The Books That Lived:J.K. Rowling and the Magic of Storytelling

This essay addresses the question of “what makes a bestseller?” It seeks to come to a better understanding of the various factors that contribute significantly to the outstanding popular appeal and commercial success of bestsellers, using J.K. Rowling’s fiction as a case study. The reception of her work in quality media allows an exploration of Rowling’s phenomenal success with the Harry Potter series, and invites a comparison with the success of her next two novels, The Casual Vacancy (2012) and The Cuckoo’s Calling (2013), both written for adult readers. The context that the essay draws on is provided by literary theories about bestsellers and their features, rather than the commercial/marketing context of the bestseller. Also commenting on the influence of reviews on bestselling success, and the contested literary status of bestsellers, the essay hopes to shed some light on what constitutes “the magic of storytelling” in bestseller success