Book Review: Steve Vander Ark's The Lexicon
An Unauthorized Guide to Harry Potter Fiction and Related Materials
Feb 18, 2009
Inspired by the popularity of his Harry Potter Lexicon website, which attracts 25 million visitors annually, former librarian Steve Vander Ark wrote a book explaining people, places, and things referenced in the books, movies, and video games about the young wizard, Harry Potter. The subject of a successful lawsuit by J.K. Rowling to stop the book’s publication, The Lexicon was revamped from its earlier version.
The Lawsuit Over The Lexicon
In October 2007, it became international news when Rowling and Warner Bros. sued over copyright infringement regarding Vander Ark’s original book. The new book, published in January 2009, complies with the ruling of New York Federal District Judge Robert Patterson.
The original print version of The Harry Potter Lexicon was based entirely on Vander Ark’s Website, a comprehensive encyclopedic listing of the world of Harry Potter. Created in 2000 by Vander Ark, the online resource has received numerous awards for its usefulness. The new print version of The Lexicon provides additional analysis and insights with a different focus from the website and Vander Ark’s original book project.
The First Encyclopedia for the Harry Potter Series
The book endeavors to be the missing index from the Harry Potter series and includes etymologies that explain hundreds of Rowling’s invented words and characters. Each alphabetized listing – more than 2,000 of them – cites where the information came from and often mentions additional sources that readers can consult for further explanations.
Although The Lexicon uses Rowling’s books as the main source, Vander Ark and his team of researchers also delve into the Harry Potter films. The book references other books and movies, and describes how occasionally the films differ – or elaborate on points – from the books.
One such instance falls under the listing for “apothecary,” which states: “A shop selling potions ingredients in Diagon Alley (Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, Chapter 5). An apothecary is a person or a shop that sells herbs, drugs, and other medical items; it is the historical version of the modern-day chemist or pharmacy. On the film set, the name of this shop is Slug & Jiggers.”
The Lexicon is a Treat for Harry Potter Fans
Vander Ark clearly loves the world of Harry Potter and attempts to maintain the integrity of the series by carefully researching his work and respectfully analyzing the characters. He’s not above taking a few potshots at the author who took him to court, however.
Among a handful of similarly themed notes, Vander Ark includes this listing under “flint.” “A honest-to-goodness error in the books has come to be called a ‘flint’ after Marcus Flint, the Slytherin Quidditch captain whom J.K. Rowling inadvertently included in one book too many, making him an ‘eighth-year’ student. The term was coined by one of the members of the Harry Potter for Grown Ups online group. Remarkably few genuine flints exist, considering the vast scope of the story. Incidentally, the original error of Flint’s year has been corrected in later editions.”
Devoted fans of the Harry Potter book and film series should greatly enjoy this well-researched book that provides back-story and word origins, without revealing important plot points for the uninitiated.
Book Details:
Vander Ark, Steve. The Lexicon. An Unauthorized Guide to Harry Potter Fiction and Related Materials. RDR Books, 2009. ISBN: 978-1-57143-174-5, 347 pages, Literary Reference/Criticism, Softcover. $24.95 (U.S.)
To learn more about entertainment-related books, read Celebrity Memoirs Reveal Wild Lives.
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