who is harry potter?

July 30, 2007  

On July 21, the day Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows went on sale, I went to the Costco store in Sterling, Virginia, to buy a copy. As I took one from the large stack near the entrance, a Middle Eastern man in his fifties approached me. “Is this the same book everyone stood in long lines last night to buy,” he asked me in flawless but heavily accented English?

“Yes, it is,” I replied.

“If this book is so easy to buy, why did people have to wait in line last night?” 

“They wanted to be first.”

“What’s this book about,” he asked, as he took one and examined it, apparently not having a clue to who Harry Potter is?

I attempted, as best I could, struggling across a cultural divide, to tell him about the young wizard, Muggles, Hogwarts, and the Dark Lord. He listened intently, but I can only imagine what was going through the man’s mind as I talked. If anyone overheard us, I’m sure they must have been thoroughly amused, watching two middle-aged men having this conversation. I concluded by telling him that this was the seventh and last book in a series that had been read by tens of millions of people around the world in over 60 languages.

When I finished, the man smiled, tucked the book under his arm, and said, “I’ll buy a copy for my daughter. When she’s finished reading it, maybe I’ll read it myself.” As we parted company he smiled and said “Thank you, my friend.”

There are certainly millions of people around the world who have never heard of Harry Potter, I thought later. Before this, I assumed that they had to be people who did not read newspapers, watch television, or go to the movies—a class of people that did not include the Middle Eastern gentleman I spoke with. Obviously, I was wrong. Nevertheless, he had now been introduced, however inadequately, to the young wizard. Unfortunately, I’ll never know what he makes of the introduction.

As for me, having recently seen the fifth movie in the series, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, I plan to read the last Harry Potter book, as I have read the previous six, on my next long overseas plane flight in a few days. So far I’ve avoided anyone spoiling the ending for me by telling me whether Harry lives or dies—the main topic of speculation in all the articles written about this last book prior to its publication.

Assuming that you do know who Harry Potter is, you may or may not have read the books or watched the movies. Different groups of people are more or less likely to be “wild about Harry.”

If you live here in the Washington, DC, metropolitan area, for example, you’re probably too preoccupied with US domestic politics, foreign relations, or the government bureaucracy to have time for them. This, of course, is why I am forced to use long plane flights to read Harry Potter books.  This may also explain why the Middle Eastern man knew nothing about Harry Potter. Perhaps he was a foreign diplomat with no time for fantasy.

It would be unfortunate if people here in the nation’s capital didn’t have time for Harry Potter. There is much that many here could learn from him. Never underestimate your enemies, even when everyone is telling you they don’t exist. Don’t be afraid to stand up for what you believe in, even when it appears you may pay a heavy price. And, no matter how dark or overwhelming things appear, victory is always possible if you focus your powers properly.

But more Washington, DC, policy wonks may be reading Harry Potter than you might think. Democratic presidential candidate, Barack Obama, recently told a group he spoke to that he was only on chapter five. And Amazon.com reports that more people in the Washington, DC, area preordered copies of the book for delivery on July 21st than in any other metropolitan area in the United States. If we could only get ABC News go through that list. I’m sure it would be more interesting than the DC Madam Deborah Palfrey’s phone records.

If you aren’t on Amazon’s list, or if you haven’t already bought your copy of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, I won’t urge you buy one if you have no intention of doing so, especially if you haven’t read any of the previous books. I’ve always been annoyed by people who tell me that I should enjoy something that I don’t enjoy.

Should you decide one day to read J. K. Rowling’s books, whether you’ve seen any or all of the movies or not, by all means, start at the beginning. You’ll enjoy the experience a lot more that way. Readers, like Harry and his chums, need to be educated one Hogwarts’ year at a time.

If you are a Harry Potter fan, however, you no doubt already have your copy and are enjoying it. As I said, I’ll read mine on my next trip. My plane leaves from Gate 9 3/4.