If you grew up reading the Harry Potter series, you'll probably find it hard to believe it was born 20 years ago today.
On June 26, 1997 JK Rowling launched what would become a record-breaking boy wizard franchise with The Philosopher's Stone.
20 years ago today a world that I had lived in alone was suddenly open to others. It's been wonderful. Thank you.#HarryPotter20
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) June 26, 2017
It’s been some two decades for the myopic mage – seven hugely successful novels translated into at least 67 languages, global adulation, a still expanding universe despite the end of the Harry Potter series per se, and one of the highest grossing British film franchises ever.
It launched the careers of then-child actors Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson. Rowling’s creation as popular as it has been has been widely credited with launching a spike in both adult and kids’ reading since its birth (the novels were even reprinted with ‘grown up’ covers for eager readers who didn’t want to feel self-conscious reading a kids' book on the bus to work).
Unsurprisingly, fans around the world are celebrating the milestone, and particularly in Potter's native United Kingdom. Publisher Bloomsbury is seeking to set a Guinness World Record for the largest gathering of people dressed as Potter in Bolton, UK; National Book Tokens are offering limited edition, personalised Hogwarts book tokens, and The British Library is preparing to host a celebratory exhibition, Harry Potter: A History of Magic, which will open later in the year.
Less highbrow organisations are joining the party too – social media sites Facebook and Twitter have launched Potter-themed features (Facebook's 'type Harry Potter in your status and cast a spell' didn't seem to be working in the Middle East when we tried it, but feel free to have a go yourself. Twitter's #Harrypotter20 hashtag is alive and well), while Android phone users can activate phone features by saying the names of spells from the book to their Google Assistant.
Surely the last word on the schoolyard sorcerer's 20th birthday should go to Rowlingherself. She's generally known as something of a political firebrand on Twitter, but she was putting the rage aside today by simply tweeting: "20 years ago today a world that I had lived in alone was suddenly open to others. It's been wonderful. Thank you."
cnewbould@thenational.ae
