Harry Potter is
a series of seven fantasy novels written by British author J. K. Rowling. The books chronicle the adventures of the adolescent
wizard Harry Potter, together with Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, his friends from the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and
Wizardry. The central story arc concerns Harry's struggle against the evil wizard Lord Voldemort, who killed Harry's parents
in his quest to conquer the wizarding world and subjugate non-magical (Muggle) people to his rule. Several successful derivative
films, video games and other themed merchandise have been based upon the series.
The novels revolve
around Harry Potter, an orphan who discovers that he is a wizard. Wizard ability is inborn, but children are sent to wizarding
school to learn the magical skills necessary to succeed in the wizarding world. Harry is invited to attend the boarding school
called Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Each book chronicles one year in Harry's life, and most of the events take
place at Hogwarts. As he struggles through adolescence, Harry learns to overcome many magical, social and emotional hurdles.
|
other books
Rowling has expanded
the Harry Potter universe with several short books produced for various charities. In 2001, she released Fantastic Beasts
and Where to Find Them and Quidditch Through the Ages. Proceeds from the sale of these two books benefitted the charity Comic
Relief. In 2007, Rowling composed seven handwritten copies of The Tales of Beedle the Bard, a collection of fairy tales that
is featured in the final novel, one of which was auctioned to raise money for the Children's High Level Group, a fund for
mentally disabled children in poor countries. The book was published internationally on 4 December 2008. Rowling
also wrote an 800-word prequel in 2008 as part of a fundraiser organised by the bookseller Waterstones.
|