It’s been 21 years since we first met Harry Potter
In 1997, a single mum on welfare starting writing a story on a train...
That story would go on to become one of the best-selling books of all time and make her a billionaire.
Seven Books, 450-Million copies sold and Eight films later, and J.K Rowling's Harry Potter series is one of the most recognisable franchises on Earth.
So to celebrate the 21st anniversary of the first release of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, here are some facts about the book you may not have known:
(Obviously there's a few spoilers in here).
ROWLING’S DEATH APOLOGIES
Rowling has started something of a grim tradition: each year on May 2 — the anniversary of the Battle of Hogwarts in the series— she apologises for the death of one of the series’ most beloved characters.
So far, she has begged for forgiveness for the deaths of Remus Lupin, Nymphadora Tonks, Fred Weasley and Dobby the house elf.
RON’S DAD WAS SUPPOSED TO DIE
In 2016, Rowling admitted that she planned for Arthur to die in the final battle, but he was given a reprieve!
She instead decided to write off character 'Professor Lupin.'
Rowling addressed the matter on Twitter:
“In the interests of total honesty I’d also like to confess that I didn’t decide to kill Lupin until I wrote Order of the Phoenix.”
“Arthur lived, so Lupin had to die. I’m sorry. I didn’t enjoy doing it. The only time my editor ever saw me cry was over the fate of Teddy.”
ROWLING WAS ASKED TO CHANGE HER NAME
In a fairly backwards request, Rowling’s British publisher suggested she use the name “J.K. Rowling” so male readers wouldn’t know she was a woman.
Her real name is Joanne Rowling, but she usually goes by Jo.
HARRY’S NAME HAS A SPECIAL MEANING
In 2017, Rowling treated Potter fans to some extra details about Harry’s family tree.
She explained on Pottermore that Harry was named after his great-grandfather, who was called Henry in more formal environments.
“In the Muggle world ‘Potter’ is an occupational surname, meaning a man who creates pottery,” she told fans.
“The wizarding family of Potters descends from the twelfth-century wizard Linfred of Stinchcombe, a locally well-beloved and eccentric man, whose nickname, ‘the Potterer’, became corrupted in time to ‘Potter’.”
ROWLING TURNED DOWN A ROLE IN THE MOVIES
Rowling revealed that she was offered the role of Lily Potter in the first film, something she turned down: “The filmmakers did ask me to play Lily Potter in the first film, but I really am not cut out to be an actress, even one who just has to stand there and wave. I would have messed it up somehow.”
HERMIONE IS BASED ON ROWLING HERSELF
And finally! The author has revealed in recent years that everyone’s favourite know-it-all, Hermione Granger, is actually based on Rowling herself as a girl!
