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

[mmemalkin]

No: HPFGUIDX 59338

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Arachne Webbstir" 
<ArachneWebbstir at h...> wrote:
> 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.

MmeMalkin replies:

You could be trying way too hard to derive Draco's surname.  In 
French, "malfoi" means "bad faith."  I can't remember where I read 
that derivation before, but it's a much simpler explanation.  ;-)
~Diane