Épisodes

  • Hallmarked Man vs the First Seven Cormoran Strike Novels (2)

    Hallmarked Man vs the First Seven Cormoran Strike Novels (2)
    Nov 5 2025

    Nick Jeffery and John Granger do a Compare and Contrast test of the latest Cormoran Strike novel, The Hallmarked Man, and the previous seven books in Rowling-Galbraith’s longest series of novels. Adapting a list of ‘Greatest Hits’ moments from the first ‘Reading, Writing, Rowling’ podcast John did with Katie McDaniel and a panel of Potter Pundits in Roanoke, Virginia, Nick and John share their favorite moments first from the series and then from Strike 8 before contrasting the quality of these highlights.

    The point of the exercise? Besides being a fun review of Strike-Ellacott adventures, a Greatest Hits collection of their highs and lows, Agency cases and sub-contractors included, the absence of any Hallmarked Man moments that merit a ‘Best in Series’ badge suggests that Strike 8 will be remembered best for how it set up Strikes 9 and 10.

    Whatever your thoughts about that thesis, please share the scenes on your Greatest Hits list, both for the series and Hallmarked Man, per the numbered categories below. Nick and John have a few more to run through that they couldn’t get to on their first ‘go’ at this; feel free to share categories they should discuss in addition to the ones listed here:

    * Top Pat Chauncey scene

    * The One Scene that You Remember Most Often or ‘That Changed Your Life’

    * Top ‘Text-within-a-Text’

    * Funniest Scene

    * Top ‘Drop the Book’ moment

    * Best ‘Narrative misdirection/Ostrananie’ Moment

    * Conclusion: Series and Hallmarked man

    John is working on his charting of Hallmarked Man for the paid subscriber list as well as reviewing and revising his 2017 online course, ‘Wizard Reading Formula.’ More on those projects and the Kanreki Series in his next conversation with Nick; stay tuned!

    Links to Ideas, Posts, and Theories Mentioned

    * Talbot’s ‘True Book’ in Troubled Blood

    * Kathryn Kent’s weblog post in The Silkworm

    * The Goldfish in the Agency Office

    * Running Grave and Hallmarked Man overlaps, and Ryan Murphy’s involvement.

    * Three Take-Aways from Hallmarked Man: What We Know Readers will say in Ten Years about Strike 8



    Get full access to Hogwarts Professor at hogwartsprofessor.substack.com/subscribe
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    1 h et 36 min
  • Hallmarked Man vs the First Seven Cormoran Strike Novels (1)

    Hallmarked Man vs the First Seven Cormoran Strike Novels (1)
    Nov 3 2025
    Nick Jeffery and John Granger do a Compare and Contrast test of the latest Cormoran Strike novel, The Hallmarked Man, and the previous seven books in Rowling-Galbraith’s longest series of novels. Adapting a list of ‘Greatest Hits’ moments from the first ‘Reading, Writing, Rowling’ podcast John did with Katie McDaniel and a panel of Potter Pundits in Roanoke, Virginia, Nick and John share their favorite moments first from the series and then from Strike 8 before contrasting the quality of these highlights.The point of the exercise? Besides being a fun review of Strike-Ellacott adventures, a Greatest Hits collection of their highs and lows, Agency cases and sub-contractors included, the absence of any Hallmarked Man moments that merit a ‘Best in Series’ badge suggests that Strike 8 will be remembered best for how it set up Strikes 9 and 10.Whatever your thoughts about that thesis, please share the scenes on your Greatest Hits list, both for the series and Hallmarked Man, per the numbered categories below. Nick and John have a few more to run through that they couldn’t get to on their first ‘go’ at this; feel free to share categories they should discuss in addition to the ones listed here:* Top Strike-Ellacott Moments* Ellacott taking care of wrecked Strike* Strike taking care of wrecked Ellacott* The Two having a frank conversation about the Agency, their vocation* The Two having a frank conversation about life and their relationship* Top Mystery Reveal* Top Agency Subcontractor moment* Top Agency case not the focus of the novel* Top Strike Confront-the-Killer moment,* Top “Magical” Moment (heart-rending/opening)* Top Moment-that-We-didn’t-know-was-a-Moment-until-later* Top Saving People MomentJohn is working on his charting of Hallmarked Man for the paid subscriber list as well as reviewing and revising his 2017 online course, ‘Wizard Reading Formula.’ More on those projects and the Kanreki Series in his next conversation with Nick; stay tuned!Links to Ideas, Posts, and Theories Mentioned* Roanoke ‘Reading, Writing, Rowling’ Harry Potter Review[‘reading, Writing, Rowling’s] first episode was recorded at CoLab in Roanoke, Virginia, at the May 2017 Roanoke Harry Potter Fest and celebrates 20 years of Harry Potter. Listen to a stellar crew of Hogwarts professors discuss [with hosts John Granger and Katy McDaniel] their favorite moments in the Harry Potter series, inspired by Bloomsbury Publishing’s recent reader poll. Guests Louise Freeman, Elizabeth Baird Hardy, Emily Strand, and Lana Whited identify the best moments featuring the trio friendship, surprises and narrative misdirection, wizard magic, Snape, texts-within-the-text, and those inspirational messages that make the Harry Potter series profound and emotionally resonant to readers worldwide.* Rowling’s Favorite Painting and What It Suggests about Her Artistry and Meaning: Caravaggio’s ‘Supper at Emmaus’Professor Groves suggests strongly that what Rowling took away from her “mesmerised” “slow mining” of Caravaggio’s Supper at Emmaus was the central Mystery of the Incarnation of Christ, the “guiler beguiled” idea of Aulen’s Christus Victor. I find that argument compelling and want to build on it. There are embedded symbols in Supper at Emmaus that I think the fascinated Rowling would have noticed as she looked at the painting in the National Gallery, at the print on her wall in Exeter and London, and at the image on her first website, symbols beyond the “realism” of the Christ as imagined by Caravaggio and the revelation at the breaking of bread of His divinity.* Robin is Sterile Prediction: Chlamydia to Ectopic Pregnancy (December 2023)The thesis of this Hogwarts Professor essay — what I hope will be the subject of our second ‘Rowling Studies’ podcast here — is that Robin Venetia Ellacott will not have children with Murphy, Strike, or any other partner, because she cannot, at least not without some extraordinary efforts via in vitro conception and surrogacy. I will attempt to explain how this infertility is possible, to detail the ‘Lake’ suggestions from Rowling’s life and personal experience that shows she is more than familiar with this condition among women, and to share the ‘Shed’ literary markers in Running Grave and Rowling’s other novels that this is indeed what she has in mind for Strike’s partner Robin.Means Before Motive: How is it Possible that Robin is Sterile?In a word, “Chlamydia.”* The Hallmarked Man’s Mythological Template ‘Cupid and Psyche’s importance for grasping the depths of Strike 8, from the “necessity” of the Silver Vault and the three men in Robin’s life, to spaghetti carbonara and ‘Maid of the Silver Sea’ (links list to previous posts, 2021-present on this subject)* Charlotte Was Murdered, Mate; It Wasn’t a Suicide* The Strange Death of Charlotte Campbell: Could the Psycho-Ex be the Focus of a Murder Investigation...
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    1 h et 24 min
  • Hallmarked Man Reader Theories and Insights

    Hallmarked Man Reader Theories and Insights
    Oct 27 2025
    Nick and John have posted eight Hallmarked Man conversations since its publication last month and, as interesting as their back-and-forth talks have been, South Wales to American Fly Over Country, Lake to Shed, much of the best theorizing and interpreting of Strike 8 has been happening in the comment threads beneath those posts and in email messaging with John. Determined that these insights wouldn’t be lost or invisible to Serious Strikers, they chose ten of the most challenging for a fun introduction to the fandom conversations readers not privy to the backchannel moderators network or who neglect the comment threads are missing.In addition, Nick shares the credible speculation that Rowling’s weeklong absence from tweeting has been because she is on her Samsara yacht in the South Pacific, circling Bora Bora, believe it or don’t. John quizzes Nick, too, about the election in South Wales, Caerphilly to be exact, and the reason the results in that dependably Labour area have the UK buzzing (and why Strike readers might expect the populist party victories will color Strikes 9 and 10).A quick ‘table of contents’ for their hasty review, then, followed by links and transcripts! Enjoy — and, yes, have at in the comment threads, please, the locus of Strike fandom conversations.* Ed Shardlow: Gorilla Ryan* Vicky: Boxes and Plush Toys* Sandra Hope: Traditional Symbolism* Justin Clavet: Only Fans Gaffe (Ed Shardlow -- ‘Not Proven’ error)* Bora Bora* Justin Clavet: On Manhood* Ed Shardlow: Ickabog Parallel Book Theory* Sandra Hope: Hallmarked Man as Rowling’s ‘Greatest Hits’ allusion collection* LC - Dorothy Sayers* Kathleen O’Connor -- Alternative Incest* Caerphilly elections -- UK meaning* Ring Composition ProjectPromised Links and Transcripts:* Ed Shardlow’s ‘Gorilla Ryan’ TheoryThe Ryan the Gorilla theory came to me at the point in the book where Robin has an epiphany following an impulse to look up the meaning of a name. I think this was the Jolanda-Violet realisation, but I thought she’d suddenly realised the full extent of Ryan’s dark side, with the significance being the previously noted meaning of his name “Sea King” suggesting a connection between him and Wade King.That theory seemed very flimsy at first, but on further examination it might have some mileage. There are some notable differences between the attack in the Land Rover and the previous ones. Although we imagine the attacker wearing a gorilla mask, there’s no mention of it, and in fact it says she can see his face. Also the Land Rover attacker makes no demands that she, “Stop” or, “Leave it”. She hits Wade with the pepper spray, which of course, would be difficult for Ryan to cover up, but she didn’t inflict any such injuries on the gorilla attacker. Wade clearly intends to hurt her, whereas the other attacks had no physical violence and look very much like they were just intended to scare her.1) It’s hinted that Branfoot knows about Robin’s rape, and she says it’s on the internet, but we never get any indication that King or Griffiths know about it. Strike and Robin never consider that the attacker might be someone who knows about it because they’re close to Robin. That seems like an oversight.2) The gorilla attacker never refers to a specific case. Murphy may be scaring her into quitting the job and getting away from Strike, whereas a suspect would want her to stop investigating their specific case.3) The police don’t take the rubber gorilla and dagger for DNA testing. That’s pretty strange, unless there’s someone on the inside blocking the investigation.There’s a bit of an issue with the guy in the green jacket, who presumably Robin can see isn’t Ryan when he’s on the industrial estate and outside her flat. Presumably that was Wade.So, there would need to be some explanation for how or why Murphy is wearing the same jacket when he accosts her with the ceremonial dagger. But that’s not insurmountable.Murphy would have been very surprised to encounter Matthew (sic, he means ‘Martin’ -ed.), who he knows from Masham, outside Robin’s flat. The narrative very much prompts us to think there’s something going on with Murphy, but then we put this down to his work issues and associated relapse, but perhaps that blinds us (and Robin) to another possibility. And if it is the case, then Strike hasn’t just let Robin go to dinner with his romantic rival, but she’s heading into mortal danger. Were his instincts subconsciously alerting him to the threat? Did he leave it too late to shout, “Brake!” again?Nicola Reed’s Objection to ‘Gorilla Ryan’ (Sandy Hope, too)Kathleen O’Connor’s Cogent Counterpoint to John’s Incredulity about No One Noticing How Short Faux-Wright was in the Ramsay Silver footageVicky on the Interpretation of Robin’s “Stuffed Toy” DreamBrenna Hill asks ‘Why is the New Ellacott Puppy Named Betty?’Sandra Hope Jumpstarts Conversation...
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    1 h et 49 min
  • Hallmarked Man Q&A with Nick Jeffery and John Granger (2)

    Hallmarked Man Q&A with Nick Jeffery and John Granger (2)
    Oct 18 2025
    Nick Jeffery and John Granger continue their Q&A conversations about Rowling-Galbraith’s Hallmarked Man (if you missed the first discussion, click here to catch up). As usual, the pair promised to send links and notes along with their recorded back and forth for anyone wanting to read more about the subjects they discussed. Scroll down for their seven plus one questions and a bevy of bonus material they trust will add to your appreciation of Rowling’s Strike 8 artistry and meaning. Cheers!Q1: What is the meaning of or artistry involved with Pat Chauncey’s three fish in the Agency’s fish tank, ‘Robin,’ ‘Cormoran,’ and ‘Travolta/Elton’?Mise en Abyme (Wikipedia)In Western art history, mise en abyme (French pronunciation: [miz ɑ̃n‿abim]; also mise en abîme) is the technique of placing a copy of an image within itself, often in a way that suggests an infinitely recurring sequence. In film theory and literary theory, it refers to the story within a story technique.The term is derived from heraldry, and means placed into abyss (exact middle of a shield). It was first appropriated for modern criticism by the French author André Gide. A common sense of the phrase is the visual experience of standing between two mirrors and seeing an infinite reproduction of one’s image. Another is the Droste effect, in which a picture appears within itself, in a place where a similar picture would realistically be expected to appearSnargaloff pods (Harry Potter Wiki)“It sprang to life at once; long, prickly, bramble-like vines flew out of the top and whipped through the air... Harry succeeded in trapping a couple of vines and knotting them together; a hole opened in the middle of all the tentacle-like branches... Hermione snatched her arm free, clutching in her fingers a pod... At once, the prickly vines shot back inside and the gnarled stump sat there looking like an innocently dead lump of wood“— The trio dealing with the Snargaluff plant in sixth year Herbology classSnargaluff was a magical plant with the appearance of a gnarled stump, but had dangerous hidden thorn-covered vines that attacked when provoked, and was usually best handled by more than one person.Juliana’s Question about the Oranda Goldfish:did anyone else notice - I confess to only noticing this on my second re-read of THM- that Travolta, Pat’s third fish, dies?What do we think about this? Could this mean Mr. Ryan F. Murphy dies…? Or could it just be foreshadowing of the fact that him and Robin don’t end up together? I think the fish symbolism was quite humorous and delightful paralleling such a deep and intricate plot. Just wanted to know if anyone noticed this tinge of humor towards the end of the book… As for the fish theory, Pat’s three fish in the tank: Strike, Robin and the third, she calls, Travolta — ironically, named after a “handsome” man. I’m thinking JKR meant Travolta, the fish to symbolize Murphy…What I was referring to in my original comment: the three fish = the love triangle between Ellacott/Murphy/Strike. I was asking: since Travolta died in Chapter 113, do we think this foreshadows Murphy either dying physically, or just that Robin and Murphy do not end up together?John’s ‘Fish and Peas’ Response:It’s a relief to learn that Travolta’s most famous role wasn’t a character named Ryan Murphy that everyone in the world except myself knows very well. Thank you for this explanation!There’s more to your idea, though, I think, then you have shared. Forgive me if you were already aware of this textual argument that suggests very strongly that these Oranda goldfish have been an important part of Rowling’s plan from the series from the start. In brief, it’s about the peas.In Part 2, Chapter 3, of ‘Cuckoo’s Calling,’ Robin and Matt are having their first fight about Strike and the Agency. The chapter ends with an odd note that this disagreement has blemished the Cunliffe couple’s engagement.“She waited until he had walked away into the sitting room before turning off the tap. There was, she noticed, a fragment of frozen pea caught in the setting of her engagement ring.” (73)Your theory that the fish bowl is an embedded picture of the state of Robin’s feelings for Murphy and Strike, a Mise en abyme of sorts, is given credibility in the eyes of this reader by the appearance of frozen peas as the cure for the dying Cormoran goldfish. It is hard for a Rowling Reader to believe that these two mentions of frozen pea fragments were coincidental or unrelated, which means that (a) Rowling had the office Oranda goldfish scene-within-the-scene in Strike 8 foreshadowed by the Strike 1 tiff, and (b) therefore of real significance.There is another pea bit, of course, in ‘Troubled Blood’ at Skegness, a passage that links Robin’s heart or essence with peas.Strike was still watching the starlings when Robin set down two polystyrene trays, two small wooden forks and two cans of ...
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    1 h et 45 min
  • Hallmarked Man Q&A with Nick Jeffery and John Granger (1)

    Hallmarked Man Q&A with Nick Jeffery and John Granger (1)
    Oct 15 2025
    While John Granger labors with the paid subscribers to chart each of Hallmarked Man’s ten Parts and one Epilogue (in preparation for a charting of the whole book structure), there will be a break in the series of conversations they have had about Strike 8 in which they have focused on a single Shed tool per episode. They will be discussing instead during the charting period a series of Q&A discussions about topics that have come up on the moderator back-channels, email from paid subscribers, and news from Rowling World.They had fourteen questions for the recording above and only managed to get through five. Deo volente and trans Atlantic work schedules permitting, they’ll record a second show this week to discuss the greater remnant of the original fourteen and questions that subscribers ask in the comment boxes below this post. Ask away! And share those theories and corrections of mistakes Nick and John have made!John referenced quite a few texts and resources in his answers to some of Nick’s questions. He’s taken pictures and provided urls for those who want to see what he was talking about. Enjoy!Links to and Pictures of Conversation PointsQ1: The Universal Humanitarian Church and FreemasonryThe Alchemical Dictionary (Abraham) entries for:* Griffin* Red Lion* QueenQ2: Freemasonry Library ‘Discoveries’Introductions:* The Idiot’s Guide to Freemasonry - John Calvin and GAOTU* The Freemasons — Pictures of Third Degree Initiation in Freemasonry: From Hallmarked Man:* Morals and Dogma - Hiram as Model Mason* Liturgy of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite* Bridge to Light — ‘Legend of Hiram’Histories:* The Craft - Baphomet!* The Templars* That Religion in Which All Men AgreeThe Secret Depths* The Hiram Key - Picture of Third Degree Initiation in Freemasonry: * The Book of HiramOccultist Guides:* Studies in Freemasonry and Compagnonnage (Rene Guenon)* The Lost Keys of Freemasonry (Manly Hall)Picture of Third Degree Initiation in Freemasonry (above, book’s frontispiece) Note Subtitle* A New Encyclopedia of Freemasonry (Arthur Edward Waite)Saint-Martin and Freemasonry: pages from A New EncyclopediaCarmen, the Opera: Wikipedia synopsisMeaning of ‘Dirk’ A woman named ‘Carmen’ names her son after the weapon that kills Carmen in the Bizet opera. With a husband whose signature characteristics are rage and impulsive violence. Beyond satire.Q3: Hallmarked Man as Rowling’s Welsh NovelQ4: The Murder of Hiram Abiff as the Strike 8 Story TemplateSee pages from Freemasonry guides above.Q5: The Meaning of ‘Calvin Osgood’Idiot’s Guide to Freemasonry: John Calvin and GAOTUNotable Osgoods: WikipediaThe Meaning of ‘Osgood’* EtymologyThe name Osgood has its roots in Old English. The first part of the name, “Os,” is derived from the Old English word “god,” which means “god.” The second part, “good,” is a common English word that means “good” or “virtuous.” Therefore, when combined, the name Osgood can be interpreted as “God is good” or “virtuous god.”* Venus!Astrologically, the name Osgood is linked to the planet Venus. Venus is the planet of love, beauty, and creativity, suggesting that individuals with this name may have a strong appreciation for art, aesthetics, and relationships. They may also possess a charming and diplomatic nature, finding pleasure in harmonious interactions with others.* Oggy!Oggie: A fun and unique variation that can be used as a nickname.Jacob Osgood: American Esoteric Christian Sect Leader Get full access to Hogwarts Professor at hogwartsprofessor.substack.com/subscribe
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    1 h et 33 min
  • Hallmarked Man and Rowling's Tweets after the Shooting of Charlie Kirk

    Hallmarked Man and Rowling's Tweets after the Shooting of Charlie Kirk
    Oct 7 2025
    Nick Jeffery and John Granger were asked in the first week after the publication of Hallmarked Man what they thought of Rowling-Galbraith’s twitter storms after the assassination of Charlie Kirk. They promised to devote a conversation to just thast subject and today they deliver on that promise.Is it just about the tweets? No, it’s really about their importance or insignificance of those messages with respect to the author’s Lake inspiration, their tangential use as keys to her thinking as reflected in Hallmarked Man (and Christmas Pig!), and what they tell us or at least suggest about her struggles with “religious faith” and the seriousness of her thinking on theological subjects.It’s a wild conversation between friends who don’t agree on foundational issues of religion and politics — and a decent example of how men of good will respect and trust one another in a real discussion of tough issues to help reach a shared understanding of the other’s positions if not agreement. With a lot of Harry Potter, Robin Ellacott, Jack Jones, and Krystall Weedon thrown in; enjoy!Links to Resources Referenced in Today’s Post and Screenshots of the Rowling Tweets‘Get JK Rowling next’: Bluesky users celebrate death of Charlie KirkUsers of the social media platform have been warned after some shared ‘hit lists’, with calls to eliminate Elon Musk, Donald Trump and the Harry Potter authorSocial media platform Bluesky has been forced to warn users that “glorifying violence” is against its rules in the wake of a spate of posts celebrating the death of Charlie Kirk.The platform attracted millions of users as a left-wing alternative to X, after Elon Musk threw his support behind President Trump. Numerous posts shared this week have glorified the shooting of conservative commentator Kirk in Utah.Some users have even posted hit lists of other potential targets, including the British author and activist JK Rowling.’The Witch Trial of J. K. Rowling, Episode 5 (The Rowling Library)One of my very dearest friends is a committed and practicing Catholic, and he’s also pro life. Now, I’m a feminist, I’m pro choice. I understand exactly what his arguments are. And I respect his argument, and he is prepared to make his argument. I don’t agree with his argument, but he respects my argument. And we are both able to find shades of grey within our beliefs. I think that is healthy. I think that is productive. I am not going to cut that person out of my life because we disagree on something, albeit something that is very important to me. We have lost that [respect and ability to agree to disagree] in this particular debate.The Emma Watson Take-Down Truth TellingPeople Magazine: Emma Watson Says She ‘Profoundly’ Misses Acting Except for One ‘Soul-Destroying’ Part of the JobThe Jay Shetty Podcast’s ‘Emma Watson Exclusive’ (YouTube, cued to relevant part)* Daily Dot: Watson was being cancelled by TRAs for her conciliatory notes post podcast before Rowling gave her both barrels* And afterwards? LA Times: The TRAs went after Rowling for her “continued transphobia.”* Emma Watson Becomes Online Meme and Satire Target as a token Woke Zealot Waking Up to Not Being Cool Anymore vis a vis TransgenderismThe Rowling Response on Twitter:Rowling Confronted for Being as Clueless and Privileged as Watson: Get full access to Hogwarts Professor at hogwartsprofessor.substack.com/subscribe
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    1 h et 53 min
  • The Hallmarked Man: A 'Blitz' Lake and Shed Reading (with a few Golden Threads)

    The Hallmarked Man: A 'Blitz' Lake and Shed Reading (with a few Golden Threads)
    Oct 3 2025
    It’s been a month since the publication of Hallmarked Man so Nick and John decide to have a ‘Pit Pony Pickleball’ match in which they serve and volley Strike 8 examples of Shed tools and Lake springs as fast as they can. After a round of back and forth between Team Lake and Team Shed, they do a flash round of Golden Threads against the clock and then John is given a ‘Final Jeopardy’ tie-breaker question about the most controversial perennial plot point in Rowling’s work.It’s a reverse Kanreki exercise, in other words. In their conversations about each of Rowling’s novels, screenplays, play script, text books, and short story collection, Nick and John discussed one Lake spring, a source point of story inspiration from Rowling’s life experience and core beliefs, and one Shed tool, her deliberate artistry to craft that inspiration into edifying and engaging story. Here they have a ‘Blitz Chess’ match, to switch sporting metaphors, to try and cover as many Lake, Shed, and Thread points with examples from Rowling’s latest as possible.Perhaps the most important take-away, though, is the three conclusions about Hallmarked Man they’ve come to after a month of reading that they think will be the consensus view of Strike 8 after we have Strikes 9 and 10. Make some popcorn, find your score card and a comfortable place to watch and take notes; this is an episode for the ages! (Insert your preferred Wrestle-Mania or like programming promotional hyperbole here.)The Kanreki Index of Rowling’s Shed Tools, Lake Springs and Golden ThreadsIn July 2025, Nick Jeffery and I logged a marathon of Kanreki ‘Lake and Shed’ video posts at this site in celebration of Rowling’s life and work at her 60th birthday. For listeners of this ‘Blitz’ Lake and Shed reading of The Hallmarked Man, I repost below an easy-to-access-and-reference single place for readers to find much longer discussion of each Shed tool, Lake spring, and Golden Thread, as well as an introduction to Fourth Generation Rowling Studies hermeneutics. Enjoy!Introduction to the Kanreki Project* The Goal and the Methodology of the Hogwarts Professor Tag-Team Month-Long Birthday Party for Serious Readers of Rowling-GalbraithOn 31 July 2025, Joanne Murray, aka J. K. Rowling and Robert Galbraith, celebrated her 60th birthday. This specific celebration is considered a ‘second birth’ in Japan or Kanreki because it is the completion of the oriental astrological cycle. To mark JKR’s Kanreki, 還暦, Dr John Granger and Nick Jeffery, both Nipponophiles, read through Rowling’s more than twenty published works and reviewed them in light of the author’s writing process, her ‘Lake and Shed’ metaphor. The ‘Lake’ she said in 2019 and 2024 is the source of her inspiration and the ‘Shed’ is the alocal place of her intentional artistry, in which garage she transforms the biographical stuff provided by her subconscious mind into the archetypal stories that have made her the most important author of her age.Join us after the jump for the complete compendium of the Harry Potter, Cormoran Strike, Fantastic Beast, ‘Stand Alone’ stories, and Golden Thread posts!The Lake and Shed Conversations about the Harry Potter Novels and Extras* Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s StoneNick discusses Hogsmeade Comprehensive School, as Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry should be properly called, and John explains the ten different genres that Rowling uses in Philosopher’s Stone* Harry Potter and the Chamber of SecretsJohn explores the Freudian parallels that Rowling paints into Chamber of Secrets, and Nick talks about her oldest, and probably best friend Sean Harris, the inspiration for Ron Weasley.* Harry Potter and the Prisoner of AzkabanNick shares the London institution of the (k)night bus. Part drunk carriage, part dormitory for the homeless in foul weather, zig-zaging across London between midnight and five in the morning. John shares the Parallel Series Idea (PSI) and compare Prisoner of Azkaban with Robert Galbraith’s Career of Evil.* Harry Potter and the Goblet of FireNick talks about the trip Rowling made as a teenager to Cornwall as a young woman in which some Quidditch World Cup camping may have been involved and about her core beliefs about bigotry and prejudice. John reviews Rowling’s tagging Goblet as a “crucial” and “pivotal” part of the seven book series and introduces how the ‘story turn’ in a ring composition reflects the beginning and end of the story.* Harry Potter and the Order of the PhoenixNick talks about the darkest period in Jo Rowling’s life, namely, her return to the UK from Portugal as a single mother in Edinburgh. With Order of the Phoenix in full nigredo mode John talks literary alchemy.* Harry Potter and the Half-Blood PrinceNick reveals the real life model for Severus Snape, Rowling’s Chemistry teacher at Wydean Comprehensive, and his remarkable story and melancholy end. John ...
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    1 h et 41 min
  • The Hallmarked Man's Mythological Template

    The Hallmarked Man's Mythological Template
    Sep 25 2025
    Url to TweetNick Jeffery and John Granger focus their Hallmarked Man Week Three conversation around the mythological content of Strike 8, a subject prompted by Rowling’s 8 September tweet above. They briefly review the author’s background in mythology, from her study in school to her use of it in Harry Potter, Fantastic Beasts, and Cormoran Strike. John explains the relationship of myth with Rowling’s ‘triple play’ combination of Shed tools and her ‘G-spot’ Lake and Shed wizardry that has enchanted readers for the last 25 years.The heart of this week’s conversation, though, is John’s work since 2021 in explaining the centrality of the myth of ‘Cupid and Psyche’ to the Cormoran Strike series. Nick and John discuss its role in understanding the otherwise mysterious Hallmarked Man, especially the murder of Tyler Powell and the imprisonment of Sapphire Neagle, the various trials of Psyche in the myth and correspondences with Robin’s agonies, and the critical distinction between ‘Eros’ and ‘Anteros’ as it plays out in the lives and relationships of Cormoran and Robin. John theorizes that the Ramsay Silver murder in the vault had to take place where it does, Strike’s location “necessity,” not for any logical reason but for a profoundly allegorical one.Hogwarts Professor is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.It’s a relatively brief conversation, but to get the importance of ‘Cupid and Psyche’ — and Rowling is either hat-tipping, confirming sans acknowledgement, or having some fun about John’s exegesis of this myth — there is a lot of material on the subject to read! Enjoy the review or first reading of this material via the links provided and let us know what you think in the comment boxes below.Paid subscribers to Hogwarts Professor have already received an only-in-book-form essay I wrote about the mythological template of Harry Potter, Paul Diel’s treatment of the Eros and Psyche myth per ‘Banalization’ and ‘Sublimation,’ and their invitations to a Q&A session about Hallmarked Man. If you’re a free rather than a paid subscriber, please consider upgrading that subscription to join the Hogwarts Professor Moderator Backchannels!Referenced ‘Cupid and Psyche’ Posts:Rowling Points to Myth of Cupid and Psyche in order to Console Strike Fans Disappointed with Hallmarked Man (8 September 2025, Nick Jeffery)Nick shares the context of Rowling’s tweet (fan disappointment!) and the background information about the illustration she chose for it.The Most Pleasant and Delectable Tale of the Marriage of Cupid and Psyche (Apuleius)A translation of the Silver Age Latin tale from Apuleius’ Golden Ass.A Mythological Key to Cormoran Strike? The Myth of Eros, Psyche, and Venus (22 April 2021, John Granger)The first post to discuss Rowling’s use of this specific myth within Cormoran Strike, it is essential reading and comes in four parts:* a discussion of Rowling’s stated beliefs about the soul and how it is the focus of her story-telling,* a review of her psychological artistry in Potter and the post Potter novels and screenplays,* a synopsis of the Eros and Psyche myth, and* a point to point look at the parallels in the story thus far with speculation about novels to come.Robin’s Two Perfumes: The Meaning of Philosychos and Narciso (9 June 2021, John Granger)The names of Robin’s baseline perfume, Philosychos, and the one she and Strike choose at story’s end, Narciso, both point less to the bedroom than to Robin’s allegorical, psychological, and mythological role as Psyche in the series.Erich Neumann in his Amor and Psyche: The Psychic Development of the Feminine describes this discipline as a “prohibition against pity” which “signifies Psyche’s struggle against the feminine nature.” …Psyche’s last trial involves her having to confront death, a “marriage” to which she was condemned as a sacrifice at the story’s start, a meeting she can only survive by transcending her feminine qualities of nurturing and pity. She must become, if only temporarily, a narcissist to pass through Hades and return to the world of the Sun and to Cupid. The myth, in Jungian lights, is about her transcending the accidental self, here her feminine and sexual relation to Eros or Cupid, for “ego-stability” leading to “individuation,” ascent to the greater, immortal Self.Robin as resident psychologist and loving soul is the Psyche-cipher of the Strike mysteries. She differs from the relatively passive Human Beauty of the myth in her active and determined “struggle against the feminine nature,” her “What. I. Do!” She not only wrestles with her desires for domesticity and maternity in her thinking but stands up to Strike-Cupid in their Valentine’s Day Street Fight and demands his respect or at least more considerate behavior. But she is still struggling with her...
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