: 6898200 
"You know the very powerful and the very stupid have one
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facts. They alter the facts to fit the views. Which can be 
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