Harry Potter

Author Country Language Genre Publisher Published Media type J. K. Rowling United Kingdom English Fantasy, young-adult fiction, mystery, thriller, Bildungsroman, coming of age Bloomsbury Publishing (UK) Arthur A. Levine Books (US) Raincoast Books (CAN) 29 June 1997 21 July 2007 Print (hardcover and paperback) Audiobook

Harry Potter is a series of seven fantasy novels written by the British author J. K. Rowling. The books chronicle the adventures of the adolescent wizard Harry Potter and his best friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, all of whom are students at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The main story arc concerns Harry's quest to overcome the evil dark wizard Lord Voldemort, whose aim is to conquer the wizarding world and subjugate non-magical people, and who seeks to destroy all those who stand in his way, such as Harry's parents. A series of many genres, including fantasy and coming of age (with elements of mystery, thriller, and romance), it has many cultural meanings and references.[4][5][6][7] According to Rowling, the main theme is death,[8] although it is primarily considered to be a work of children's literature. There are also many other themes in the series, such as love and prejudice.[9] English-language versions of the books are published by Bloomsbury in the United Kingdom, Scholastic Press in the United States, Allen & Unwin in Australia, and Raincoast Books in Canada. Through 2010, the first six books have been made into films by Warner Bros. Pictures; it is the highest grossing film series of all time. The seventh book has been split into two films: Part 1 was released on 19 November 2010 and the series finale is currently scheduled for release on 15 July 2011.[10] The series also originated much tie-in merchandise, making the Harry Potter brand worth in excess of $15 billion.[11]

The novels revolve around Harry Potter, an orphan who discovers at the age of eleven that he is a wizard, living within the ordinary world of non-magical or Muggle people.[12] Wizard ability is inborn, but magical children like Harry are invited to attend wizarding school to learn the magical skills necessary to succeed in the wizarding world.[13] Harry becomes a student at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and it is here that most of the events of the novels take place, as Harry develops through his adolescence, learning to overcome the problems that

face him, magical, social and emotional, including ordinary teenage challenges such as friendships and exams, and the greater challenge of preparing himself for the confrontation that lies ahead.[14]

Themes
According to Rowling, a major theme in the series is death: "My books are largely about death. They open with the death of Harry's parents. There is Voldemort's obsession with conquering death and his quest for immortality at any price, the goal of anyone with magic. I so understand why Voldemort wants to conquer death. We're all frightened of it."[8] Academics and journalists have developed many other interpretations of themes in the books, some more complex than others, and some including political subtexts. Themes such as normality, oppression, survival, and overcoming imposing odds have all been considered as prevalent throughout the series.[42] Similarly, the theme of making one's way through adolescence and "going over one's most harrowing ordealsand thus coming to terms with them" has also been considered.[43] Rowling has stated that the books comprise "a prolonged argument for tolerance, a prolonged plea for an end to bigotry" and that also pass on a message to "question authority and... not assume that the establishment or the press tells you all of the truth".[44] While the books could be said to comprise many other themes, such as power/abuse of power, love, prejudice, and free choice, they are, as J. K. Rowling states, "deeply entrenched in the whole plot"; the writer prefers to let themes "grow organically", rather than sitting down and consciously attempting to impart such ideas to her readers.[9] Along the same lines is the everpresent theme of adolescence, in whose depiction Rowling has been purposeful in acknowledging her characters' sexualities and not leaving Harry, as she put it, "stuck in a state of permanent pre-pubescence".[45] Rowling said that, to her, the moral significance of the tales seems "blindingly obvious". The key for her was the choice between what is right and what is easy, "because that ... is how tyranny is started, with people being apathetic and taking the easy route and suddenly finding themselves in deep trouble."[46]