Analysis Post #3: Eastern European Elements in Harry Potter: Part I: Introduction

This is the first of a series of posts (which may not appear sequentially) on those elements in the Potter books which, in one's opinion, seem to be directly inspired by the culture and history of Eastern Europe. Before beginning, however, a general definition of Eastern Europe should be given. When one refers to Eastern Europe on this post and on subsequent postings, one is referring to all those inhabited lands which stretch from Germany's eastern border to the Russian Federation, but which ends at the Ural Mountains. All inhabited lands to the east of the Urals, is, to this author, considered to be of Asiatic heritage, although some of it is the sovereign territory of Russia. Eastern Europe is bordered on the north by the Baltic states (Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia) and in the south by Turkey and Greece. (One does not consider Turkey and Greece part of Eastern Europe). Furthermore, all lands that had once belonged to the former Yugoslavia, though also being a part of Eastern Europe, will frequently be referred to as Southeastern Europe.

Both of the prior analysis posts on this blog have mentioned some of the Eastern European elements which need not be repeated here. The first analysis essay on Ravenclaw's Diadem focused on Helena Ravenclaw's flight to Albania (Southeastern Europe) and the second analysis essay disucssed the possibilities of Fyodor Dostoevsky's influence on J. K. Rowling through two of her characters: Dolores Umbridge and Hepzibah Smith.

The Eastern European elements of the Potter series that one would like to tackle in subsequent essays include but are not limited to:

1. Viktor Krum and the Bulgarians (with a side note on "Veela")
2. Igor Karkaroff
3. Slytherins and Scythians
4. Gregorovitch and the Elder Wand
5. Ruling through Fear: Voldemort as Stalinist
6. Grindelwald in Nurmengard: German History in Harry Potter
7. Ideas about Durmstrang and the School's Ship (Germans, Vikings (Varingians), etc.)

The last two ideas on the list are related to Germany, which may be on a technical level considered Central Europe, but Central and Eastern Europe are so culturally and historically interrelated that these essays should be presented in the context of the others.

A Meet-Up with John Granger!

This past Saturday, February 21st, I had the opportunity to meet (for the second time) John Granger and discuss the Harry Potter books. The HP discussion was hosted by Potterdelphia, a group of which I am now a member. They had a general Potterdelphia meeting the following day, but I fell ill overnight and so could not attend. There were only five people in attendance, but this didn't depress John; he gave a wonderful lecture called "The Eyes of Deathly Hallows" in which he explained that the last Harry Potter installment was all about eyeballs. (Really all about the logos, and to understand that you should really read his book, The Deathly Hallows Lectures in which this particular lecture is a chapter).

We also got to hear his interesting story of how his first Potter-analysis book was published, and some other experiences in the Potter-world he'd had over the years. When I asked him if he'd read logospilgrim's bring forth the best robes (lower-case letters are intended here), he stated that he knew logospilgrim, herself. This was a delight to me, as I loved that small work. And I also asked him what he thought about Nancy S. Villacruz's new book, Does Harry Potter Tickle Sleeping Dragons? I told John that I thought her book was intriguing, but entirely too arrogant in either disregarding or merely waving away other Potter analysis books. Villacruz then says that her book is unique (you can find this phrase firstly on the dust jacked back flap). But she hasn't quite proved this, because she hasn't compared herself to any of the other books (ex. Granger's, Prinzi's, Thomas', Neal's, Heilman's, etc.). Please don't take this as a message not to read her book. No, no. Not at all. To me, all Potter-analysis is intriguing. Just as a person holding a BA in History, I know that in any analysis, while we are supposed to rely on primary sources (in this case, Harry Potter canon and all the other canon pieces that Villacruz mentions in a nice three-way definition - props to her here), we are supposed to acknowledge secondary sources. And if we don't agree with them, we are supposed to take them on and contest their points. Anyway, I think John Granger found my analysis of her book interesting.

I can't wait for John Granger's new book, Harry Potter's Bookshelf, to become available this summer, and apparently he speaks in Princeton, NJ next month. I wish I could be there! It was, as a whole, a delightful early afternoon in Philadelphia.

As a side note, I had a long discussion with Skott of Potterdelphia after John had left. We spoke on a whole bunch of Potter topics including Nurmengard (of which I hope to post an essay shortly) and the splitting of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (questioning where the split would occur).