Harry Potter is a series of fantasy novels written by British author JK Rowling. The novels tell the life of a young wizard, Harry Potter, and his friends Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley, all students at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The main story arc concerns Harry's fight against Lord Voldemort, a dark wizard who intends to become immortal, overthrow the wizarding governing body known as the Ministry of Magic, and subjugate all wizards and muggles, a term of reference meaning people not magical. Since the release of the first novel, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, on June 26, 1997, the books have enjoyed immense popularity, critical acclaim and commercial success around the world. They have attracted large adult audiences and younger readers and are often considered cornerstones of modern young adult literature. The series has also had its share of criticism, including concern over the increasingly dark tone as the series has progressed, as well as the often gruesome and graphic violence it depicts. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay As of May 2013, the books have sold more than 500 million copies worldwide, making them the best-selling book series in history, and have been translated into seventy-three languages. The final four books consecutively set the record for the fastest-selling books in history, with the final installment selling approximately eleven million copies in the United States within twenty-four hours of its release. The series was originally published in English by two major publishers, Bloomsbury in the United Kingdom and Scholastic Press in the United States. A play, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, based on a story co-written by Rowling, premiered in London on 30 July 2016 at the Palace Theatre, and its screenplay was published by Little, Brown . The original seven books were adapted into an eight-part film series by Warner Bros. Pictures, which became the second-highest-grossing film series of all time as of August 2015. In 2016, the total of the Harry Potter franchise was estimated at $25 billion, making Harry Potter one of the biggest films in the world. of the highest-grossing media franchises of all time. A series of many genres, including fantasy, drama, coming of age, and British school story (which includes elements of mystery, thriller, adventure, horror, and romance), the world of Harry Potter explores numerous themes and includes many cultural meanings. and references.According to Rowling, the main theme is death. Other major themes in the series include prejudice, corruption, and madness. The success of the books and films has allowed the Harry Potter franchise to expand, with numerous derivative works, a traveling exhibition that debuted in Chicago in 2009, a studio tour in London that opened in 2012, a digital platform on which JK Rowling updates the series with new information and insights, and a pentalogy of spin-off films premiering in November 2016 with Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, among many other developments. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay More recently, themed attractions, known collectively as The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, have been built at several Universal Parks & Resorts amusement parks around the world.