'Harry Potter' creator J.K. Rowling to speak at Harvard

January 17, 2008 01:48 PM Email| Comments (0)| Text size – +

(AP Photo)

The creator of Harry signed a book in New Orleans in October.

By Linda K. Wertheimer, Globe Staff

Harvard University loves to brag that its freshman dining hall is the spitting image of the gothic-style Great Hall in the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Today, the school is boasting about another Harry Potter-related coup: J.K. Rowling, author of the best-selling novels, will be the main speaker at this June's commencement.

Rowling stands out as one of the few popular culture stars that Harvard has invited to speak at its commencement during the last 50 years. Politicians, business leaders, and foreign dignitaries are the usual invitees. John Lithgow, an actor and author who is a Harvard alum, was an exception when he gave the graduation speech in 2005.

"Harvard isn't exactly Hogwarts, but I'm sure that her visit with us next June will be a moment of magic for J.K. Rowling's many admirers across the University," Harvard President Drew Faust said in a statement today.

Rowling's seven Harry Potter novels were written as children's books but became favorites among adults as well. The British-born author will be speaking in friendly territory: last summer, Harvard Square was transformed into Hogwarts Square to usher in the seventh and final installment of Rowling's Potter books, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows."

Bill Gates, the chairman of Microsoft Corp., was last year's commencement speaker. Past speakers include Kofi Annan, the United Nations secretary-general; Alan Greenspan, chairman of the Federal Reserve; Madeleine Albright, a US secretary of state; and Albert Gore Jr. when he was vice president. John F. Kennedy , then a US Senator, spoke at the 1956 graduation.