Amazon.com Book Description (ISBN 0826215491, Paperback)

Now available in paper, The Ivory Tower and Harry Pottter is the first book-length analysis of J. K. Rowling's work from a broad range of perspectives within literature, folklore, psychology, sociology, and popular culture. A significant portion of the book explores the Harry Potter series' literary ancestors, including magic and fantasy works by Ursula K. LeGuin, Monica Furlong, Jill Murphy, and others, as well as previous works about the British boarding school experience. Other chapters explore the moral and ethical dimensions of Harry's world, including objections to the series raised within some religious circles. In her new epilogue, Lana A. Whited brings this volume up to date by covering Rowling's latest book, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.

"Whited's collection of lively, well-written essays heightens appreciation of a classic in the making, addressing the international phenomenon of J. K. Rowling's books."—Choice "This is an exciting and substantial contribution to early scholarship about an important body of literary work."--Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books