Richard A. Spencer

While I was personally unable to read this book cover to cover, preferring to use it as a reference guide when I came across a new character, my husband loves this kind of thing so he read it. This book goes into great detail about each and every possible classical allusion in the Harry Potter series, from the obvious Fluffy comparison to Harry as a simile of Odysseus. While I'm not convinced all of the parallels he draws are justified, it definitely shows that Harry Potter rewards the dedicated reader and the casual reader alike.… (mehr)

If you're at all familiar with Harry Potter and are interested in the Greeks and Romans, then chances are something in this book will make you think, "Huh, that's cool." Spencer makes some interesting comparisons (although some are a bit of a stretch), and covers a wide breadth of topics. I particularly enjoyed the names section—it's yet more proof that J.K. Rowling really did her research when she wrote the Harry Potter books.

However, at times the book felt like it had both too much information and not enough. Often, Spencer would bring up a theory and, rather than expounding on it, he would just list the places in the HP series where it occurs. (And if you're at all familiar with literary theory, don't bother reading the intro—just a bunch of stuff you already know.)

Think of this book as a condensed research tool to enhance your Harry Potter reading experience. If you want to learn the Latin root of a spell or browse through some of the literary heroes people are comparing Harry Potter to, then this is a good place to start.… (mehr)