What makes the Harry Potter books so readable? Are they as Christian as is often said? Is Hogwarts real, or did Harry Potter dream his whole story? These are some of the questions explored by Colin Manlove in this dazzling new study, which looks at the Hogwarts books in terms of their readability, their literary value and their many meanings. Here you will find chapters on how much they owe to Christian fantasy and to alchemy; on what, compared to Enid Blyton's 'Fives' books, makes them page-turners; on the consequences of their interest in magic and imagination; on their love of change; and on the ordering of each book and the whole series through recurrent motifs and ideas. With these approaches, rather than simply selecting those few parts of the texts that support a theory, Colin Manlove is able to talk about everything in the Harry Potter books, from the smallest common room conversation in Gryffindor to the greatest struggles with Voldemort. **** "Colin Manlove's study of the Harry Potter books provides a welcome focus on their 'style and imagery and brilliant invention.' Manlove works closely with the seven books, illuminating aspects of the books thus far neglected in the criticism of the Harry Potter series. The Order of Harry Potter is the work of a writer intimate with fantasy, its conventions, its history, and its cultural variations." **** Roderick McGillis, Professor of English at the University of Calgary, is a former president of the Children's Literature Association and the author of The Nimble Reader: Literary Theory and Children's Literature **** About the author: Colin Manlove taught English Literature at Edinburgh University for many years, where he received an honorary D. Litt in recognition of his pioneering research in literature. He is the author of over a dozen books including From Alice to Harry Potter (a survey of 400 English fantasy books) and C. S. Lewis: His Literary Achievement. Colin lives in Scotland within walking distance of where J.K. Rowling began writing the Harry Potter series.