Harry Potter. A flash of an idea on a train, then a book, well 7 books, 8 movies, and theme parks. Who could’ve known that a series of books about an orphaned boy could become a household name, loved by most and known by all? I am sure J.K. Rowling, now known as one of the wealthiest authors in the world, had no idea when she started to put her ideas to paper. On a napkin? No, not according to her interview on 60 Minutes. She noted that while she may have once put a few notes on a napkin while on a train, she didn’t write any of the books on napkins.
How Did It Start?
JK. Rowling, in an interview with ITN in Nocolson’s Cafe in Edinburgh, says that the book came to her while riding on a train. Her words were “I was just sitting on the train staring out of the window and the idea just fell out of nowhere. It was the purest stroke of inspiration I’ve ever had in my life.” While she was writing and trying to get Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone published, she was also being trained as a teacher and gave birth to her first daughter. She did these things while writing all 7 books in longhand and then typing them into a computer.
The 7 books were written and published over a span of 17 years, from the first idea to the last published book in the Harry Potter Series, 2007. Eight movies in the Harry Potter Series plus three in the Fantastic Beasts Series (it was mis-rumored that there was going to be five) is a very large franchise coming out of what started as an idea on a train.
The Books and the Movies
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We’ve all at least heard the story of Harry Potter. Many of us, over 600 million people in 85 languages, have read the books. The story of a boy whose parents were killed “in a car crash” when he was a baby and comes to live with his Aunt, Uncle, and Cousin, the Dursleys. Is that all the story is about? No. What about the magic and mysticism? Well, no, that’s not it either. If you’ve read the first few pages, maybe. Oh, by the way, 61% of all Americans have seen at least one movie.
There is so much depth to this story. It addresses family, friends, coping, heartbreak, deceit, courage, character, racism, slavery, stereotypes, and prejudices including socio-economic, racial, sexism, and so much more. The books address so many current social issues in a way that is both enjoyable and educational.
Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (Sorcerer’s Stone) (Book: 1997, Movie: 2001)
In book one, we meet several characters who are present throughout all 7 books, starting with not only Harry but Professor McGonagall, Professor Dumbledore, Hagrid, Mr. and Mrs. Dursley as well as their son, Harry’s cousin, Dudley Dursley. Upon the death of his parents, not in a car accident, Harry is left to be raised with his Aunt and Uncle as a safe place away from all of the publicity that his parent’s death would plague him with. Professor Dumbledore admits that he would be better off growing up without everyone knowing who is he, without the fame of his situation, until he can handle it.
Cut to 10 years later, Harry is 10 and living in the storage space under the stairs. Great family, right? The household isn’t rich, but comfortable. However, Harry is treated like Cinderella, serving the people who are supposed to be his family. Skipping ahead without giving too much away, to the horror of his Aunt Petunia and Uncle Dursley, he is accepted into the school of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Hogwarts. He is eventually picked up by Hagrid and taken to his new home and new school to learn who he really is, the identity that has been hidden from him for his whole life.
Flash forward and we have Ron Weasly, Hermione Granger, Nevile Longbottom,the Weasly family, and so much more. A villain we have yet to see but have been introduced to, teachers and professors, new locations in a world as huge as all imagination, with all of the color, excitement and struggles to be expected from any amazing world-building story – and I would add even more.
In book one, we see prejudices due to socioeconomic status and race, being handed down by parents to their children. We see how a family’s love can win all and keep a family together, while wealth truly doesn’t mean everything. We see a conflicted young man start to realize that maybe he doesn’t want to be who he is expected to be. Have I started to say too much? Well, let’s move on to book 2.
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Book: 1998, Movie: 2002)
In the Chamber of Secrets, the three lead characters, Harry, Ron, and Hermione are as solid friends as they could be. There are some new characters introduced, including Dobby, along with the introduction of slavery and all of the wrongs of such a practice. I was disappointed to see that much of Dobby’s story was left out of the movie as to the book, starting from the beginning of his story, he is a large part of books 2 – 7. In fact, Hermione makes it a large part of her character in book 4 to free Dobby and all other house elves from the indentureship that they are born into, throughout history in the magical world.
The big bad continues to threaten as we learn more about his story, this time through a diary deposited into the care of Ron’s little sister, Ginny. There is trouble, there is more prejudice from Pure Blood wizards towards Muggles and Half-Bloods. Our young wizard continues to learn more about himself, as he tries to navigate the school world through the expectations of his parents, as well as his desire to have friends who are real at school (I do realize I have not yet named this character – don’t want to give too much away).
Harry continues to learn more about the world he was born into but kept from for the first 11 years of his life. Yes, Hagrid actually picked him up to get ready for school on his 11th birthday. And then there is the social climber fame-seeker at anyone’s expense, with no regard to how he affects other characters, that fortunately goes no further than the end of book 2. Oh, we also get to see the big baddy in the back of someone else’s head! Ick!
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Book: 1999, Movie: 2004)
And… insert a new bad guy that is actually a good guy. Harry’s godfather escapes from the unescapable magical prison. Harry learns more about his parents, their lives before they died, and the big baddy. Harry gets understandably overwhelmed – I mean, his godfather “killed” his parents and he thinks his father saves him from the Dementors. Along with being an orphan who now can do magic, was abused by his aunt and uncle, and really has no home other than his school and – gee, who wouldn’t be overwhelmed.
In the end, more than one life is saved, the truth comes out but the accused continues to be punished, a favorite teacher is treated poorly because parents (of students) find out who/what he is and do not approve, and Harry gets to face yet another loss. Oh, the big baddy is still the big baddy.
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Book: 2000, Movie: 2005)
At school this year, the Triwizard Tournament, which is held every five years, is being held at Hogwarts. Contestants from two other schools come to Hogwarts in order to participate in an effort of the wizarding world, to unite all magical people from around the world. Harry is not old enough to participate but his name is put into the drawing nonetheless. He ends up having to participate though he is not ready and doesn’t want to. It turns out this is a ploy to get him to the big baddy, Voldemort. This is the first time we get to see him as he is in the series, as he is brought back into life as a fully formed “human.”
This book has a sleazy reporter who tells what people want to hear, not what is true. Friendship and diligence – good will win out, eventually. Harry loses someone, again. Actually they all do. Government coverups and the costs of such. Deceit and corruption is a central theme in this one for sure.
We also really start to see the teen angst in this book and movie as the characters, Harry, Ron, and Hermione are now about 14 years old. Attraction, love maybe, friendship vs more, family, and authority are high themes this time around as well. Oh, and about half of the population does not believe Voldemort has returned, as the government coverup fights to keep control of the magical world. They do this by trying to suppress information leading to the belief that what Harry experienced was real and true.
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Book: 2003, Movie: 2007)
Now this one really gets to the political heart of things and in so many ways, this all feels so real. The book and the movie continue to get darker and darker. Much of the public, including the Magical Government, and the Ministry of Magic, continues to say that Harry and all who believe in the return of Voldemort are lying. Deaths are happening around the world to both magical people and muggles. A not-so-ancient order, the Order of the Phoenix, is reunited and working to both keep Harry and everyone else safe, as well as prove that what Harry experiences is true. New characters, good and bad.
The young man is really struggling against who his family wants him to be. Harry, Ron, and Hermione struggle to figure out what to do when no one wants them to be involved, and Dumbledore treats Harry like he doesn’t want to see him any longer, almost like he has abandoned him. We are now spending less and less time at school as there is too much to be done. There are the prophecies, Deatheaters, and the Weasley twins leave school with a bang after the Ministry of Magic plants a new “leader” at Hogwarts to control what information is being taught. She makes the school completely unbearable for everyone who is still attending.
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Book: 2005, Movie: 2009)
Things continue to evolve, or devolve, depending on how you look at it. Sides are becoming very clear and the division is finally obvious to all involved. Harry and his friends, along with Dumbledore know, sort of, what needs to be done. Our young man’s fate is sealed, and another baddy/goody’s feelings and chosen side become clear, at least until the end. And… someone key dies. I’m going to leave this movie here. Government control, despite the fact that its goal is unclear as it’s obviously not for the good of the magical or muggle world, continues.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Book: 2007, 2 Movies: 2010 and 2011)
You know, the story is told through all of the books and movies. I am going to leave this book and/or movie for you to read, watch, or both. I recommend both. Read it first if you haven’t already done so. This is not only the last, it’s also the darkest by far of them all. I find it fascinating how the ages and themes of the books and movies grow with the ages of the main characters. As the characters get older, the themes become age-appropriate and get darker, and deeper. As the characters age, the social issues covered also get darker, more real, and deeper.
Fantastic Beasts
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A second series of movies originally released in 2016, was a second movie series starting in 1926, years before the Harry Potter Franchise. While these movies were good, they didn’t do as well at the box office as the original Harry Potter movies. There were to be 5 originally, though the word is the franchise has been paused for the moment with sales of The Secrets of Dumbledore only grossing $407 million. It was considered a flop.
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016): In 1916, Newt Scamander arrives in New York City, a stop that should have been a quick beast pick up, but due to a chance meeting with a No-Maj (muggle), Jacob Kowalski, things go awry. Other characters include a very young Dumbledore as well as Gellert Grindelwald, Queenie and Tina Goldstein, Theseus Scamander, and Credence Barebone.
Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (2018): The trouble continues and moves back to London as Newt, Jacob, Dumbledore, and others work to find and stop Grindelwald from gathering pure-blood wizards to rule over all non-magical beings. We do learn a lot about Dumbledore and his relationship, starting in his teen years, with Grindelwald.
Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore (2022): The unlikely group of wizards and no-majes (muggles) work to thwart Grindelwald’s plans to rule over the non-magical world.
What All of This Did for Our World
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These books affected our world in so many ways. First, the creativity and imagination in this series changed the way that people think of children’s books. Also, these books opened up a whole new world of readers to imagination and fantasy. People who didn’t read at all read the Harry Potter series, both children and adults. Parents spend time reading these books to their children, as well as reading them for their own enjoyment. Children whose parents and teachers could not get to read at all picked up these books and read them. They got a whole group of non-readers to read.
These books gave new light to the children’s book market as well. There are more and more children’s and teen authors publishing every day. There are so many more authors as well, publishing children’s, teen, and even young adult fantasy as well, a most untapped market until relatively recently. According to Words Rated, “Fantasy and science fiction (SFF) books are a large part of book sales, generating over $590 million in the US each year. In 2021, fantasy book sales increased by 45.3% from 2020, which was the biggest increase of any genre except graphic novels. Fantasy is also one of the most popular genres in speculative fiction and has many subgenres.”
The influence of these books has also brought light to many of the social issues around our world as well, and the new generations are now working hard to fix many of the social issues covered by the characters and events in the books.
Hogwarts Legacy
Hogwart’s Legacy, a video game released originally on PlayStation in February 2023, and then released on other systems in June 2023, takes place in the late 1800s, decades before the beginning of the original Harry Potter book/movie franchise. With familiar family names throughout, you will be playing a new student who just entered Hogwarts as a fifth year, learning how to manipulate an Ancient Magic while trying to stop a Goblin Rebellion.
Unlike most witches and wizards, your character will have the ability to see traces of Ancient Magic as well as use it to their benefit. During the time of the game, rumors of a Goblin Rebellion are spreading and a mysterious corrupted force is affecting beasts and enemies alike.
The Theme Parks
On June 18th, 2010, Universal opened the first phase of what is now called the Wizarding World of Harry Potter on the Islands of Adventure. This was described as an immersive land including Hogsmeade with shops selling wizarding products and lore, along with several other attractions from the series. Since then, in 2014, Universal opened Diagon Alley, which by the way is amazing.
With the Hogwarts Express connecting Diagon Alley with Hogsmead, this now includes all of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter Orlando with its latest addition – Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure, which takes you on an exciting ride beyond the castle and into the Forbidden Forest. This experience opened in 2019.
The Orlando also includes rides such as the Harry Potter Forbidden Journey, which takes place in Hogwarts Castle. The queue for this ride has amazing experiences as well, including classroom replicas, talking paintings, and a message just for you from the sorting hat. The flight of the Hippogriff, led by Hagrid, takes you on a Hippogriff ride with drops and turns that will excite everyone. This one is suitable for kids as well, where as others might be a bit scary for the younger of the visitors.
And, I will admit, this one is my favorite, Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts. Here you get to ride one of the Gringotts mining carts through the caves and caverns of Gringotts, including meeting the dragon kept deep inside guarding the vaults deep underground away from the light of day. Like in the Castle, the queue for this ride is almost as amazing as the ride itself with the talking paintings, the goblin bankers, newspapers with Harry Potter news left lying around, and the line is arguably almost as entertaining as the ride itself.
Moving on to other parks around the world, in 2014, Universal opened the Wizarding World in Japan, which is similar to the parks in Orlando. In 2016, Universal Hollywood opened its Wizarding World of Harry Potter including the flight-simulator ride of Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, found in the Hogwarts Castle in Orlando.
What’s Next?
A New Park in 2025:
And the Wizarding World is not finished yet. There are so many adventures to come. Starting with the parks, scheduled to open in 2025, Universal Orlando is adding a new land to its Wizarding World. The Ministry of Magic will be accessed through the Celestial Park, a new imaginative space with gardens and waters. In addition to the new Park location, they will also be expanding the world of Butterbeer, the popular drink from the movies/books that can only be found in the Universal parks, though there are many places to find the amazingly easy Butterbeer recipe online.
The New HBO Original Series:
HBO Original partnered with Warner Brothers in production of a new series adaptation of the series. J.K. Rowling is the executive producer and it was just announced that Francesca Gardiner and Mark Mylod are producers and directors of the upcoming series set to air in 2026. I tried to find a title but could not find one. J.K. Rowling’s website describes the show as follows.
“The series will feature a new cast to lead a new generation of fandom, full of the fantastic detail and much-loved characters “Harry Potter” fans have loved for over twenty-five years. Each season will bring “Harry Potter” and these incredible adventures to new audiences around the world, while the original, classic, and cherished films will remain at the core of the franchise and available to watch globally.”
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Tour:
The new tour opens in Chicago in September 2024. Several of the original Broadway cast will be joining many new cast members for this amazing show that takes place 19 years after the end of the 7th book and 8th movie. For ticket information click here.
Quidditch Champions:
The latest game addition to the Harry Potter World is Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions and is set to launch on September 3rd, 2024. From Portkey Games, get ready to try your hand at playing Quidditch with the rest of the team.
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
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Harry Potter has made some great changes in the world. In a world where imagination was a fading idea, kids are finding fantasy and make-believe again and making it part of their everyday world. The genre of books has blossomed for all ages, allowing authors to publish so many great stories for all to enjoy and love. Many social issues were brought to the forefront in a way that even children could understand, and the world of Harry Potter is a reality in our world to stay, at least for a while.
It’s been 27 years since the first book was published and it is still one of the most widely read books in the world, new readers. The franchise is just as popular as it was when the idea first caught on and new generations are not letting the popularity fade. Rowling and those who work with and for her are helping to keep the idea and the franchise alive with movies, TV, and gaming, as well as the parents who first read the books when they were new and continue to pass the fantastically deep and realistic story down to their children.
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