On June 26, 1997, after many rejections, a little book called Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone was published in the UK. That was just the beginning. Soon more books came out, a total of 7 about Harry, but other books, movies, plays, rides at the amusement parks, clothing, a new broomstick game played around the world, new words for the dictation, toys, and other memorabilia soon followed. Very much like Star Wars, Star Trek, or Sherlock Holmes, Harry Potter managed to bewitch his way into the global psyche.
I vaguely remember seeing the first two books in 1998 in bookstores and reviews in various magazines. Finally one day I saw a display at Barnes and Noble that had the first two books displayed and I thought, “well I should read the damn things as I keep seeing them everywhere.” I started reading and I was hooked. I soon started to purchase the British versions of the books to get them sooner and they were always a little bit different than the American copies. Over the years I stood inline at midnight bookstore parties, ordered extra copies to see which one would get to me quicker, and one year the power went out and I was reading Harry by candlelight! Hay it was new and needed to be read. I also had friends pick me up foreign language copies on their travels around the world. When the movies came out with their midnight shows, I attended them because its always fun to be in a theater filled with crazed fans who loved Harry as much as you do.
Now 20 years later, Harry’s story has been told (maybe), but we continue to learn more about the wizarding world with Newt Scamander and other stories. It will be interesting to see what the next 20 years bring for the wizarding world, muggles too. But Harry will always remain at the center, a little orphan kid who just wanted a home and some friends and ended up saving the world. Always.
There is always room for one more Harry Potter book! Celebrating the 20th anniversary of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone! #HarryPotter20 @pottermore @jk_rowling
