J.K. Rowling

J.K. Rowling
Name	J.K. Rowling
Caption	Rowling at the 2010 White House Easter Egg Roll
Birth name	Joanne Rowling
Birth date	31 July 1965
Birth place	Yate, Gloucestershire, England
Occupation	Author, philanthropist, screenwriter, film producer
Nationality	British
Education	University of Exeter (BA)
Spouse	Jorge Arantes, 1992, 1995, Neil Murray, 2001
Awards	Companion of Honour, Hugo Award, Locus Award, British Book Awards

J.K. Rowling is a British author best known for writing the Harry Potter fantasy series, which has become a global publishing phenomenon. The books have sold over 500 million copies, been translated into over 80 languages, and spawned a highly successful Warner Bros. film franchise. Her work has had a profound impact on contemporary literature and popular culture, and she has become a prominent public figure through her writing, philanthropy, and advocacy.

Early life and education

Joanne Rowling was born in Yate, Gloucestershire, and grew up in nearby Winterbourne and Tutshill. Her early interest in storytelling was influenced by authors like C. S. Lewis and Elizabeth Goudge. She studied French and the Classics at the University of Exeter, spending a year teaching English in Paris as part of her course. After graduating, she worked in various roles, including as a researcher and bilingual secretary for Amnesty International in London.

Literary career

The idea for the Harry Potter series famously came to her during a delayed train journey from Manchester to London in 1990. She began writing the first novel while living in Portugal and later in Edinburgh, Scotland. After facing numerous rejections, the manuscript for Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone was accepted by Bloomsbury Publishing in 1996. The book's immediate success launched a prolific career that expanded beyond the initial seven-novel series to include related Pottermore writings, screenplays, and adult fiction.

Harry Potter series

The Harry Potter series chronicles the life of a young wizard at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, focusing on his struggle against the dark wizard Lord Voldemort. The books, published between 1997 and 2007, are noted for their complex plotting, thematic depth, and the maturation of both the characters and the intended audience. The film adaptations, produced by Warner Bros., starred Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint. The franchise has also expanded into West End plays like Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, theme parks, and extensive merchandising.

Other works and philanthropy

Under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith, she writes the Cormoran Strike detective series, which has been adapted for television by the BBC. Her adult novels include The Casual Vacancy. A significant portion of her wealth is directed toward philanthropy, primarily through her charitable trust, Volant Charitable Trust. She is the founder and president of the international children's care charity Lumos, which works to end the institutionalization of children, and has donated substantial sums to multiple sclerosis research, reflecting her mother's illness, and to causes such as Comic Relief.

Personal life and views

She married Portuguese journalist Jorge Arantes in 1992; their daughter, Jessica, was born in 1993. After their divorce, she returned to the United Kingdom with her daughter, later marrying Neil Murray in 2001, with whom she has two children. She is a resident of Edinburgh. In recent years, her comments on transgender issues have generated significant public controversy and debate, leading to both support and criticism from various public figures, activists, and LGBT organizations. She has detailed her views in lengthy essays on her personal website.

Awards and honours

Her accolades are numerous, including being appointed a Companion of Honour in the 2017 Birthday Honours for services to literature and philanthropy. She has received the Hugo Award, the Locus Award, the British Book Award for Author of the Year, and the Hans Christian Andersen Literature Award. Several universities, including Harvard University and the University of Edinburgh, have awarded her honorary degrees. In 2023, she was named one of *Time* magazine's 100 most influential people.

Category:British novelists Category:1965 births Category:Living people