The entire Harry Potter series takes place between 1991 and 1998, with the exception of the opening chapter of the first book, which takes place on November 1, 1981, and the epilogue of the seventh book, which takes place on September 1, 2017.
Its timeline can be a bit confusing, as the movies were released from 2001 to 2011, and the book was published from 1997 to 2007. J.K. Rowling's descriptions of the wizarding world are based on centuries-old mythology. For instance, Hogwarts was founded by the original four founders, who created Hogwarts' four houses around the 10th century, nearly a thousand years before Harry Potter was even born.
To clear the fog surrounding Harry Potter's timeline, keep in mind that he was born on July 31, 1980, and his parents were murdered by Voldemort on October 31, 1981. On his 11th birthday in 1991, Harry received the infamous letter from Hogwarts, and thus the journey of "The Boy Who Lived" begins. The conclusion and epilogue are the most important dates. The conclusion was on May 2, 1998, and the epilogue is on September 1, 2007, 19 years later. The significance is that in the last scene, Harry Potter defeats the dark wizard Lord Voldemort, saving Muggles and the rest of the wizarding world from further exploitation.
At the age of nearly 37, Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermoine Granger can be seen in Kings Cross Station, London, seeing off their children to the Hogwarts Express. The trio at the Hogwarts Express is where everything started and where it comes to an end.
How many Harry Potter novels are there?
The seven-book fantasy series, Harry Potter, written by British author J. K. Rowling, is about a young wizard named Harry Potter and his friends, Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley, who are all students at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and are the protagonists of the novels.
The series was first released in English by Scholastic Press in the United States and Bloomsbury in the United Kingdom. Grafica Veneta in Italy prints the versions that are distributed throughout the world. The Harry Potter universe explores a wide range of themes and incorporates a wide range of cultural meanings and references.
It is a series of many genres, including fantasy, drama, coming-of-age fiction, and the British school story (which includes elements of mystery, thriller, adventure, horror, and romance). The primary theme, in Rowling's opinion, is death. Prejudice, corruption, and madness are some of the series' other central themes.
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, the first book in the series, was published on June 26, 1997. Since then, the books have enjoyed enormous popularity, favorable reviews, and financial success all over the world. They are widely regarded as foundational works of contemporary literature and have drawn a sizable adult readership in addition to younger readers.
The books are the best-selling book series in history as of April 2023, having sold more than 600 million copies globally. They come in 85 different languages. The final installment sold approximately 2.7 million copies in the United Kingdom and 8.3 million copies in the United States within twenty-four hours of its release, making the last four books the fastest-selling books in history.
What is the plot of Harry Potter, in brief?
The main plot revolves around Harry's battle with Lord Voldemort, a dark wizard who wants to become immortal, overthrow the Ministry of Magic, and rule over both wizards and Muggles (non-magical people).
In Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, the first book, Harry lives with his aunt, uncle, and cousin Dudley in a cupboard under the stairs. The Dursley family believes themselves to be completely normal, but when Harry turns 11 years old, he learns that he is a wizard.
A half-giant named Hagrid approaches him and extends an invitation for him to enroll at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Harry learns that the evil wizard Lord Voldemort killed his parents when he was a baby. When Voldemort tried to kill Harry, his curse rebounded, and Harry lived with a scar on his forehead that resembles lightning.
Lord Voldemort seizes control of the Ministry of Magic in the final book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. The Deathly Hallows, fabled objects that enable control over death, are revealed to Harry, Ron, and Hermione. After learning that he is a Horcrux, Harry gives himself up to Voldemort and is killed, only to be revived. He confronts Voldemort and kills him as the defenders of Hogwarts succeed in their defense.
What accolades did the Harry Potter series receive?
Since the initial release of Philosopher's Stone, the Harry Potter series has received numerous honors, including the inaugural Whitbread Children's Book of the Year Award (1999), the WHSmith Book of the Year (2006), a platinum award from the Whitaker Gold and Platinum Book Awards (2001), three Nestlé Smarties Book Prizes (1997–1999), and two Scottish Arts Council Book Awards (1999 and 2001).
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire was awarded the Hugo Award for Best Novel in 2001. Among other honors are a commendation for the 1997 Carnegie Medal, a shortlisting for the 1998 Guardian Children's Award, and numerous mentions on the notable books, editors' choices, and best books lists of the American Library Association, The New York Times, Chicago Public Library, and Publishers Weekly.
Along with James Bond and Sherlock Holmes, sociologist Andrew Blake dubbed Harry Potter a British pop culture icon in 2002. Four of the books were listed among the top 24 on the 2003 BBC Big Read list of the UK's most popular books. According to a 2004 study conducted in San Diego County, California, elementary schools frequently read aloud from books in the series.
The U.S. National Education Association included the series in its "Teachers' Top 100 Books for Children" list based on an online survey conducted in 2007. Time Magazine selected Rowling as a runner-up for its 2007 Person of the Year award, praising her for inspiring her audience on social, moral, and political fronts. In a 2012 survey conducted by School Library Journal, three of the books—The Sorcerer's Stone, Prisoner of Azkaban, and Goblet of Fire—were ranked among the "Top 100 Chapter Books," or children's novels, of all time.
In 2012, a 100-foot-tall rendition of Lord Voldemort appeared during the opening ceremony of the London Summer Olympics as part of a segment highlighting British cultural icons. The Harry Potter series was included on the BBC's list of the 100 most influential books in November 2019.
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