J.K. Rowling conceived the idea for Harry Potter while traveling on a train from Manchester to London in 1990. She completed the manuscript by 1995 after facing multiple rejections from literary agents.
Bloomsbury released Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone in the United Kingdom on the 26th of June 1997. Scholastic Press published it in America as Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone on the 1st of September 1998.
The books have sold more than 600 million copies worldwide making them history's best-selling book series available in dozens of languages. Sales figures show Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone alone has moved over 120 million units globally.
Chris Columbus directed the first two films released November 2001 and November 2002 respectively before Alfonso Cuarón took over the third installment released June 2004. Mike Newell helmed the fourth film November 2005 while David Yates directed remaining entries including split finale parts released November 2010 and July 2011.
Harry Potter lived with his aunt and uncle who treated him poorly until age 11 when he discovered that he was a wizard after meeting Hagrid. He became a student at Hogwarts and was sorted into Gryffindor House where he gained friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger while facing enemies like Draco Malfoy.