The Young American’s Unofficial Guide to the Very British World of Harry Potter

Are you an American who loves the Harry Potter books? But did you know you might be missing things? The Harry Potter series is about Harry’s magical world but it’s about his British one, too. This book will help you understand all the British history, geography, culture, and slang that J.K. Rowling so expertly weaves into the Harry Potter stories. It offers a window into Harry’s British world, which is practically as rich and fascinating as his wizarding one.

I wrote this book because I (an American) am married to an Englishman, and ever since, a magical world has been opened up to me. I’m not talking about Harry’s wizarding world. I’m talking about his British one. My experiences with Pete and his family and friends have given me a unique view of British people, culture, and history. They have taught me so many things—from outrageously fun slang words to the correct way to brew a pot of tea—all of which I share with you in these pages.

I hope reading this book gives you a fuller understanding of Harry’s British world and adds to the richness of J.K. Rowling’s incredible novels. In this book, I use the first three Harry Potter books as springboards for our investigations. More volumes to follow.