On this day in 1965, near Bristol, England, Joanne Rowling, widely known as J.K. Rowling, was born. She is the acclaimed author and creator of the beloved Harry Potter book series.
Starting in the late 1990s, Rowling’s seven Harry Potter novels achieved global success, with over 400 million copies sold and translations into more than 60 languages. This literary phenomenon led to a series of films, video games, and various merchandise, propelling Rowling into the ranks of the wealthiest individuals in the entertainment industry.
Rowling pursued her education at the University of Exeter in England, focusing on French. Afterwards, she worked with the human-rights organization Amnesty International in London and served as a language instructor in Portugal. The inspiration for Harry Potter struck Rowling during a train journey from Manchester to London in 1990, leading her to write the first book that very night. She completed the manuscript while residing in Edinburgh, Scotland, where she faced financial difficulties as a single mother and dealt with depression. Despite numerous rejections from publishers, she eventually secured a book deal with Bloomsbury Publishing in August 1996.
The inaugural Harry Potter book was published in Great Britain in 1997 under the name Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. Its release occurred in the United States the following year under the new title Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. The captivating tale of the bespectacled boy wizard Harry, along with his friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, their adventures at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and Harry’s confrontations with the nefarious Lord Voldemort enchanted readers of all ages.
On November 16, 2001, the first Harry Potter movie, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, premiered in America and turned into a massive box-office hit. Directed by Chris Columbus (Home Alone, Mrs. Doubtfire), it featured British child actor Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter, Rupert Grint as Ron, and Emma Watson as Hermione. The film and its sequels boasted a cast of renowned actors, including Ralph Fiennes, Maggie Smith, Alan Rickman, Emma Thompson, Richard Harris, and Gary Oldman.
The seventh and final Harry Potter novel, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, made its debut in U.S. bookstores on July 21, 2007, as per Rowling’s initial plan. Like its predecessors, it is set to be adapted into a film for release in 2010. So far, the Harry Potter film series has become the most financially successful franchise in history, surpassing both Star Wars and James Bond.