Whether or not the Potter frenzy exhausted itself during the months leading up to book seven will certainly determine the fate of Duriez’s Field Guide among fans. One thing Potter devotees can bank on, however, is that Duriez (A Field Guide to Narnia
) knows his material inside out and has amassed an encyclopedic knowledge of the great classics of children’s literature and the Western intellectual cannon—which he employs judiciously to situate everything from “the wizarding world” in the romantic tradition to the relationship between Hogwarts and the classic “school story.” While this work is admirable, the guide, unfortunately, reads like a textbook or a kind of Harry Potter
diagnostic manual. As a rule, Duriez’s prose falls flat (though it occasionally dips into the realm of playful color commentary), its topics lack introduction, and much of the book is taken up by a series summary and an exhaustive glossary of terms. Also disappointing is the chapter on “J.K. Rowling’s Spiritual Worldview,” half of which is dedicated to listing and summarizing the spate of books that link Harry Potter
to Christianity and spirituality, rather than offering new insights about the series and its Christian themes. But if Potter fans are looking for a basic reference manual and a few interesting talking points, Duriez’s book will surely satisfy. (Dec.)
