The series about a bespectacled boy-wizard with a tragic past and a potentially heroic future that began in 1997 with "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" has become one of the most successful book publishing sensations of all time, credited with turning millions of young people into avid readers. J.K. Rowling, the author, created multi-layered plots with a lively cast of characters performing an array of magical feats against the overarching theme of good versus evil.
The seven-book series — one volume for each of Harry's years at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry — culminated at 12:01 a.m. on July 21, 2007, when "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows," the final installment, was released. This final volume became the fastest-selling book in history, with more than 11 million copies sold during the first 24 hours in three markets alone.
The book series, which had 121.5 million copies in print in the United States and 325 million worldwide prior to the release of the seventh book, has also spawned a whole industry of Harry Potter audio books, collectibles and costumes. As a result, Ms. Rowling, a single mother when she started writing the series, is now one of the richest women in Britain.
The books have resonated for children and adults alike and spawned a highly successful film series, as well. The film version of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" was split into two movies. The first party was launched in 2010 and the second is scheduled for summer 2011. The Harry Potter film series, with the part of Harry Potter played by Daniel Radcliffe, exceeds $4.5 billion in international box office.
In June 2010, Universal Orlando opened the Wizarding World of Harry Potter theme park, welcoming visitors to explore Hogwarts Castle, buy Quidditch equipment and drink Butterbeer. The so-called "theme park within a theme park" is a 20-acre addition to the Islands of Adventure property and was promoted as faithful to the visual landscapes of the Harry Potter films produced by Warner Brothers, which licensed the rights to Universal after a flirtation with the Walt Disney Company.
Never mind long lines for rides inside the park; there are waits of up to two hours just to enter the Ollivanders merchandise shop, where staffers struggle to keep the shelves stocked with Potter-phernalia. The must-have Florida trinket these days is not a set of Mickey Mouse ears. It’s a $30 wizard’s wand.
