Dahl, Roald -
Dale, Emily -
Dale, Jim -
Dartmouth College -
Davis, Warwick -
Deadman, Derek -
Dickens, Charles -
Dictionary of Phrase and Fable -
Didsbury -
Doyle, Louis -
Doyle, Roddy -
Dudley -
Dursley
Dahl, Roald
(1916 - 1990)
Dahl is the author of several classic children's fantasy tales, such as
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,
James and the Giant Peach, and
Matilda.
JKR has been frequently compared with
Roald Dahl, though not always favorably. JKR herself doesn't think the
comparison stands up too fully: "And while I think Dahl is a master
at what he did, I do think my books are more moral than his. He also wrote
very overblown comic characters, whereas I think mine are more
three-dimensional"
(Ind1).
http://www.roalddahl.com/
is a comprehensive source of additional information about this author.
Dale, Emily
Emily Dale was cast in the role of
Katie Bell in
PS/f and
CS/f.
Further information about Ms. Dale's life and career can be found at:
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1092552/
Dale, Jim
Narrator of the audio versions of the
Harry Potter novels sold in the
United States, Jim Dale is a well-known Broadway star. Further details about
his theater career and life can be found at
www.jim-dale.com
Dartmouth College (New Hampshire)
JKR received her first honorary degree in June 2000 from Dartmouth College.
Davis, Warwick
Born in Epsom, Surrey, England in 1970, Warwick Davis was cast in the role
of Professor Flitwick in the
Harry Potter films.
Further information about Mr. Davis's life and career can be found at:
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001116/
Deadman, Derek
Born in London, England, Derek Deadman was cast as
Tom in
PS/f.
Further information can be found at:
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0212600/
Dickens, Charles
(1812-1870)
Dickens is a famous Victorian novelist whom JKR has cited among her favorite
authors. Like Dickens, JKR has a penchant for names, creates truly memorable
characters, writes serially, and enjoys widespread popular appeal. Dickens'
novel A Tale of Two Cities has what Rowling terms the "most
perfect last line of a book ever written" and is one of two books that
she says will always make her cry
(SS_JKRB). Vast
online resources on Dickens' life and work exist, including
http://www.fidnet.com/%7edap1955/dickens/
Dictionary of Phrase and Fable
JKR cites this as a great source
[] for names
(Scot2002).
Didsbury
A suburb of Manchester, England, where the
Bournville Hotel is located (the
locale where JKR invented
Quidditch, see).
Doyle, Louis
Louis Doyle was cast in the role of
Ernie Macmillan in the
Harry Potter films.
Further information can be found at:
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1218560/
Doyle, Roddy
Doyle is JKR's favorite "living" author
(AOK1).
Doyle is cited as often as Jane Austen
when Rowling is asked to name literary influences or favorite authors.
Roddy Doyle was born in Dublin, Ireland in 1958 and each of his novels have
enjoyed favorable critical attention as well as mass popularity. Further
information about Doyle and his works can be found at
http://www.powells.com/authors/doyle.html
Dudley
Located nine miles west of Birmingham in Worcestershire, the
"Black Country" is centered around this town.
This highly-industrialized area is notorious for pollution and general
atmospheric bleakness. It is one possible source for Harry's cousin's
given name.
Dursley
A Gloucestershire
village located approximately 25 miles north of
Bristol. Situated on the edge of the
Cotswolds
escarpment, above the Vale of Berkeley and the River Severn, it is a
picturesque village. Interestingly, a local manor house bears the name of
Owlpen Manor. Rowling has admitted that the village of Dursley was the
inspiration for the surname she gave
Harry's relatives:
"Dursley, the last name of Harry's
aunt and uncle, is the name of an actual town in England. Just say the word
to yourself. Doesn't it sound dull and forbidding?"
(SLG).
