Critical Companion to J. K. Rowling: A Literary Reference to Her Life and Work (2011)

J. K. Rowling is one of the most popular authors of all time. Her Harry Potter books are beloved by millions of children and respected by critics of both children's and adult literature. On the other hand, these same books have aroused controversy regarding their literary merits and moral messages.

Critical Companion to J. K. Rowling seeks to educate readers about these debates and encourages them to think about Rowling's novels thoughtfully while understanding the context in which they were written.

Coverage includes:
- A concise but thorough biography of Rowling
- Entries on all of the Harry Potter books, each containing a Synopsis, Critical Commentary, and a Film Adaptation section, as well as subentries on all the main characters
- Entries on Rowling's minor works, such as 'Quidditch through the Ages' and 'The Tales of Beedle the Bard'
- Entries on related people, places, and topics, such as book banning and censorship, British boarding schools, Lewis Carroll, The Leaky Cauldron Web site, orphans in literature, the phenomenon of "Pottermania," and much more
- Appendixes, including a chronology and bibliography of primary and secondary sources.

CONTENTS

Acknowledgments
Introduction
Part I: Biography
Part II: Works A–Z
Harry Potter Novels
- Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone  
-- (Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone)
- Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
- Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
- Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
- Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
- Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
Scholarship on the Harry Potter Series
Additional Resources on the Harry Potter Series
Minor Works
- Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
- Quidditch through the Ages
- The Tales of Beedle the Bard
- Nonfiction Work
Part III: Related People, Places, and Topics
Part IV: Appendices
Bibliography of J. K. Rowling’s Works
Bibliography of Secondary Sources
J. K. Rowling Chronology
Cast Information on Harry Potter Films
Index