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The Harry Potter books are a series of fantasy novels by British writer J. K. Rowling. Since the release of the first novel, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (retitled Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone in the United States) in 1997, the books have gained immense popularity and commercial success worldwide, spawning films, video games, and a wealth of other items.
The six books to date have collectively sold more than 300 million copies[1][2] and have been translated into more than 63 languages.[3] The first volume has been translated into Latin and even Ancient Greek,[4] making it the longest work in that language since the novels of Heliodorus of Emesa in the 3rd century AD.[5] Due to the tremendous success of the novels, Rowling has become the richest writer in literary history.[6] English language versions of the books are published by Bloomsbury in the United Kingdom and internationally, and Scholastic Press in the United States, Allen & Unwin in Australia and Raincoast Books in Canada.
A large portion of the narrative takes place in Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and focuses on Harry Potter's struggles against the dark wizard Lord Voldemort. At the same time, the books explore the themes of friendship, ambition, choice, prejudice, courage, growing up, love, moral responsibility, and the complexities of death, and are set against the expansive backdrop of a hidden magical world with its own complex history, diverse inhabitants, unique culture, and parallel societies.
Six of the seven planned books have been published, and the seventh, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, [7] will be released on 21 July 2007[8]. The most recently published book, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, was issued in an English language version on 16 July 2005.
The first four books have been made into very successful motion pictures by Warner Bros. The fifth, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix began filming in February 2006, and is scheduled for release on 13 July 2007, eight days before the final book is due out.
圖片參考:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/2/2c/Harry_Potter_and_the_Philosopher%27s_Stone.jpg/200px-Harry_Potter_and_the_Philosopher%27s_Stone.jpg
圖片參考:
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Cover of the first book in J. K. Rowling's series: Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (British/Canadian/Australian/Irish/ Japanese/Taiwanese/African version)
Story
Plot summary
The story opens with the unrestrained celebration of a normally-secretive wizarding world which for many years had been terrorised by Lord Voldemort. The previous night, Voldemort had discovered the refuge of the hidden Potter family, and killed Lily and James Potter. However, when he turned his wand against their infant son, Harry, his killing curse rebounded upon him. His body destroyed, Voldemort became a powerless spirit, seeking refuge in the undisturbed places of the world; Harry, meanwhile, was left with a distinctive lightning bolt scar on his forehead, the only physical sign of Voldemort's curse. Harry's mysterious defeat of Voldemort results in him being dubbed "The Boy Who Lived" by the wizarding world.
The orphaned Harry Potter is subsequently raised by his cruel, non-magical relatives, the Dursleys, in ignorance of his magical heritage. However, as his eleventh birthday approaches, Harry has his first contact with the magical world when he receives letters from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, which are stolen from him by his Aunt and Uncle before he has a chance to read them. On his eleventh birthday he is informed that he is in fact a wizard and has been invited to attend Hogwarts. He is told this by Hagrid, the gamekeeper of Hogwarts. Each book chronicles one year in Harry's life at Hogwarts, where he learns to use magic and brew potions. Harry also learns to overcome many magical, social, and emotional obstacles as he struggles through his adolescence and Voldemort's rise to power.
For a detailed synopsis of the novels, see the relevant article for each book.