| Oxford graduate student Karen A. Brown has | | | | years ago to request permission to publish an essay |
| published a study on discrimination in J.K. Rowling's | | | | entitled "Harry Potter and the Minorities Issue." |
| 'Harry Potter' novels (See While it has been widely | | | | "Lots of publishers turned me down," Brown claims. |
| acknowledged that Rowling's work chronicles | | | | "And it was not because of copyright concerns: Many |
| real-world social issues through some not-so-subtle | | | | other things have been written about Rowling's work, |
| subplots and allegories, so far, no one has dedicated | | | | none of them being given her authorization or approval. |
| an entire book to the subject. And Brown hastens to | | | | But I found it curious that most of the rejection letters I |
| emphasize this feature in her blog, where she admits | | | | got clearly stated that my study was not marketable |
| that she has been doing some "promotional work" for | | | | because no one was interested in reading about |
| the new book. (See | | | | prejudice and racism. Some editors stressed that |
| Ironically, this book's release coincides with the latest | | | | people who read Harry Potter are not interested in |
| controversy surrounding Rowling's work, as founder | | | | reading 'about' the books. So in the end I decided to |
| Steve Vander Ark's efforts to publish his own 'Harry | | | | publish the book myself, and mostly for me, because I |
| Potter Lexicon' have been thwarted by Rowling's | | | | strongly believe in the ideas put forth in it." |
| lawyers. They claim that the Lexicon breeches their | | | | All things considered, Ms. Brown appears to be quite |
| client's copyright and infringes upon exclusive materials | | | | passionate about this project, and seems to |
| that Rowling intends to use in her own 'Harry Potter | | | | understand her own legal standing where Rowling's |
| Encyclopaedia.' | | | | work is concerned: "I did not create Harry Potter, |
| Since Brown has made it possible for readers to write | | | | obviously. I simply comment on how the books make |
| to her, I contacted her to enquire how she felt about | | | | reference to some of the social trends in our own |
| the Vander Ark controversy, and how it impacts upon | | | | world. Wizarding-world biases and social hierarchy |
| her upcoming publication. She insists that 'Prejudice in | | | | share some shocking similarities with our own world. |
| Harry Potter's World' does not in any way infringe | | | | And I think we need to stop and take notice." |
| upon Ms. Rowling's copyright, and that all copyrighted | | | | Rowling herself has stated in various interviews that |
| materials (quotes and long citations) are properly | | | | the series is a "prolonged argument for tolerance." And |
| referenced and kept to a minimum, as specified by the | | | | it is at least encouraging that one of her readers has |
| Christopher Little Literary Agency, to whom she wrote | | | | chosen to focus on this message. |