From Top Hats to Baseball Caps, from Bustles to Blue Jeans: Why We Dress the Way We Do Houghton Mifflin (Trade) ( 22 October, 1990 ) Book Our Price : £ 9.99 Prices subject to change. we are currently unable to offer this title. It may be out of stock with the publisher or out of print. If you would like to purchase this title, we recommend that you occasionally check this page to see if it has become available.

An Excellent Book!

Mr. Granger does a great job of providing in-depth analysis of the symbols of Harry Potter, their historical usage, and their connection to Christian themes. When someone first hears Grangers theory that Ms. Rowling is writing Christian fiction, the natural response will surely be skepticism. But with each chapter - with each page, even - the evidence for his theory becomes more and more persuasive. Because so many Christians charge that the symbols in Harry Potter are occultist, because symbols can often be ambiguous, and because Rowling herself is vague about her intentions, it is very helpful and enlightening to read Grangers way of understanding the Harry Potter stories in a Christian context. And his ideas and evidence are so fascinating that you may find yourself turning the pages as quickly as if it were one of Rowlings own books!

Harry Potter for grown ups

If you are one of the many adult fans of J.K. Rowlings books I am sure that you would find The Hidden Key to be a fascinating read. I would also highly recommend this book to you if you have no intention whatever of reading the Harry Potter series but are interesting in understanding what all the fuss is about. It is the best attempt I have seen to account for the unprecedented worldwide phenomenon that the books have become. Granger takes the Harry Potter books seriously as literature, and the depth of analysis is remarkable. However it is done with such enthusiasm and humour that it is also a very enjoyable read. Id always suspected that there was more to these books than met the eye, and Hidden Key puts the complex weave of plot, symbolism and allusion under the microscope to reveal its intricate structure. As well as a detailed analysis of the four books so far published there is also some intriguing speculation about where the next three might go. This book gives us the chance to be informed about and involved in a remarkable literary event as it unfolds, dont miss the opportunity!

Tremendous Insights into Harry Potter

This book succeeds on a number of fronts: 1) It details the important themes of the Potter books extremely well. This has allowed me to enjoy and appreciate the books much more than when I first helped read Sorcerers Stone to my son. The Potter stories are great on their own but Hidden Key allows you to see the deep themes Rowling is baking into these stories. I guarantee you will appreciate her writing skill and the books themselves significantly more after reading this guide. 2)This has helped me to reinforce the themes in the Potter books, which are really the great themes we are faced with in life, for my son. It has given me an informed, adult view on Rowlings writing that has created many "teachable moments" with my son. In fact, I just had several more of these moments in the theater, while watching Chamber of Secrets, that were directly inspired by the Hidden Keys content. I consider myself a decent reader but, to be honest, its amazing how much I missed in Rowlings books that John Granger has captured in great detail. From the themes in each of the four books to the hidden meaning of most of the characters names--the detail and analysis will astound you if you are a Potter fan. Plus the predictions for the future direction of the story provide great fodder for musing and discussion. Ive looked at a few of the other guides out there but they really dont compare. If youd like to see a serious treatment of Rowlings world as literature--and benefit from the experience--this is your book. If you are a Christian reader, youll appreciate this guide even more--although the prime criteria needed to enjoy it is being a dedicated Potter fan or the parent of one! Actually, that leads me to my only disclaimer. This book is not written for the 8 year old Harry Potter fanatic. It is probably best suited to good teen readers and adults. But I do think the 8 year old fanatics parents should buy it so they and their child will get the most from the magical world of Hogwarts.