Posted by Jock on January 16, 2009 at 12:39:24 user Jock.
In Reply to: Re: other books posted by Peter Ceresole on January 12, 2009 at 21:17:43:
There's a rebellious streak in AR's writings. Some of our heroes defy authority, bypass it
or sometimes supplement it with their own efforts. Authority figures are shown as being capable
of losing touch with what is really happening on the ground and inadvertently helping
the villains.
The above could also be applied word for word to JKR's Potter series and there is evidence that
Rowling knew the SA books when writing Potter. Pullman takes rebellion much further, the Magisterium
is corrupt and defying and challenging its authority is the only moral choice.
Of the authors that I read as a child, only AR inspired such rebellious behaviour and questioning
of authority. I channelled my own revolutionary fervour into defiance of the Ministry of Transport
by campaigning in support of the reopening of a Southern Railway branch line and then many years
later campaigning in defence of the Solidarity Trade Union in Poland.
Like AR, I was for a time considered a 'threat to British Pariamentary democracy', but that is
another story!