I have no doubt that Harry Potter is a Roman boy. For his books are full of Latin and rich in Roman attitudes. Guess the motto of Harry’s school, Hogwarts. Never Tease a Sleeping Dragon. The Poet Horace could not have invented a more noble Roman sentiment. He probably did in Ars Poetica.

What’s the name of Harry's wicked enemy at school? Draco Malfoy, of course. In Latin that means the “treacherous dragon”. What is Harry’s game of Quidditch other than our gladiatorial contests in the arena, with broomsticks instead of swords and tridents? Need I say more?

Harry is a modern boy, and so he is good at coining modern words: a fruity moustache, round gig-lamps, motor cars, golf, gumboots. He has an extraordinary knack of inventing new words. If he makes up something new in his books, and dares to create a novel character, he fleshes it out from beginning to end. The best storyteller is one who informs, and delights and excites his juvenile readers. He must inform. Delight is a bonus. He must excite. Harry Potter informs, delights and excites. For what could be a more pleasant and more humane recreation than writing and reading witty and intelligent mystery books.

They say that the author of Harry’s books is Peter Needham, an emeritus Classics beak from Eton College. King Henry VI, founder of that college, has always been our friend in tight spots. May we always be saved from coarse boredom by his foundation. Peter Needham writes in the clear style of Cicero, not the difficult text-message abbrevs of Publius Cornelius Tacitus. His subject is rich in excitement, frightening with alarms, teasing with puzzles, playful with guffaws. Even School is a marvellous and magical place. For, of course, the truly original wizards were Greek and Roman. Consider the ancient origin of Abracadabra and Hocus Pocus: Hocus Pocus, Toutous Talontus, vade celerita jubes [which are meaningless Latin gibberish]. So you will confuse silly Muggles. This Needham is without doubt a genius. His original version of Harry Potter is a far better read in Latin than in its English translation. Lucky J. K. Rowling to have discovered such an original source of childhood magic to translate. Lucky us who can now read it in the original language, beautifully written, and enjoy ourselves. And laugh and laugh and laugh.

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