by

J. K. Rowling

Harry Potter has undoubtedly become the most popular character in British fiction in the last few years.  Created by Joanne Kathleen Rowling, the first book in the series: Harry Potter and the philosopher’s stone came out in 1997 to meet an immediate success and it won The British Book Award ‘Children's Book of the Year’. It soon received enthusiastic reviews around the world.

The book tells the story of a ten-year-old boy who lost his parents at being born (same as Oliver Twist) because they were killed by the sinister Voldemort who also tried to kill Harry but only managed to leave a scar on his forehead.

  Harry lives with his uncle’s family and he is very unhappy, because they do not love him and he is tormented by his cousin Dudley and forced to sleep in a cupboard under the stairs. Harry’s life will change when he is admited in Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

The book was soon followed by other Harry Potter tales: The Chamber of Secrets, The Prisoner of Azkaban, the Goblet of Fire, The order of phoenix and finally The Half-blood Prince.

The publication of Harry Potter’s books is always preceded by long queues of children waiting impatiently and they are sold by the millions.

Why is Harry Potter so popular? It is certain that films, videogames and merchandising of all kinds have contributed to extend Harry’s popularity all over the world but the story  is also remarkable for its combination of reality and fantastical elements, medieval superstition and technology!

Everything is possible in a world of magic that in certain ways is not so different from our own: The latest models of flying brooms are sold as cars or motorbikes could be and people go to watch Quidditch games, the same way as we watch football, even Hogwarts resembles in many ways a British boarding-school of high standing.