What is Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone About and Why Should I Care? Who do you think should win this wizard's duel? We say, read Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, and judge it for yourself. So, it seems for every critical "spell" cast by critics like Bloom there's a defensive "spell" cast in return. Not only does Goia think that the book is fun and enjoyable, he thinks it's bound to be a classic. This is one of those books that is meant to be enjoyed and shared. If Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone is not a classic, than the term hardly has a legitimate meaning. has peopled her magical universe with some of the most striking characters of contemporary fiction there is no better place to start in exploring richly inspired alternative world than this opening volume in the series. And author Ted Goia has tons of good things to say. The New York Times review of Sorcerer's Stone says that Rowling has "soared beyond her modest Muggle surroundings to achieve something quite special" ( source). Bloom has commented that "the book is not well written" and that Harry Potter lacks an "imaginative vision" ( source).ĭon't go thinking that all literary critics are down on Harry, though. The famous literary critic Harold Bloom wrote a scathing article titled "Can 35 Million Book Buyers Be Wrong? Yes." Wow, pretty harsh, Harold.
What's more, some literary critics have problems with the series and wonder whether being popular is the same as being quality literature. For example, some religious fundamentalists have criticized the series for its portrayal of magic and wizardry (see this interesting collection of links at for more). The arguments back and forth between lovers and haters end up resembling a wizard's duel. Of course, like many pop culture icons, the Harry Potter series has both big fans and big haters. Rowling's magical world is a thrilling place!
You may even remember just how crazy people got each time a new book came out. Six books later, the series has won tons of snazzy book awards, it's had major sales, and made mountains of money. People were amazed that a small "children's book" was so popular, even among adults. It also made it onto the New York Times Bestseller list. The book became a smash success, winning the UK National Book Award (1997) and the Gold Medal Smarties Prize (1997), and being named a Best Book of the Year (1998) by both Publishers Weekly and the New York Public Library. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone was published in the United States in 1998. She sent the book to many publishers until one (yay Bloomsbury!) finally agreed to publish her work in the United Kingdom in 1997 (under the original title, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone) ( source). Rowling dreamt it up on a train ride to London and spent years working on it ( source).
first before its 1998 release in the U.S.), that it has the error on page 53, *and* that it has the number sequence that ensures it's a first impression copy. edition of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (the book came out in the U.K. Still don't get it? Me neither, but it's definitely worth digging through your old books in case you're sitting on $26,000. "As the first book in the series, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone has a special place in the affections of the millions of readers across the world and the proof reading error about the wand in the first edition has, of course, become a treasured piece of Harry Potter arcana," Haley explains. So, why would a muggle pay so much for a book with "1 wand" listed twice? Bonhams Head of Books and Manuscripts Matthew Haley offers his take in the auction listing.