Can Harry Potter Save The Labour Government?
Harry Potter, the gazillion-selling speccy wizard, has saved many fellow fictional characters from a fate worse than death. He has defeated nasty trolls, unpleasant fellow students, ghouls and beasties of many sizes and the ultimate evil of Voldemort himself.
But has he every faced a bigger challenge than this?
JK Rowling has donated £1m to the ailing Labour Party. She was moved to do so due to Labour's track record on fighting child poverty and as a reaction against the Tory party's planned tax breaks for married couples. It might also have something to do with the fact that she is a close chum of the Browns.
Gordon Brown has welcomed the donation and proclaimed Rowling 'one of the world's greatest ever authors'.
Move aside Homer, Shakespeare, Austen, Dickens, Virgil, Dostoyevsky, the Brontes, Fitzgerald, Hardy, Chaucer and [insert your favourite here] - JK Rowling has surpassed you all.
Most popular I would probably grant her, but greatest ever?
I would politely suggest that the Prime Minister's literary judgement has been clouded somewhat by the huge fucking cheque he has just received from the author. I presume Jeffrey Archer has thrown loads of money at the Conservative Party over the years but I am pretty sure no one there has ever made such high claims about him. Quite sensible really, what with him being a bit shit.
It has come to something if the government is turning to a slightly geeky boy wizard who doesn't actually exist for help, but these are desperate times. Although I doubt that even Harry Potter is going to be able to get them out of this mess. He may have finally met his match.
I would quite like a tax break when i'm married. Would also agree that popularity is not always directly linkedto ability. I like the potter books but I think there are far better fantasy authors pitching at the same age groups.
Posted by: Adele/Toast | September 20, 2008 at 04:16 PM
How long before we get Lady JK of Hogwarts? Cynic, moi?
Posted by: Malc the Cynical | September 21, 2008 at 02:28 PM
Love the comparison with Archer!
Posted by: Juxtabook | September 21, 2008 at 07:54 PM
I raised an eyebrow when I read the Gordon Brown quote too. I had been under the impression that he was a bit into his lit-rit-shure, but now...
Posted by: rob | September 22, 2008 at 08:58 AM