Investigating Origins of Rowling's Inspirations: Why do it? (another essay)

Wed Jun 4 00:28:04 UTC 2003

No: HPFGUIDX 59274

For a long time, I've been wanting to share some of my findings and thoughts 
about Rowling's work with other HP fans.  I still don't have much time to 
spend online, yet I want to try to post a lot before "P-Day", June 21.

A number of the books that I've looked at written about Rowling's work seem 
to head off in the wrong direction from what she intended.  By uncovering 
apparently "unknown" sources of her inspiration, I hope to help provide a 
more useful road map for the journey.

I also hope some of my findings may give fresh topics for discussion for 
fans waiting in line at bookstores on "The Day of the Phoenix"!

One of my approaches to the study of  Rowling's books posits that JKR did 
not create her HP universe in a total vacuum, but incorporated experiences 
and ideas from from the world around her; events she saw or lived, books she 
read.

Therefore, clues to the meanings, workings, and purpose of elements in the 
HP canon may be found in such "outside materials"--especially in books she 
read and loved in her own impressionable childhood and apprenticeship as a 
budding writer.

Right now, I don't have the time or computer knowledge to set up a website 
of my own, but perhaps a corner might be found somewhere for any discoveries 
of mine not already widely known in HP scholarship circles.   Perhaps call 
it W.E.B.B.S.T.I.R.'S. Detectionary (World Embraces Books Beyond Seven 
Titles In Rowling's Series).

Sadly, HP fan websites recommended in published books as very interesting 
and informative, had to hang up "out of order signs" before I could ever see 
them.  These include those by Rudi Heins, Jenna, and Christie Chang.  Maybe 
readers who remember those can inform me if what I report was earlier 
published there.

Below are a few samples I was going to embed in another planned post, so 
that even admirers of Draco Malfoy might get some healthy exposure to 
wholesome, innocent fun.  Maybe the buzz about those books will get even 
Draconites to read some warm and loving family fare.  One can hope.

Since Rowling studied French and literature, it's very likely she read 
something by Anatole France, a French author and critic awarded Nobel Prize 
in Literature in 1921.  His novel PENGUIN ISLAND is available as e-book, 
although I have 1931 "Thinker's Library" edition, translated into English by 
A.W. Evans.  PENGUIN ISLAND includes brutal King DRACO the Great (Book III, 
part II), descendant of Kraken the Dragon.  On the same page is mentioned a 
St. FOY.

Anatole France's satirical fantasy is a mock history of an imaginary island 
whose inhabitants are descended from penguins, transformed into human beings 
after accidentally  being baptized by elderly holy man MAEL, who mistook 
them for short, solemn people.

PENGUIN ISLAND is not for children or even teenagers, as it requires the 
ability to take what is read with a grain of salt, rather than purely at 
face value, to see the tongue-in-cheek real writer behind the character he 
created of a  wide-eyed, naive historian, purported author of this invented  
history which skewers real records of all too human behavior.

Knowledge of both history and humans is needed to appreciate, for instance, 
the story of Oddoul the monk (Book III, Part I:  "Brian the Good and Queen 
Glamorgan") which is a twist on both the biblical temptations of Christ, and 
Joseph and Potiphar's wife.  I wonder if this passsage about Draco the 
Great's Christian ancestor may have inspired Monty Python's movie "Life of 
Brian"....

The Penguin people were long enemies of the Porpoises.  Might that be 
related to Nearly Headless Nick's surname of Porpinton?  (I've an idea where 
"de Mimsey" comes from, BESIDES Lewis Carrol's JABBERWOCKY, credited in site 
on HP Lexicon links.  I'll leave a clue about book in a future post.)

BRITANNICA JUNIOR ENCYCLOPDEDIA (1969 edition) says Anatole France "was for 
30 years one of the leading figures in French literature....He looked at 
mankind in light of certain of its weaknesses and failings.  As time went 
on, however, France changed his view somewhat and showed how these failings 
were sometimes connected with lofty and generous aims".  Perhaps Rowling's 
plans for HP will follow a simular path.

More specific article on AF by Pierre-Georges Castex in 1969 ENCYCLOPEDIA 
BRITANNICA for adults (yes, at the moment, my nearest library is very 
strapped for cash) says in the last of his four books about Professor 
Bergeret, that character--like AF in real life--"takes the part of Jewish 
captain unjustly condemned for treason" to Devil's Island (think 
Dementors/Azkaban) in famous Dreyfus Affair.

***

I found an even older book I know Rowling must have read which includes an 
important plot element of CHAMBER OF SECRETS.  Book also contains uncommon 
names Draco, Piers (as in Dudley's bestfriend/henchman) and most 
conclusively, MUGGLES.  The later being barred from the premises of 
protagonists fits in with inforced split between Rowling's non-magic and 
wizarding worlds.

I won't reveal the title or author right now, for several reasons:  First, 
to keep you examiing my future posts for clues; and secondly, to give a 
chance for impoverished HP devotees (aside from myself) to track down and 
read this "secret source", before all copies disappear, even from libraries, 
snatched by wealthy collectors--I sympathize with Madame Pince (see AD's 
Foreword to QUIDDITCH THROUGH THE AGES).

An example:   much more recently out-of-print biography of Alan Rickman (the 
movies' Snape), currently is priced at about $200.00 (TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS) 
per copy, due to limited supply and heavy demand.

If she had consulted me, I could have silenced the LEGEND OF RA author (her 
last name is the same as a USA frozen food company).  Rowling's source book 
for "Muggles" went out of print before her parents were born.  That 
non-fantasy book has other themes creatively echoed in HP, which I may 
reveal later.

If you do discover this seminal work, please keep it secret.  Perhaps those 
of us in the know can quietly relish the fact we belong to an exclusive 
group, "the Order of the Bookworm".  A reference to the Phoenix is also  
appropriate, as members have ability to detect elements of old tales reborn 
into new stories.  This concept is one I plan to pursue in future posts.

There is yet a third source I have reason to believe Rowling read which 
describes a boy with characteristics like Draco, plus other items I connect 
with HP.  Also non-fantasy, it's one of "wholesome fun" texts I mentioned 
above.  As stating the case for my belief needs a long post by itself (it 
grew as fast as a dragon hatchling), I may have to break that down into 
several sections.

So please "tune in again" for eventual essay.  (I'm also a fan of what is 
called in South Korea, "continuing daily drama", and in Latin Amerca, 
"telenovelas", TV versions of entertainments like those penned by Charles 
Dickens, Thackery, etc.

Arachne Webbstir

P.S.  If necessary to get this "published" on HPFGU, I will reveal the 
title--but only to administrative staff that "needs to know".  Watch for my 
email with more information.

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