Harry Potter
Origins and Creation
"Harry Potter" is a series of fantasy novels written by British author Joanne Rowling. The series, named after its main character, Harry Potter, was first conceived during a delayed train journey from Manchester to London in 1990. Rowling has stated that the idea of Harry Potter "simply fell into her head" and that she had been writing almost continuously ever since. The author spent several years outlining the seven-book series before she began writing the first novel, 'Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone'.
Plot Overview
The Harry Potter series is set in a magical, parallel universe to the non-magical (or "Muggle") world inhabited by the series' main character, Harry Potter. The series begins with Harry's life with his abusive relatives, the Dursleys, who have raised him since the death of his parents, Lily and James Potter. On his eleventh birthday, Harry learns from a mysterious visitor, Hagrid, that he is actually a wizard and has been accepted to Hogwarts.
As Harry begins his magical education, he learns about his parents' mysterious death, the dark wizard who killed them, Voldemort, and the reason for his own fame in the wizarding world. Harry, along with his friends Hermione and Ron, faces numerous adventures throughout the series, including the discovery of a stone that grants immortality, a secret chamber within the school, and a dangerous prisoner who has escaped from Azkaban Prison.
Main Characters
The series primarily revolves around Harry Potter, a young wizard who discovers his magical heritage on his eleventh birthday. Harry is known in the wizarding world for being the only person to have survived an attack by Voldemort, resulting in the dark wizard's downfall.
Harry's two best friends at Hogwarts are Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger. Ron, one of the youngest in a large wizarding family, provides comic relief and loyal friendship throughout the series. Hermione, a Muggle-born witch, is known for her intelligence and quick thinking, often helping Harry and Ron out of difficult situations.
Other significant characters include Albus Dumbledore, the headmaster of Hogwarts; Severus Snape, the Potions Master with ambiguous loyalties; and Lord Voldemort, the series' main antagonist who aims to overthrow the Ministry of Magic and subjugate Muggles and Muggle-borns to pure-blood wizards.
Themes and Symbolism
The Harry Potter series explores numerous themes, including the value of friendship and self-sacrifice, the effects of prejudice, and the corrupting effects of power and ambition. The series also explores the concept of death, with Harry's journey often mirroring the stages of grief.
Reception and Legacy
The Harry Potter series has been translated into 80 languages and sold over 500 million copies worldwide, making it the best-selling book series in history. The series has also been made into a successful film franchise, a two-part play, and has inspired several spin-off books and films, contributing to the larger Wizarding World franchise.
