Harry Potter is a series of seven fantasy novels written by British author
J. K. Rowling. The books chronicle the adventures of the eponymous adolescent
wizard Harry Potter, together with Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, his best
friends. The story is mostly set at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry,
an academy for young wizards and witches. The central story arc concerns Harry's
struggle against the evil wizard Lord Voldemort, who killed Harry's parents in
his quest to conquer the wizarding world.
Since the release of the first
novel Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone in 1997, which was retitled Harry
Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone in the United States, the books have gained
immense popularity, critical acclaim and commercial success worldwide. The
series has spawned films, video games and Potter-themed merchandise. As of April
2007, the first six books in the seven book series have sold more than 400
million copies and have been translated into more than 64 languages. The seventh
and last book in the series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, was released
on 21 July 2007. Publishers announced a record-breaking 12 million copies for
the first print run in the U.S. alone