<P> Several commentators have noted that personal identity is a strong theme in the book, and that it addresses issues of racism through the treatment of non-magical, non-human and non-living characters . Some commentators regard the diary as a warning against uncritical acceptance of information from sources whose motives and reliability cannot be checked . Institutional authority is portrayed as self - serving and incompetent . The book is also known to have some connections to the sixth novel of the series, Harry Potter and the Half - Blood Prince . </P> <P> The film adaptation of the novel, released in 2002, became (at that time) the seventh highest - grossing film ever and received generally favourable reviews . Video games loosely based on Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets were also released for several platforms, and most obtained favourable reviews . </P> <P> In 1992, while the Dursley family--his uncle Vernon, aunt Petunia, and cousin Dudley--entertain a potential client for Vernon's drill - manufacturing company Grunnings, Harry Potter reminisces upon the events of the previous year, including his enrolment in Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and confrontation with Lord Voldemort (the Dark wizard whose reign seemingly ended when he killed Harry's parents and attempted but failed to kill Harry himself), and laments the fact that the best friends he made at the institution have not written to him, even for his birthday, on which the novel opens . </P> <P> Just as Harry is starting to anticipate his return to Hogwarts, an impish but loyal house - elf named Dobby arrives out of nowhere to warn Harry against the decision to return to the wizarding world, citing grave danger as the reason, revealing that he had been intercepting Harry's letters from his friends, and inciting Harry's gravest punishment yet when he smashes a dessert crafted by Petunia for the dinner party and frames it on Harry himself . Ron Weasley arrives with his twin brothers Fred and George to perform a jailbreak in their father Arthur's enchanted Ford Anglia and to deposit him at their family home the Burrow for the remainder of his holidays . Harry and the rest of the Weasleys--mother Molly, third eldest son Percy, and daughter Ginny (who has a crush on Harry)--travel to Diagon Alley, where they are reunited with Hermione Granger and introduced to Lucius Malfoy, father of Harry's school nemesis Draco, and Gilderoy Lockhart, a conceited autobiographer who has been appointed Defence Against the Dark Arts professor after the death of Professor Quirrel . As Harry and Ron plan to depart with the rest for Hogwarts School, the barrier within King's Cross station that separates Muggles from wizards refuses to allow them pass, forcing them to fly Arthur's car to the school, where they crash into a sentient willow tree on the grounds . </P>

When does harry potter and the chamber of secrets take place