J.K. Rowling was born in Chepstow, Gwent in 1965. Her full name is Joanne Kathleen Rowling. Her writing career started at the age of six when she wrote a story called "Rabbit". Since then she has worked as a teacher and has been an unemployed single parent. She lived on public assistance when she wrote "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone". She wrote it at a table in a cafe during her daughter's naps. "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" was bought and published by Bloomsbury in 1997. Her life then changed dramatically. The "Harry Potter" series has won numerous awards and become a tremendous success around the world. She is planning on writing seven books in the series, and is currently writing the fifth book.

Summaries
Below are summaries of the first four books in the Harry Potter series.  These are the first in a series of seven books following Harry Potter's "coming of age" in the wizarding world.

Book One: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
   Harry Potter has never played a sport while flying on a broomstick.  He's never worn a cloak of invisibility, befriended a giant, or helped hatch a dragon.  All Harry knows is a miserable life with the Dursleys, his horrible aunt and uncle, and their abominable son, Dudley.  Harry's room is a tiny closet at the foot of the stairs, and he hasn't had a birthday party in years.
    But all that is about to change when a mysterious letter arrives by owl messenger: a letter with an invitation to a wonderful place he never dreamed existed.  There he finds not only friends, aerial sports, and magic around every corner, but a great destiny that's been waiting for him...if Harry can survive the encounter.
Excerpt

Book Two: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

   Ever Since Harry Potter had come for the summer, the Dursleys had been so mean and hideous that all Harry wanted was to get back to the Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry.  But just as he's packing his bags, Harry receives a warning from a strange, impish creature who says that if Harry returns to Hogwarts, disaster will strike.
    And strike it does.  For in Harry's second year at Hogwarts, fresh torments and horrors arise, including an outrageously stuck-up new proffesor and a spirit who haunts the girls' bathroom.  But then the real trouble begins: someone is turning Hogwarts students to stone.  Could it be Draco Malfoy, a more poisonous rival than ever?  Could it be Hagrid, whose mysterious past is finally told?  Or could it be the one everyone at Hogwarts most suspects?  Harry Potter himself!
Excerpt

Book Three: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
   For twelve long years, the dread fortress of Azkaban held an infamous prisoner named Sirius Black.  Convicted of killing thirteen people with a single curse, he was said to be the heir apparent to the Dark Lord, Voldemort.
    Now he has escaped, leaving only two clues as to where he might be headed: Harry Potter's defeat of You-Know-Who was Black's downfall as well.  And the Askaban guards heard Black muttering in his sleep, "He's at Hogwarts...he's at Hogwarts."
    Harry Potter isn't safe, not even within the walls of his magical school, surrounded by his friends.  Because in top of it all, there may well be a traitor in their midst.
Excerpt

Book Four: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
   Harry wants to get away from the pernicious Dursleys and go to the International Quidditch Cup with Hermione, Ron, and the Weasleys. He wants to dream about Cho Chang, his crush (and maybe do more than dream). He wants to find out about the mysterious event that's supposed to take place at the Hogwarts this year, an event involving two other rival schools of magic, and a competition that hasn't happened in a hundred years. He wants to be a normal, fourteen year old wizard. Unfortunately for Harry Potter, he's not normal - even by wizarding standards. And in his case, different can be deadly.
Excerpt

School Book Summaries
In 2001 J.K. Rowling published two books under the aliases Kennilworthy Whisp and Newt Scamander.  These books were written to give the readers a glimpse of what students learn at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.  The proceeds from these books go to the Comic Relief organization of the United Kingdom.
      "Proceeds from the sale of these books go to improving and saving the lives of children around the world, which means that the dollars and Galleons you exchange for it will do magic beyond the powers of any wizard.  If you feel that this is insufficient reason to part with your money, I can only hope most sincerely that passing wizards feel more charitable if they ever see you being attacked by a Manticore.
                                                            Albus Dumbledore"
      Below are summaries of both schoolbooks.

Fantastic Beasts & Where to Find Them
by Newt Scamander

   A copy of Fantastic Beasts & Where to Find Them resides in almost every wizarding household in the country.  Now, for a limited period only, Muggles too have the chance to discover where the Quintaped lives, what the Puffskein eats, and why it is best not to leave milk out for a Knarl.

Quidditch Through the Ages
by Kennilworthy Whisp

   If you have ever asked yourself where the Golden Snitch came from, how the Bludgers came into existence, or why the Wigtown Wanderers have pictures of meat cleavers on their robes, you need Quidditch Through the Ages.  This limited edition is a copy of the volume in Hogwarts School Library, where it is consulted by young Quidditch fans on an almost daily basis.

The Characters

Harry Potter Characters

Yes, Cassie, I know.  The most important character is missing.  If you are really all that curious, you can find Oliver Wood here.

The Creatures

Harry Potter Creatures

The Places

Harry Potter Settings

The Things

Harry Potter Things

The Magic

Harry Potter Spells

The Muggle World

Harry Potter Muggles

The Movie


   As you all know, the best selling children's novel Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone was turned into a feature film in 2001.  It was an instant hit, booming at the box office and making record sales when it came out on DVD May 28, 2002.  I'm sure many of you, like me, bought the DVD and watched the Quidditch scenes over and over, freeze framing on all of Sean Biggerstaff's parts.  Okay, maybe you didn't, but I'm a bit of a freak and you all knew that so shut up.  Below are links and information concerning the movie and actors.

Summary
    The Dursleys, strong disbelievers in that magical crap, never told Harry anything about his true self. So, Harry is strongly surprised, yet absolutely happy to start his training. At Hogwarts, Harry meets his teachers, and becomes friends with Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger. The three of them accidentally find out that the potions master, Severus Snape, seems to plot on stealing something that is guarded by a three-headed dog. Since nobody would believe some first years to have found out such important things that even would incriminate a Hogwarts teacher, they take it on themselves to find out what Snape is up to.
    Their quest for the truth leads across many obstacles, from keeping up the everyday school life, a bewitched Quidditch match (Quidditch is a popular wizard sport), Fluffy, the three-headed monster dog and quite some tasks one has to overcome to get to the guarded object.

Movie Links

IMDB Information

Official Movie Website

Unofficial Movie Website

Movie List Page

Yahoo Movies Page

Empire Movies Page

Actors Links

Sean Biggerstaff

Daniel Radcliffe

Rupert Grint

Emma Watson

Maggie Smith

Alan Rickman

Ian Hart

The Phelps Twins

Chris Rankin

Tom Felton

Warwick Davis

Devon Murray

The Sequel

   The next movie in the pivotal Harry Potter series, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets is scheduled for release before July of 2002.  It will feature many of the same actors and roles (some to be announced).  They haven't yet released the name of some of the actors in apparent roles and some haven't yet been assured a part in the sequel at all (Sean Biggerstaff being one of them <gulp>).  Not much imformation  has been released about this anxiously awaited film, but I will do my best to satisfy you with what I do have.

The Summary

 Harry Potter is in his second year of Hogwarts School of Witcraft and Wizardry. He is visited by a house-elf named Dobby and warned not to go back to Hogwarts. Harry ignores his warning, and returns. He is still famous, although still disliked by Snape, Malfoy, and the rest of the Slytherins. But then, strange things start to happen. People are becoming petrified, and no-one knows what is doing it. Harry keeps hearing a voice.. a voice which seems to be coming from within the walls. They are told the story of the Chamber of Secrets. It is said that only Salazar Slytherin's true descendent will be able to open it. Harry, it turns out, is a Parsel-tongue. This means that he is able to speak/understand snakes. Everyone thinks that it's him that has opened the Chamber of Secrets because that is what Slytherin was famous for.

Sequel Links

Movies.com Page

Rotten Tomatos Info Page

Upcoming Movies Page

Coming Soon Database Page

Yahoo Movies Page

Movie News Page

Chamber of Secrets Movie Stills

My Page

Planet Potter

Arabella Figg's Site

Fresh Faces

Alfred Burke

Christian Coulson

Julian Glover

Shirley Henderson (I)

Jason Isaacs

Gemma Jones

Toby Jones

Miriam Margolyes

Sally Mortemore

Miscellaneous Links

Adopt Cedric Diggory

Harry Potter Games

Harry Potter Chats

The Harry Potter Lexicon

"Hoggywarts"

Which Harry Potter Character Are You?

Which Harry Potter Kid Are You?

Are You Obsessed With Harry Potter?

Sara's Harry Potter Quiz

As the graphic says, you're sweet, hard-working, and loyal. You believe in justice and you're not afraid of sticking with something for a while. You're determined; once you set your mind to something you'll work as hard and long as you have to to achieve that goal. Get Sorted!

Book Quotes

Book One: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
"You haven't got a letter on yours"- George observed. "I suppose she thinks you don't forget your name. But we're not stupid - we know we're called Gred and Forge."- Fred Weasley

"The truth. It is a beautiful and terrible thing, and should therefore be treated with great caution."-Albus Dumbledore

"It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live." -Albus Dumbledore

"There are all kinds of courage. It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies, but just as much to stand up to our friends."-Albus Dumbledore

"Your mother died to save you. If there is one thing Voldermont can't understand, its love."-Albus Dumbledore

"Me dad's a Muggle. Mom didn't tell tell him she was a witch 'til after they were married. Bit of a nasty shock for him."-Seamus Finnigan



Book Two: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
"What? All those times I could've died and didn't manage? They'll be furious!"-Harry Potter

"Exactly, which makes you very different from Tom Riddle. It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities" -Albus Dumbledore

"Voldemort is my past, present, and future, Harry Potter." -Tom Riddle

"Never trust something that can think for itself if you can't see where it keeps its brain!"-Mr. Weasley

"I will only truly have left this school when none here are loyal to me....Help will always be given at Hogwarts to those who ask for it."-Albus Dumbledore

"His eyes are as green as a fresh pickled toad, His hair is as dark as a blackboard. I wish he was mine, he's really divine, The hero who conquered the Dark Lord."-Cupid





Book Three: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
"I solemnly swear that I am up to no good."-George Weasley

"HARRY THIS IS NO TIME TO BE A GENTLEMAN! KNOCK HER OFF HER BROOM IF YOU HAVE TO!"-Oliver Wood

"Mum! How really corking to see you-!" -Fred Weasley

"Then You should have died! Died rather than betray your friends as we would have done for you." Sirius Black

"What was there to be gained by fighting the most evil wizard who has ever exisisted. Only innocent lives Peter."- Sirius Black

"If you made a better rat than a human, its not much to boast about, Peter."- Sirius Black

"Dementors are among the foulest creatures that walk this earth. They infest the darkest, filthiest places, they glory in decay and despair, they drain peace, hope, and happiness out of the air and around them. Even Muggles feel their presence, though they can't see them."- Professor Remus Lupin



Book Four: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
"Remember Cedric. Remember, if the time should come when you have to make a choice between what is right, and what is easy, remember what happened to a boy who was good, and kind, and brave, because, he strayed across the path of Lord Voldemort. Remember Cedric Diggory." -Albus Dumbledore

"Constant vigilance!" -Mad-Eye Moody

"Your Mother's Coming ... She wants to see you ...It will be alright ... Just Hold On ..."-James Potter

"Cedric Diggory was murdered by Lord Voldemort. The ministry of magic does not wish me to tell you this. It is possible that some of your parents will be horrified that I have done so-either because they will not believe that Lord Voldemort has returned, or because they think I should not tell you so, young as you are. It is my belief, however, that the truth is generally preferable to lies, and that any attempt to pretend that Cedric died as the result of an accident, or some sort of blunder of his own, is an insult to his memory." -Albus Dumbledore

"Harry....., take my body back, will you? Take my body back to my parents...." -Cedric Diggory

"Not nice... Not pleasant. And there's no countercurse. No blocking it. Only one known person has ever survived it, and he's sitting right in front of me." -Mad-Eye Moody

"I will settle, in the short term, for a lack of open hostility. You will shake hands. You are on the same side now. Time is short, and unless the few of us who know the truth do not stand united, there is no hope for any of us."
-Albus Dumbledore

Movie Quotes

Harry Potter Movie Quotes

~Sara Cartwright : )