 DECADES after educationalists and literary critics thought they had seen off the British tradition of children's books extolling boarding schools, a pre-pubescent trainee wizard, Harry Potter, blasts into the best-seller lists on his broomstick. Here he is, a child picked out among millions for a highly privileged "magical" education in a dream location at a school that looks like a mad Bavarian version of Balmoral Castle, largely free from boring adults cramping his style (well, almost). Hardly the crucial, hard-hitting, "in-yer-face" world of the local comprehensive that children are supposed to relate to. Of course, that may be the secret of Potter author J K Rowling's success: it's escapist fantasy. Yet there may be much more to it than that. Most of us cannot be sure what makes a best-seller, but we know one when we hear about one. However, Nickianne Moody is willing to offer a few theories. As principal lecturer in media and cultural studies at Liverpool John Moores University she has devoted much time to mulling over the Potter phenomenon. "It's difficult to define exactly what creates such success, but at its heart is the quality to address a huge audience," says Ms Moody. "The numbers reading these books are not doing so either because they're necessarily easy books or even high quality. These books allow people to do something imaginatively or socially. "What's most interesting is how J K Rowling deals with particular childhood fears of this generation, both for parents and children." Harry Potter belongs very much in the tradition of British school stories ranging from Tom Brown's Schooldays to Billy Bunter and the pre-war jolly hockey sticks novels of Angela Brasil. LL these books come to prominence when there is a problem or a crisis in education. It may not be immediately apparent, but the Potter books describe such matters as Ofsted inspections, the quality of education on offer, criticism of teachers' abilities and methods, or how parents fight or fail to get their children into the schools of their choice." | 
