Rowling, J. K.

Rowling, J. K. (Joanne Kathleen Rowling) (rôl`ĭing, rōl`–), 1965–, English author known for her popular children's books, b. Chipping Sodbury, grad. Exeter Univ. (1986). While unemployed she completed her first book, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (1996), a vivid tale of a young wizard and his friends, adversaries, and teachers at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Published in the United States as Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (1998, film 2001), it attracted a huge international readership. More books in the series (and films based on them) soon followed—Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (1998, film 2002), Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (1999, film 2004)), Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2000, film 2005), Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2003), and Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2005)—making Rowling one of the world's most successful and wealthiest authors. Her books, which appeal to both young and adult audiences, have sold in the multimillions, been translated into more than 60 languages, and are widely credited with reviving the practice of reading in many children. Under fanciful pseudonyms Rowling has published two books related to the series, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them and Quidditch through the Ages (both: 2001).

Bibliography

See biographies by S. Smith (2001), W. Compson (2003), C. A. Kirk (2003), C. C. Lovett (2003), and C. A. Sexton (2005); studies by J. Granger (2002), G. L. Anatol, ed. (2003), E. Heilman, ed. (2003), J. Houghton (2003), G. Wiener, ed. (2003), D. Baggett and S. E. Klein, ed. (2004), G. W. Beahm (2004), and M. Lackey, ed. (2006).