I remembered picking up and reading the now famous Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone in middle school. I remembered watching the movie, and how enchanted I was seeing all of that. I remembered reading through the other books and watching the other movies with my cousin. And when Fantastic Beasts came out, I remembered literally dragging my little brother and mom to watch the movie which, in all honesty, paled in comparison to the Harry Potter series. Even so, it, as well as the rest of the universe, was entertaining, and well worth the emotional and psychological turmoil that the author introduced me to.

The creator of the Harry Potter universe, J.K. Rowling, has had an eventful life. From the political controversies she’s sparked, to the touching upbringing she’s had, to the fact that she’s now one of the most famous fantasy authors in the world, Rowling is a celebrated literary icon. And despite her main series ending, she continues to captivate the public with her magical storytelling.

Rowling was born on July 31st, 1965. As she grew older, her relationship with her father became strained, and when her mother was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, it continued to deteriorate. She eventually attended the University of Exeter, and before long, worked as a secretary for Amnesty International. Rowling moved to Portugal to teach English, and that was where she met Jorge Arantes, whom she married and later had a child with, named Jessica Isabel Rowling Arantes. Unfortunately, during this time, there was evidence that Rowling was domestically abused. According to Rowling, the two were married for about a year before she finally left.  

Several years later, Rowling was suicidal and was diagnosed with depression. She had financial troubles and had already signed up for welfare benefits. She had to train to become a teacher, and as she did, she began writing what would be known as the Harry Potter series in many cafes.

Eventually, the first book, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone was published by Bloomsbury, where editor Barry Cunningham doubted the book’s success. However, the book would go on to win many awards, such as a Nestlé Smarties Book Prize and the Children’s Book Award. Because of its success, Rowling went on to write other books such as Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets and Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. When the fourth book was published, in the US alone, the book sold approximately three million copies. Later successes from future books would continue, and as of now, the series is worth around $15 billion. Warner Brothers turned the first two books into films, and throughout the film process, Rowling participated in the making of the films. Although Rowling would continue to write other works, such as Cormoran Strike and The Casual Vacancy, she is well known for her work for Harry Potter.

Because of this, unsurprisingly, Rowling has been criticized on more than one occasion. Many Christian leaders decided that, because the book offered a positive outlook on magic, that it promoted witchcraft. She once joked about how Dumbledore and Gandalf could get married in Ireland if they legalized same-sex marriage. As such, Westboro Baptist Church said that if they did so, they would protest. What’s more, there were many parallels between the world Harry Potter inhabited and the real world. For instance, figures such as Stalin and Hitler were believed to be the basis for Voldemort. Racism and the treatment of other minorities were discussed especially with the terms “mud-bloods”, as well as the house elf system. The Ministry of Magic was portrayed in a way that’s detrimental to not just the magical world, but the entire universe as well.

Throughout all of this, Rowling has continued to soar in her success. She is unapologetic in her beliefs and opinions and has more than once put her foot down on issues that she’s passionate about. She’s used her experiences to craft a world that everyone could belong to. And while many people may disagree on the messages hidden in the books, it’s clear that Rowling herself has cemented her words into the hearts and minds of everyone who’s read them.