16 Books That Inspired J.K. Rowling to Write Harry Potter

What do you mean books that inspired Harry Potter!?!?

ITS REAL!!

Gullible muggles...

Callie wrote: "I don't think this list can really be complete without the inclusion of the Lord of the Rings series. It's influence in Harry Potter is unmistakable."

influence and inspiration are two very different things. lotr may have influence her to the point of there being a few similarities, but that doesn't mean it lotr inspired her to write.

I'm surprised every hero's quest ever written involving a male child and magic isn't on here...you know because there are so many similarities....(*_*) good grief, Does Romeo and Juliet have to be mentioned overtime to stupid teens fall "madly in love" in a book?

Perhaps these books listed inspired her to be a writer. Perhaps all the sad Orphan stuff is just the work of her being an English author...everything about children in English literature about children is either depressing and humorous or just depressing (when the kid isn't rich and living the cush life). Dickens anyone?...

lol I'm just saying...just because there are similarities doesn't mean she had all these books open piecing together her manuscripts...but that is just a guess *shrugs*

Whose Body? by Dorothy L. Sayers? A crime book, too?

Don't forget The Secret of Platform 13 by Eva Ibbotson. She must have read that one to her daughters not too long before Harry was born.

Crazy that The Worst Witch isn't on there, with it's fearsome, sour-faced potions teacher being tough on almost everyone, especially the protagonist. Except, of course, for Ethel, Mildred's enemy.

Even when I was a child I recognised that similarity especially. Never-mind that it's a magical boarding school set in a castle. I always thought it was one of the books that inspired her.

Callie wrote: "I don't think this list can really be complete without the inclusion of the Lord of the Rings series. It's influence in Harry Potter is unmistakable."

True that.

Where's Matilda? The Dursleys are basically Matilda's parents.

hmmmm...that's weird

I thought for sure I'd find " A thousand and One nights" (Arabian nights).

I get the Emma connection. Emma is all about facing up to your own less pleasant qualities and discovering your true self. It's a painful process and I see that happening with the Harry Potter characters as well.

I'd like to echo the surprise at no Roald Dahl. Aside from the similarities, Rowling is British! It's like the law for a Brit to read Beatrix Potter and Dahl to their kids XD

No LOTR?

Michelle wrote: "Johnie wrote: "Michelle wrote: "Not surprised to see The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe on this list. I have always thought there were similarities between the "killings" of Aslan and Harry (Deat..."

Sorry you said the "killings" and I got a little emotional and angry

Callie wrote: "Lara wrote: "Callie wrote: "I don't think this list can really be complete without the inclusion of the Lord of the Rings series. It's influence in Harry Potter is unmistakable."

pardon my ignoran..."

Harry Potter is full of elements from LOTR which have been changed (clearly a homage and not plagiarism), besides the wizard and spider connections: Gollum/Dobby (as in the spider, transformed with a humorous touch), an initially disembodied evil adversary who in the past had a body , the pensieve/the basin Galadried uses to see the future, the dementors/nazgul, etcetcetc.

Hallie wrote: "Whose Body? by Dorothy L. Sayers? A crime book, too?"

These are books that inspired her and that she enjoyed.

So many people are making comments on what it or is not on what is supposed to be a personal list, not a goodreads sponsored one.

Beccie wrote: "Eva Ibbotson's The Secret of Platform 13 is so similar to Harry Potter that I'm surprised there was no lawsuit."

I've read that Ibbotson has said that writers borrow ideas when asked about the similarities. I do agree that they are extremely similar.

Lara wrote: "Callie wrote: "I don't think this list can really be complete without the inclusion of the Lord of the Rings series. It's influence in Harry Potter is unmistakable."

pardon my ignorance, how so?"

They both have elves and wizards, involve a war, and have an immortal bad guy, that about covers it. (Long time reader of both series and pro-lit crit)

The previous reply (re: the artifacts, journeys, etc.) can be said about 95% of epic fantasy, so is meaningless as a point of connection.

Chebionne wrote: "Where's charlie bone on this list? I feel as though charlie bone and harry potter could almost be brothers!"

It was probably written after

I would've expected Lord of the Rings, and The Hobbit to be included in this compendium. So many similarities between them and the Harry Potter saga. Still an inspiring list. I've got to read a few of these to my niece :)

Callie wrote: "I don't think this list can really be complete without the inclusion of the Lord of the Rings series. It's influence in Harry Potter is unmistakable."

I completely agree.

Callie wrote: "I don't think this list can really be complete without the inclusion of the Lord of the Rings series. It's influence in Harry Potter is unmistakable."
I was shocked myself to not see The Lords of The Ring ... I guess any fantasy ever written or will be in the future was/will be influenced by The Lords of The Rings.

The number of people questioning the books on this list!

If Rowling says that these books inspired her, then they did. That does NOT mean they have to share similar plots to the Harry Potter novels.

These books inspired her to WRITE the books, even if all that means is removing writer's block.

Furthermore, why suggest books that aren't on the list? If something is similar to the HP books, that does not entail a claim to 'inspiring' their creation. SMH

The Secret of Platform 13 by Eva Ibbotson also inspired J.K. Rowling.

Would of expected, The Wizard of Earthsea - Ursula K. Le Guin.

Callie wrote: "I don't think this list can really be complete without the inclusion of the Lord of the Rings series. It's influence in Harry Potter is unmistakable."

I thought that too. :)

I feel like a lot of these books, like EMMA, inspired her to write, but not necessarily to write Harry Potter.

Really nice to see such a great variation of influences.

I thought the Star Wars series has a lot to do with the HP fandom

Scott wrote: "The Once and Future King should be on here--Neil Gaiman said all the similarities between Harry Potter and Tim Hunter are commonalities with this book."

It is, actually -- The Sword in the Stone is the first part of TOaFK :)

Erin (Paperback stash) *is juggle-reading* wrote: "Hallie wrote: "Whose Body? by Dorothy L. Sayers? A crime book, too?"

These are books that inspired her and that she enjoyed.

So many people are making comments on what..."

No, I didn't mean that. I didn't think that Rowling read crime novels, too, and such books can inspire one to write.

Linda wrote: "Rowling read MacBeth as a child?! I'm impressed."

So did I. Aged 11. And not because it was part of a school reading program.

Mind, I've never dared re-read it, nor to watch the DVD with Judi Dench and Ian McKellan in the leading roles as, alas, it frightened me silly at that age. One day I'll find the courage to tackle it again!

(Funnily enough, the scare it gave me didn't put me off Shakespeare by any means - I'm still reading him for pleasure 40+ years later!)

Michelle wrote: "Not surprised to see The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe on this list. I have always thought there were similarities between the "killings" of Aslan and Harry (Deathly Hallows)."

Should I consider that a spoiler? I haven't yet read Harry Potter, but was planning on doing so.

Authors borrow from other authors. Always have, always will. Doesn't mean there's plagiarism involved. And I'm sure there are hundreds of other fantasy books out there that involve quests to destroy certain magical objects. People need to untie the knot in their knickers when they rant about HP being a copy of LoTR. Giant spiders? Gee I'm sure Tolkien didn't invent those either.
Anyhow, every writer has to be well read, they kind of come in a package deal (Reading & Writing), so good on JK for reading these books, especially because if she didn't we mightn't have the masterpiece which is Harry Potter today.

Good vs. Evil theme in many of these books. It never gets old!

Lily wrote: "Authors borrow from other authors. Always have, always will. Doesn't mean there's plagiarism involved. And I'm sure there are hundreds of other fantasy books out there that involve quests to destro..."

I was NEVER saying that JK was plagiarizing. When writing, it is almost impossible to not be influenced by the things you have previously read. All I was saying is there are many similarities (which there are, apart from the giant spiders).

Naki wrote: "Callie wrote: "Lara wrote: "Callie wrote: "I don't think this list can really be complete without the inclusion of the Lord of the Rings series. It's influence in Harry Potter is unmistakable."

pa..."

LOL! it makes me wonder how much did she actually write? how much did she 'borrow'?

Lara wrote: "Naki wrote: "Callie wrote: "Lara wrote: "Callie wrote: "I don't think this list can really be complete without the inclusion of the Lord of the Rings series. It's influence in Harry Potter is unmis..."

About as much as any author in any genre.

Rem wrote: "Don't forget The Secret of Platform 13 by Eva Ibbotson. She must have read that one to her daughters not too long before Harry was born."

I could be wrong (someone correct me if I am), but I remember that JK has three *sons*, and no daughters.

Just sayin'.

Jibran wrote: "I guess any fantasy ever written or will be in the future was/will be influenced by The Lords of The Rings. "

Yeah, pretty much. I mean, Tolkien pretty much created a genre.
The books were considered at first publication to be just good enough for children. It wasn't until later that they were seen for the genius they were.

Lily wrote: "Authors borrow from other authors. Always have, always will..."

In his essay "On Fairy Stories," Tolkien referred to this as the Cauldron of Story, which "has always been boiling, and to it have continually been added new bits, dainty and undainty."

Joanne wrote: "The number of people questioning the books on this list!

If Rowling says that these books inspired her, then they did. That does NOT mean they have to share similar plots to the Harry Potter nove..."

Very well put!

Ben wrote "Umbridge is also very much like the Trunchbull from Matilda. "

I completely Agree !!

How prove it's REAL? LOL



Corey wrote: "What do you mean books that inspired Harry Potter!?!?

ITS REAL!!

Gullible muggles..."

How come you think Harry did die? Did you read all books of Harry Potter collection?

Jenn wrote: "I think Harry did die. However, did he come back because he had all three deathly hallows, or because that part of Voldemort's soul inside him was killed?"

Yay to ALL OF YOU! I beg to include the real (NOT the Disney) Mary Poppins! AND Alice in Wonderland. Alan Garner as well as Susan Cooper. Tales of the Deep Magic, the High Magic beyond what most people think is magic. There is true Christianity. Still.

E. wrote: "I could be wrong (someone correct me if I am), but I remember that JK has three *sons*, and no daughters."

JKR has two girls and a boy.

What about The Secret Garden?

What about charlie bucket???

Michele wrote: "E. wrote: "I could be wrong (someone correct me if I am), but I remember that JK has three *sons*, and no daughters."

JKR has two girls and a boy."

Ah, thank you!

Good job as always, goodreads!