Brief biography:
Joanne Rowling, who writes under the pseudonyms J. K. Rowling and Robert Galbraith, is a
British writer, film producer, and screenwriter, best known as the author of the Harry Potter
book series, which has sold more than 500 million copies. She was born on July 31, 1965, at
Yate General Hospital, near Bristol, and grew up in Gloucestershire, England, and
Chepstow, Gwent, in southeast Wales. Young Jo grew up surrounded by books. Anne was
diagnosed with multiple sclerosis when Jo was a teenager and passed away in 1990, before
the Harry Potter books were published. Jo also has a younger sister, Di. "I lived for books,"
she said. "I was your typical bookworm, with freckles and National Insurance glasses." She
was born on July 31, 1965, at Yate General Hospital, near Bristol, and grew up in
Gloucestershire, England, and Chepstow, Gwent, in southeast Wales. Young Jo grew up
surrounded by books. Jo's mother, Anne, was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis when she
was a teenager and passed away in 1990, before the Harry Potter books were published.
"I lived for books," she said. "I was your typical bookworm, with freckles and National
Insurance glasses."
Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone was published in 1997 by Bloomsbury after being
rejected by 12 publishers. The success was immediate and unexpected, and the series
quickly became one of the most beloved in literary history. The books were adapted into
eight successful films between 2001 and 2011, further cementing Rowling’s fame.
Beyond Harry Potter, Rowling has written several companion books, such as Fantastic
Beasts and Where to Find Them, which inspired a spin-off film series. In 2012, she
published her first adult novel, The Casual Vacancy, followed by the Cormoran Strike crime
novels under the name Robert Galbraith.
In addition to her writing, Rowling is known for her extensive philanthropic work. She
founded Lumos, a charity focused on ending the institutionalization of children worldwide,
and contributes to multiple causes through her charitable trust, Volant. In 2001, she was
awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to children’s literature, and in
2023 she received the Companion of Honour from King Charles III.
Rowling has occasionally drawn public attention for her views on social and political issues,
particularly regarding gender identity, which sparked controversy and debate. Despite this,
she remains a significant cultural figure, and her work continues to inspire readers of all ages
across the globe.
Historical and cultural context:
J.K. Rowling's historical and cultural context is multifaceted, drawing inspiration from various
periods and traditions, while also reflecting contemporary issues and societal concerns. The
Harry Potter series incorporates elements of classic literature, historical periods like the
medieval era, and even contemporary social and political debates
Rowling draws inspiration from Greco-Roman mythology, particularly in the names and
stories of magical creatures and spells
Literary style:
Rowling’s style is narrative, descriptive and specific. Commonly she uses a figurative style,
full of metaphors and imaginative comparisons. Her sentences are mainly declarative and
active past, which added to simple sentences create complex and fluid structures based on
parallelism. Metaphors are used extensively in her books, in order to create personifications
and similes. Characteristically she uses a subjective wit and humor, combined with
consonants and vowels at intervals to create alliterations and promote a fluent style. For the
descriptions she uses comparisons and contrasts, and are often perceived as sensory
descriptions, especially for characters.
The most common themes that Joanne Rowling addresses in her books include magic,
adventure, mystery, crime and human struggles. In particular, the Harry Potter series
focuses on magic, adolescence and the struggie between good and evil. Other recurring
themes are friendship, courage, loss, and the importance of inclusión and understanding.
In her adult works, such as the Cormoran Strike series, Rowling explores topic such as
mystery, crime, and the complexities of modern society. In general, his writing is
characterized by a deep reflection on human nature, the power of magic, and the importance
of resilience and optimism in life
Literary movements
Postmodernism (1950–present)
As mentioned, Rowling adopts several postmodern elements:
● Intertextuality: Constant references to classical myths, fairy tales, the Bible,
Shakespeare, and British literature (Dickens, Austen).
● Institutional critique: The Ministry of Magic reflects distrust toward government, the
media (The Daily Prophet), and education (Umbridge at Hogwarts).
● Multiplicity of genres: Blends fantasy, detective fiction (especially in The Tales of
Beedle the Bard and Cormoran Strike), comedy, and social drama.
Modern Children’s and Young Adult Literature
This movement gained strength in the 1990s and early 2000s:
● Rowling became one of the key figures in the global renaissance of young adult
literature.
● Her treatment of themes such as abandonment, orphanhood, adolescence, bullying,
power, and death raised the genre's standards.
● Harry Potter served as a bridge between traditional children’s literature and more
mature, literary young adult narratives.
Contemporary Fantasy
During the 1990s and 2000s, fantasy began to move away from the purely epic Tolkienian
model to explore:
● Urban and school settings (like Hogwarts).
● Current social issues such as discrimination ("mudbloods"), magical racism, or
totalitarianism (Voldemort as an allegory of fascism).
● Rowling uses classic epic fantasy structures but brings them to a more intimate
scale, focused on adolescent experience.
Magical Realism (indirect influence)
Although Rowling is not a magical realist author, her integration of magic into the real world
(especially in the early novels) can evoke this style:
● London and the Muggle world exist alongside the magical world without a complete
rupture.
● Characters cross between the two worlds, sometimes naturally, as if it were
ordinary—typical of Latin American magical realism.
Neo-Victorianism
This is a contemporary movement in which modern authors revisit the style, themes, and
aesthetics of the Victorian era.
Characteristics:
● Elaborate narrative structure.
● Attention to detail and morality.
● Critique of social classes.
● Dark, decadent, or gothic settings.
Relation to Rowling:
● Hogwarts resembles Victorian boarding schools.
● Dickensian influence: orphaned characters, critique of education, authoritarian or
negligent adult figures.
● Use of Victorian archetypes (the chosen orphan, mysterious teacher, double-sided
villain like Snape).
Postcolonialism (indirect influence)
Although not explicitly a postcolonial author, Rowling has become part of a broader literary
discussion about representation and power.
● In the magical world, there are hierarchies reflecting discrimination and imperialist
power structures (e.g., treatment of house-elves, centaurs, giants).
● Some critics have analyzed her work through a postcolonial lens to explore the
conflict between the magical and Muggle worlds as a metaphor for cultural clashes.
Popular Fiction and Mass Culture
Rowling’s work is also deeply connected to mass literature:
● Unlike elitist high literature, she blends literary elements with commercially
successful storytelling.
● This places her in the tradition of authors like Agatha Christie or Arthur Conan Doyle,
who wrote for broad audiences without abandoning literary quality.
Literary Feminism (ambiguous influence)
Though she is not explicitly aligned with literary feminism, her work has been interpreted
through that lens:
● Strong and complex female characters: Hermione, McGonagall, Molly Weasley, Luna
Lovegood.
● However, she has also faced criticism for the limited gender and racial diversity
among main characters and for certain stereotypes.
Literary Movement Influence on Rowling
Postmodernism Institutional critique, intertextuality, genre
blending
Young Adult Literature Emotional growth, adolescent protagonists
Contemporary Fantasy Detailed alternate world, ethical dilemmas,
mature tone
Magical Realism Magic embedded in the everyday
Neo-Victorianism Period aesthetics, social critique,
Dickensian characters
Postcolonialism Allegories of discrimination and power
structures
Mass Culture Popular, accessible narrative with global
impact
Major works:
Harry Potter series:
The seven books in the saga are world famous and have been adapted to film with great
success.
Harry Potter Companion Books:
Rowling has written books that are part of the world of Harry Potter, such as "Fantastic
Beasts and Where to Find Them" and "Quidditch Through the Ages."
Novels for adults (Robert Galbraith):
Rowling has written a series of crime novels under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith.
“Cormoran Strike Series (2013–present)”: This is a series of 7 mystery novels starring war
veteran turned private detective Cormoran Strike and his intelligent and tenacious partner,
Robin Ellacott.
In-depth analysis of one work:
The author emphasizes that some of her influences for the creation of the magical world of
Hogwarts School came from British folklore, culture, and mythology, as well as the Bible.
She was also inspired by mythical characters such as Hector, Achilles, Patroclus, Macbeth,
and the fantasy books of Narnia.
Rowling logically borrows from lots of stories. The premise based on the magical world is
truly what makes this work original. In Neil Gaiman's The Books of Magic, a comic published
in the early 1990s, an English boy who physically resembles Harry Potter, in truth, discovers
his relationship with magic. There are so many similarities between the two works that some
newspapers even claimed there would be a plagiarism complaint. However, Gaiman himself
acknowledged that the idea wasn't all that original, that he had based it on the work of T.S. .
In both stories the protagonists discover a new magical world, study at magical schools, and
have wizard mentors (Dumbledore and Merlin), Rowling borrows heavily from White's world.
Merlin himself is part of the history of the magical world, perhaps the greatest wizard of all
time, from the Slytherin house.
