Rowling recalls:Īt one third of the way into writing, Stone had this huge success which was totally unexpected. Imagine the pressure that Rowling must have felt to make Chamber of Secrets as – or more – awesome than the first book. Then, suddenly, your world changes entirely: you're hugely famous (and rich), not only in your own country but around the world. So, picture for yourself a woman working in relative peace on a new book project. Never in my wildest imaginings had I pictured my face in the papers – particularly captioned, as they almost all were, with the words "penniless single mother." It is hard to be defined by the most difficult part of your life. The stakes seemed to have gone up a lot, and I attracted a lot of publicity in Britain for which I was utterly unprepared. Once Harry appeared on the US market in 1998, Rowling became an international celebrity.
Following the runaway success of the first Harry Potter book, US publishers launched a bidding war involving six-figure dollar amounts for the rights to bring the Harry Potter novels stateside ( source). Rowling was in the middle of writing Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets when the first Harry Potter novel ( Harry Potter and the Philosopher's/Sorcerer's Stone) came out in Britain in 1997. I must have read my battered old copies of the Harry Potter novels hundreds of times, and I still get excited, frustrated, nervous, and upset as I read them… even though I know the story so well.Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets IntroductionĪuthor J.K. Rowling’s creation continues to delight and amaze new fans every day, with fellow authors and actors applauding her stories and the deep emotion they have captured. One thing is for certain, and that is that the profound effect of the Harry Potter series, whether in print or on screen. Playing such huge roles undoubtedly changed their lives, in some ways for the better, and others worse. While many fans have imagined what it would be like to walk the halls of Hogwarts, for Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson, it was a reality that occupied a considerable part of their childhood.
“All was well.” – Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Bonus Quotes for Fans So whether your love of Harry Potter comes from reading the books, seeing the movies, or a bit of both, we’ve put together a list of the most magical Harry Potter quotes from each. The trials and lessons faced by Harry Potter and his best friends, challenge us and force us to contemplate the big questions about life, love, friendship, loyalty, and destiny. Whether it’s the thrill of shopping for school supplies in Diagon Alley, boarding the Hogwarts Express, or attending a potions class, Rowling brings us into the world of Harry Potter and makes us feel like we belong. Rowling one of the richest and most successful authors of all time.įrom Hogwarts to Hogsmeade, Platform 9 and 3/4 and The Burrow, Rowling has created a world that is wonderful and engaging because it meshes so well with our own. Separately, the novels and the movies have grossed over $7.7 billion each, making J.K. It has amassed a cult following of loyal “muggles” (non-magic folk) both online and in real life.
What was once a figment of an author’s imagination has become a series of novels, eight box-office hit movies, and a number of major attractions (you can go to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter in America, Japan, Europe and beyond). Just 500 copies of Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone were printed, but it was the beginning of a worldwide phenomenon that would fascinate both children and adults for decades. On 26 June 1997, an unknown Scottish author named Joanne Rowling released her first novel. If make a purchase through these links, we receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Some of the links in this post may be affiliate links.