Early Life
Joanne Kathleen Rowling, popularly known as J. K. Rowling was born on the 31st of July in 1965, in Yate, Gloucestershire, the United Kingdom. She was quite an intelligent child during her childhood. Her father’s name was Peter James Rowling, who worked in Rolls-Royce as an aeronautical engineer, while her mother, Anne, was a science technician. The family spent early years in Winterbourne, Gloucestershire, and later moved to Tutshill, near Chepstow when Rowling was just nine. She grew up surrounded by stentorian literary readings of her parents who after their technical routine loved to read books. Immersed in the world of literature, she determined to become a writer. When she wrote, Rabbit, when she was just six, that speaks volumes about her ability.
Education
J. K. Rowling attended St. Michael’s Primary School followed by Wyedean School and College; a secondary school where her mother worked in the science department. She did really well at school as her remarkable performance won the hearts of her teachers. One of her secondary school teachers adored her speaking skills and creative abilities, trusted her by appointing her as the head girl. In 1982, she tried her luck in Oxford but did not pass. However, she completed her B. A. in classics and French from the University of Exeter. Two years later, she wrote an essay, “What was the Name of that Nymph Again? or Greek and Roman Studies Recalled” which the University of Exeter’s journal Pegasus published.
Personal Life
An advertisement in The Guardian about teaching post led Miss Rolling to travel to Porto. During her stay there, she met Jorge Arantes, a Portuguese television journalist, in a bar. They married in 1992 and had one daughter, Jessica Isabel Rowling Arantes. Sadly, they honorably parted ways in 1993. Thus, she along with her daughter moved to Edinburgh, Scotland, and concentrated mostly on her writing. Later, in 2001, she remarried Neil Murray, a Scottish doctor, with whom she is leading a blissful life.
Some Important Facts of Her Life
- She is widely known for her remarkable pieces, Harry Potter Series.
- She received honorary degrees from St Andrews University, Edinburgh Napier University, the University of Edinburgh, and the University of Aberdeen.
- Her remarkable services for literature made her win many awards and honors including the National Book Awards Children’s Book of the Year, the Nestlé Smarties Book Prize, the British Children’s Book of the Year, and the Hugo Award for Best Novel.
Her Career
Enthralled by the love of reading and writing, Rowling started expressing her ideas at an early age and enjoyed unprecedented fame through her unique ideas. She produced her first literary work when she was just six, which was titled, Rabbit. Aged eleven, she produced a novel about seven cursed diamonds and their owners. Although a dark period came when she faced acute tragedy after her mother’s death and her divorce, too. Being pushed by the severity of challenging life, she started working on the Harry Potter Series. Unfortunately, her first book, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone-faced a number of rejections but when it appeared, it brought unexpected fame and fortune for her.
The book was the start of a seven-book series depicting the life of the young wizard, Harry Potter, and his life at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Followed by this big hit, the next book, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets was published in 1998. Similarly, the next book, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban earned a great fortune in 1999. The fourth book, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, too won a great response when it appeared in 2000. Later, she published Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, followed by Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, and concluding the series with Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows in quick succession in 2003, 2005, and 2007. Apart from the Harry Potter films, her book Cormoran Strike is also turned into a TV series, expanding her writing from fantasy to crime thriller.
Her Style
J. K. Rowling gained immense popularity on account of her natural style and use of fantasy in the internet age. Using an emancipating style in the Harry Potter Series, Rowling took the world by storm. Her writings present a perfect blend of fiction and reality. However, strangely, she never follows a single writing pattern as set by the other writers or even by herself. Marked with the use of fantasy, casual sentence structure, and symbolism she works constantly engages and attracts her readers. Also, the variation in language register, fantasy elements, and different themes clubbed with linguistic taboos and sarcasm, mythological words, and a touch of humor serve as an indication of her holistically distinct approach. Still, there are a host of thematic strands such as witchcraft, evil versus good, and morality. Regarding literary devices, she often turns to metaphors, imagery, and similes to create a unique style.
Some Important Works of J.K Rowling
- Best Books: Some of her notable books include seven books in the Harry Potter series. Recently, she has also published a fairy tale, The Ickabog.
- Other Works: Besides writing novels, she tried her hands in other genres, too. Some of them include The Casual Vacancy and Cormoran Strike under the pseudonym, Robert Galbraith. Harry Potter prequel, Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald – The Original Screenplay and Hogwarts: An Incomplete and Unreliable Guide.
J.K Rowling’s Impact on Future Literature
J.K. Rowling’s ideas about a fantasy world and its connection with the real-world have won the hearts and minds of people around the globe. Her distinctive writing approach and unique expressions made her stand among the best writers of the world. Those ideas have also influenced many great writers and critics of this postmodern era. In fact, her success in documenting her ideas has gained her praises and applauses from new writers who consider it a badge on their shoulder to copy Miss Rowling’s unique style.
Famous Quotes
- “If you want to know what a man’s like, take a good look at how he treats his inferiors, not his equals.” (Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire)
- “It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.” (Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets)
- “The truth.” Dumbledore sighed. “It is a beautiful and terrible thing, and should therefore be treated with great caution.” (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone)
- “Do you remember me telling you we are practicing non-verbal spells, Potter?”
“Yes,” said Harry stiffly.
“Yes, sir.”
“There’s no need to call me “sir” Professor.”
The words had escaped him before he knew what he was saying.” (Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince)