2 Postmodern Potter

When consumers are asked to step outside their personal reading bubble and account for Harry Potter's staggering success, they typically ascribe his popularity to two factors: "escapism" and "something for everyone".

Harry Potter offers readers a wonderful parallel world - immediately adjacent to today's not-so-wonderful world - where steam trains depart from Platform 93/4, welcoming taverns sell foaming mugs of butterbeer, broomsticks circumvent the daily commute and inanimate objects do as they're bid.