J.K. Rowling is one of the most successful and influential authors of our time. Her Harry Potter series has captivated millions of readers around the world, and has been translated into 84 languages². She has also written other novels, such as The Casual Vacancy and the Cormoran Strike series, under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith². But her journey to fame and fortune was not easy. She faced many challenges and hardships in her life, and had to overcome them with courage and perseverance.
Early Life and Education
Rowling was born on July 31, 1965, in Yate, Gloucestershire, England. She grew up in a loving family with her parents, Peter and Anne, and her younger sister, Dianne. She was interested in writing from an early age, and wrote her first story when she was six years old³. She also loved reading books, especially fantasy and mythology.
She attended St Michael’s Primary School in Winterbourne, where she met her best friend and later inspiration for Hermione Granger, Jessica Mitford³. She then went to Wyedean Comprehensive School, where she excelled in English and French. She also became the head girl of the school in her final year.
She applied to study at Oxford University, but was rejected. She then enrolled at the University of Exeter, where she studied French and Classics. She spent a year in Paris as part of her course, and graduated with a BA degree in 1986.
Career and Personal Struggles
After graduating from university, Rowling moved to London and worked as a researcher and bilingual secretary for Amnesty International². She also wrote short stories in her spare time, but none of them were published.
In 1990, while waiting for a delayed train from Manchester to London, she had the idea for the Harry Potter series. She started writing the first book, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, on an old manual typewriter.
However, her life took a tragic turn when her mother died from multiple sclerosis in 1990. She was devastated by the loss of her mother, who had been her biggest supporter and friend³. She later said that her mother’s death influenced her writing, as she explored the themes of death and loss in her books.
In 1991, she moved to Porto, Portugal, to teach English as a foreign language². There she met Jorge Arantes, a journalist, and married him in 1992. They had a daughter, Jessica, in 1993. However, their marriage was unhappy and abusive. Rowling suffered from domestic violence and depression during this period³. She finally left Arantes and returned to Britain with her daughter in 1994.
She moved to Edinburgh, Scotland, where she lived in a small flat with her daughter. She was unemployed and living on welfare benefits. She continued to write the first Harry Potter book whenever she could find time. She often wrote in cafes while her daughter slept in a pram beside her.
She finished the manuscript in 1995 and sent it to several publishers. However, she faced many rejections and discouragements. Some publishers told her that children’s books were not profitable enough. Others told her that her book was too long or too complex for young readers.
She finally found an agent, Christopher Little, who agreed to represent her. He sent the manuscript to Bloomsbury Publishing, where it was accepted by Barry Cunningham, a young editor who saw its potential. He offered Rowling an advance of £1,500 for the UK rights of the book.
J.K. Rowling is an inspiring example of someone who overcame adversity and achieved success through hard work and passion. She turned her imagination into reality and created a magical world that has enchanted millions of people. She has also used her fame and fortune to make a positive difference in the world. She is a role model for aspiring writers and readers alike.
Success and Recognition
The first Harry Potter book was published in June 1997 with an initial print run of 1,000 copies. It received positive reviews from critics and readers alike. It won several awards, such as the Nestlé Smarties Book Prize and the British Book Award for Children’s Book of the Year.
The book soon became a bestseller in Britain and attracted international attention. It was sold to Scholastic Corporation for $105,000 for the US rights. It was published in the US as Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone in September 1998.
The success of the first book led to the publication of six more sequels: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (1998), Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (1999), Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2000), Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2003), Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2005), and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (2007).
The Harry Potter series became a global phenomenon, breaking sales records and creating a loyal fan base. The books have sold over 600 million copies worldwide, making Rowling one of the richest and most influential authors in history. The books have also been adapted into eight blockbuster films, starring Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint as the main characters.
Rowling has also written other books related to the Harry Potter universe, such as Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2001), Quidditch Through the Ages (2001), The Tales of Beedle the Bard (2008), and Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (2016). She has also created a website, Pottermore, where fans can explore more content and interact with the world of Harry Potter.
In addition to the Harry Potter series, Rowling has also written novels for adults. In 2012, she published The Casual Vacancy, a dark comedy about a small town in England. It received mixed reviews from critics, but sold well. In 2013, she published The Cuckoo’s Calling, a crime novel featuring a private detective named Cormoran Strike. She wrote it under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith, but her identity was revealed by a journalist. The book received positive reviews and became a bestseller. She has since written three more novels in the Cormoran Strike series: The Silkworm (2014), Career of Evil (2015), and Lethal White (2018).
Rowling has received many accolades and honors for her work. She has won multiple awards, such as the Hugo Award, the Bram Stoker Award, the British Academy Film Award, and the Hans Christian Andersen Award². She has also been appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2001, a Companion of Honour (CH) in 2017, and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature (FRSL) in 2002². She has also received honorary degrees from several universities, such as Harvard University, Edinburgh University, and Oxford University.
Philanthropy and Activism
Rowling is also known for her philanthropy and activism. She has donated millions of pounds to various charities and causes, especially those related to children’s welfare, education, health, and human rights. She has co-founded Lumos, an organization that works to end the institutionalization of children around the world. She has also established the Volant Charitable Trust, named after her mother, which supports projects that alleviate social deprivation and combat multiple sclerosis.
Rowling has also been vocal about her political views and opinions. She has supported the Labour Party in Britain and opposed Scottish independence and Brexit. She has also spoken out against racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, and other forms of discrimination and injustice. She has faced criticism and controversy for some of her statements, especially regarding transgender issues.
Source:
(1) J. K. Rowling – Literature – British Council. https://literature.britishcouncil.org/writer/j-k-rowling.
(2) J.K. Rowling | Biography, Full Name, Books, & Facts | Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/biography/J-K-Rowling.
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