Does Harry Dresden of the Dresden Files book series wear a hat?

I know he wears a hat on the cover of every book in the series. But, does it ever actually mention him wearing a hat in the books?

Answer

The publisher is responsible for the hat. The logic was evidently 'Wizard + P.I. = Duster, Staff, Fedora.' The fact that this contradicts the book is a non-issue for them - cover art is more a marketing item than anything else and the author has little to no say in it.

Jim has mentioned this in Q&A Sessions:

I INTRODUCED THE NOVELS TO MY FIANCEE WHO IMMEDIATELY CONSUMED ALL OF THEM [IN THE SPACE OF A WEEK?] AND AT THE END OF IT SHE LOOKED AT ME AND SHE SAID "I REALLY LOVE THESE NOVELS BUT - WHY IN THE COVER ART DOES HE WEAR A HAT?

What's with Dresden's hat in the cover art is the question - the answer to that is the art department thought it was a good idea. They thought it was the perfect visual shorthand for wizard detective - he's got a wizard staff and he's got a detective fedora - wizard/detective right there. So that's what they wanted and that's what they got. And they said - Jim, you approve of this -right?!?! [Laughter]

Word is the Dresden Files cover artist (Chris McGrath) has become a fan of the books after doing the first few covers, and understands that the hat is contradictory. At this point it's a bit of an in-joke for fans, and the line in Changes was a reference to the covers. Unfortunately the Jim Butcher forums where I read this has had an upgrade (or crash, or something) and none of the old topics that had quotes regarding this are still around. There are plenty of un-cited comments about it though.

Comments

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