J. K. Rowling

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Joanne Kathleen Rowling
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Rowling at a degree ceremony
Born Joanne Kathleen Rowling
July 31, 1965 (1965-07-31) (age 47)
South Gloucestershire, England
Pen name J.K. Rowling
Nationality British
Ethnicity White
Education Bachelor of Arts
Genres Children's literature
Subjects Wizards
Spouse(s) Jorge Arantes (m. 1992-1995)
Neil Murray (m. 2002-present)
Children 2 daughters, 1 son

Joanne Kathleen Rowling (born July 31, 1965) is a British author, who wrote the Harry Potter books. She only uses the name J. K. Rowling for her books: the "K" stands for "Kathleen" which was the first name of her grandmother. She is the richest author in the world.[1]

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Early and personal life [change]

Rowling was born 31 July 1965 in Chipping Sodbury, near Bristol, England.[2] She grew up in Tutshill, Gloucestershire, and went to school at Wyedean Comprehensive. She earned a degree in French and Classics at the University of Exeter. She worked at Amnesty International in London.[3] The original idea for Harry Potter came to her on a train in 1990.[4] She moved to Portugal to teach English in 1990. She married Jorge Arantes[2] in October 1992. They had her first child, Jessica in 1993. The marriage ended in divorce and Rowling moved to Edinburgh, Scotland. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (British version) (American version: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone) was first published in the United Kingdom in 1998. She married Dr. Neil Murray in 2001. She had a second child, David, in 2003, and a third, Mackenzie, in January 2005.[3]

Her books [change]

Rowling has won awards for the Harry Potter series of books and has made over $1 billion. The last book of the Harry Potter series - Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows was released on 21 July 2007. Because the books are so popular, she has become very rich; she is said to be the richest woman in the United Kingdom, even counting the Queen. However, her books are not limited to the seven major Harry Potter novels. She has written many books about the magic in Harry's world, like Quiddich Through the Ages and Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.

Summary [change]

Rowling's novels feature a teenage boy named Harry who grows up in a normal world. When he is eleven years old, he discovers that he is a wizard and attends a magical academy called Hogwarts, where Albus Dumbledore is headmaster. Harry discovers his past about a dark wizard and attempts to destroy him once and for all.

Publications [change]

Harry Potter series [change]

  1. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (June 26 1997 (UK), January 9 1998 (US)
  2. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (July 2 1998 (UK), February 6 1999 (US)
  3. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (July 8 1999 (UK), August 9 1999 (US)
  4. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (July 7 2000)
  5. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (June 21, 2003)
  6. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (July 16 2005)
  7. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (July 21, 2007)

Other books [change]

She has also recently wrote a new adult book called "The Casual Vacancy" which is already out in many bookshops.

Articles [change]

References [change]

Other websites [change]