Chapter 1.

The power of dreams: how a billions-worth concept was born and developed

When was the Idea behind Harry Potter born? Was it just when J.K. Rowling picked it up while travelling on a train? No, it comes from far, far away… From “another Time and another Space”. This is the chronicle of the magical journey made from the author who was able to perceive such a great Idea and to give it a solid structure.

Chapter 2.

Harry’s spell ventures into the real word

The Idea which infuses the Harry Potter story dresses up in the tangible form of the Philosopher’s Stone manuscript and it’s well determined to make its way into the muggles world, correcting all the ingenuous beginner’s mistakes made by the writer. But it aims at going even further than that, “where no Idea has ever gone before...”.

Chapter 3.

The architectural concept of the saga

How is the Harry Potter saga built up, from the literary point of view? Are there cornerstones which can be compared to the architectural elements of a house? From the ‘ground’ to the ‘furniture’, let’s examine them.

Chapter 4.

The Philosopher’s Stone: the wrapper

A short overview on the italian publisher and a close examination at the translation’s problems.

Chapter 5.

The Philosopher’s Stone: a look at the contents

How is the first piece of this magical story built up, from the literary point of view? Which are the anecdotes behind its drafting? Let’s see some of J.K. Rowling ‘secrets’ left in the shade of her drawer.

Chapter 6.

From the cellulose soul to its celluloid twin

The Idea which enlivens the Harry Potter project unstoppably continues its path, this time targeting at the big screen. Let’s see how it was able to merge into a one big production including both theatre & tv veterans and baby actors at their first experience.

Chapter 7.

The Chamber of Secrets

A journey among the second book’s wonders, across anecdotes, folklore and a pinch of thriller dust.

Chapter 8.

The Prisoner of Azkaban

How one of the most loved books of the saga took life and what’s hidden behind the disquieting central battle between dark Dementors and luminous Patronuses.

Chapter 9.

Hogwarts on the silver screen

The intricate building process of the ‘movie-machinery’ behind the little wizard, through the setting up of a whole 3D fantasy world under the direction of Chris Columbus.

Chapter 10.

The spell becomes mania: pros and cons

The saga extraordinary repercussions on the muggles world: the religious controversies, the ferocious copyright battles inside the Courts and the creation of a phenomenon which spreads to any of our society’s facets.

Chapter 11.

The Goblet of Fire

A book which, through the Triwizard Tournament invention, becomes a metaphor of each individual’s growing path. Let’s see the concepts hidden in the innermost pages of the book.

Chapter 12.

The Salazar’s basilisk

Harry Potter arrives at the second rendezvous on the screen, where settings and monsters reach perfection and the story gets full of incredible suspense.

Chapter 13.

Here come the 3D Dementors

JKR nightmares reach the screen in a very dark film, where the director injects gothic shades into the story. The saga becomes more adult and Alfonso Cuarón explains us why.

Chapter 14.

“Lights, camera, action!” on the Triwizard Tournament

A fresco on adolescence, spaced out by symbolic tasks which talk to the unconscious. Here is how Mike Newell faced the challenge.

Chapter 15.

The Phoenix’ and the Half-Blood’s developments

The magic world loses its vivid colours as soon as Lord Voldemort’s return approaches: an examination across themes like Love, Friendship, Good against Bad, Predestination versus Free Will. These are the tones J.K. Rowling weaves together into the elaborated tapestries of the fifth and the sixth books.

Chapters added in the 2nd edition:

Chapter 16.

The Ministry of Magic and other wonders in Technicolor

On the background of Voldemort’s ascent, through the vision of the director David Yates, life at Hogwarts becomes the epitome of the fight against the authority’s shortsightedness.

• Zoom on the Half-Blood Prince

An appendix to chapter 16, with short anticipations on the sixth film due on July 2009.

Chapter 17.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

The saga reaches its final stage, full of twists and turns, but also of some inconsistencies which impair the narrative cohesion. The power of magic and the power of the soul’s metaphysics join together and fight in the eternal dance between Good and Bad.