Flamel war, 29 Jun 2001

I had previously thought that Rowling had created her own universe. A search for the names of her fictional characters on the internet will provide reams of links relating to Harry Potter and nothing else. One could say from this that J K Rowling has created a unique imaginative world, with none of the daily grind so beloved of us muggles. True enough, the novel does start off in the rather earthly Privet Drive, but even the cats there aren't real. There is some particularly unusual owl activity, and the aforementioned cat does start reading a map, and before you know it, reality has been twisted to allow a Platform Nine and Three Quarters into King's Cross for the Hogwarts Express. The novel starts off with a plethora of shooting stars as Wizards everywhere celebrate the death of Voldemort. Harry Potter is unaware of this, as he is still only a baby. However, the scar indelibly scored across his forehead is evidence enough that he has been in the wars. Delivered to Privet Drive by the gentle giant Hagrid in a massive motorcycle borrowed from Sirius Black, Harry is handed over to his uncle and aunt. Unfortunately, Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia are wizardaphobic, and bring up Harry to believe that his parents died in a car crash, of which he was the only survivor. The Durselys endure Harry's presence, but seem to only enjoy his absence, especially when he is locked in the cupboard under the stairs. But Harry's life changes when he gets a letter...

You get some idea of the vastness of Rowling's plan by the mention of Sirius Black (he features prominently in another book in the series). In an interview I've read, Rowling mentions that she was writing parts of the other six books whilst working on The Philosopher's Stone. She appeals to the modern, sophisticated reader, who likes complex plotting. Eoin Colfer brazenly mentions future Artemis Fowl novels in the debut of his anti-hero. Rowling is a lot subtler, allowing her readers to bask in satisfaction as they get that spark of serendipity, that sudden flash of understanding, as they stumble across a cunning back reference. There's also a great deal of wit and verisimilitude in the dialogue, especially when Hermione points out that it's rather foolish to bring up a fire breathing dragon in a wooden hut. There is an inherent cyclical pattern to the Harry Potter novels, as they usually span one year at Hogwarts (the school for Wizards that Harry and chums attend). This repetition can be a bit tiring in later novels, but Rowling's back referencing is a delight to discover when reading the books again.

I mentioned earlier that Rowling is particularly inventive with names. She does, however, mention some real folk. I was most intrigued by the mention of Paracelsus as a wizard on page 78. I did some research on him, and found that Paracelsus had dabbled in alchemy. An inherent part of alchemy is the search for the Philosopher's Stone. It was here that I got the first inkling of the amount of research that had gone into the writing of the debut Harry Potter. The one character in the book that Rowling says she most identifies with is Hermione, the swot with her nose always stuck in a book. Hermione's name is derived from the Classical god Hermes, and it just so happens that Hermes is greatly associated with the art of alchemy. Researching Paracelsus further, I came across the name of "Nicolas Flamel". This excited me, since Harry and his friends are most anxious to find out who Flamel is. Nicolas Flamel does not have appeared to have excited much attention from Harry Potter readers, but he should, since Nicolas Flamel was a real historical being. Flamel was given the Book of Abraham in the Fourteenth Century, from which he is supposed to have discovered the Philosopher's stone, the secret of turning any metal into gold, and the Elixir of Life. He was also married to a woman named Pernelle, and they are rumoured never to have died... The inclusion of Flamel and the mention of his age (665) mean that we can date The Philosopher's Stone as being set in 1995. Since every novel follows a year of Harry Potter's life, we can date every book in the series. It could very well be that Rowling was writing The Philosopher's Stone in 1995. Or maybe she just didn't want the mysterious Nicolas Flamel to reach the devilish age of 666. The depth of research is also conveyed by the mention of the herb Monkshood. This is believed to have been produced by the saliva of Cerberus, the three headed dog that guarded hell, or as Hagri