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Description

Say you've spent the first 10 years of your life sleeping under the stairs of a family who loathes you. Then, in an absurd, magical twist of fate you find yourself surrounded by wizards, a caged snowy owl, a phoenix-feather wand and jellybeans that come in every flavour, including strawberry,... read more

Summary

Just before the start of the novel, Voldemort, the most powerful evil wizard in living memory, killed Harry's parents but mysteriously vanished after trying to kill Harry. While the wizarding world is celebrating Voldemort's downfall, Professor Dumbledore, Professor McGonagall and Hagrid place... read more (warning: may contain spoilers)

Cast of Characters/Important People

Show all 14 characters

Memorable Quotes

  • “It's lucky it's dark. I haven't blushed so much since Madam Pomfrey told me she liked my new earmuffs.”
    Albus Dumbledore
  • “This boy will be famous. There won't be a child in our world that won't know his name. There will be books about him, he will be a legend.”
    Minerva McGonagall
  • “Scars can come in useful. I have one myself above my left knee which is a perfect map of the London Underground.”
    Albus Dumbledore
  • “Ah, yes,' he said softly, 'Harry Potter. Our new — celebrity.”
    Severus Snape
  • “You are here to learn the subtle science and exact art of potion-making,' he began. He spoke in barely more than a whisper, but they caught every word — like Professor McGonagall, Snape had the gift of keeping a class silent without effort. 'As there is little foolish wand-waving here, many of you will hardly believe this is magic. I don't expect you will really understand the beauty of the softly simmering cauldron with its shimmering fumes, the delicate power of liquids that creep through human veins, bewitching the mind, ensnaring the senses ... I can teach you how to bottle fame, brew glory, even stopper death — if you aren't as big a bunch of dunderheads as I usually have to teach.”
    Severus Snape
  • “I hope you're pleased with yourselves. We could all have been killed — or worse, expelled.”
    Hermione Granger
  • “There are some things you can't share without ending up liking each other, and knocking out a twelve-foot mountain troll is one of them.”
  • “It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live, remember that Harry.”
    Albus Dumbledore
  • “There is no good and evil, there is only power, and those too weak to seek it.”
    Lord Voldemort
  • “What happened down in the dungeons between you and Professor Quirrell is a complete secret, so, naturally, the whole school knows. I believe your friends Misters Fred and George Weasley were responsible for trying to send you a lavatory seat.”
    Albus Dumbledore
  • “To the well-organized mind, death is but the next great adventure.”
    Albus Dumbledore
  • “Fear of a name increases fear of the thing itself.”
    Albus Dumbledore
  • “I? I see myself holding a pair of thick woollen socks”
    Albus Dumbledore
  • “"Me?" said Hermione. "Books and cleverness! There are more important things-friendship and bravery-oh Harry-be careful!"”
    Hermione Granger
  • “We'll send you a Hogwarts toilet seat!”
    George Weasley
  • “It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies, but just as much to stand up to our friends.”
    Albus Dumbledore
  • “Aunt Petunia often said that Dudley looked like a baby angel. Harry often said that Dudley looked like a pig in a wig.”
  • “The poor toilet's never had anything as horrible as your head down it — it might be sick”
    Harry
  • “The lake froze solid and the Weasley twins were punished for bewitching several snowballs so that they followed Quirrell around, bouncing off the back of his turban.”
  • “No wonder we couldn't find Flamel in that Study of Recent Developments in Wizardry. He's not exactly recent if he's six hundred and sixty-five, is he?”
    Ron
  • “"The Truth. It is a beautiful and terrible thing, and therefore should be treated with great caution."”
    Albus Dumbledore
Show all 21 quotations from this book

Setting & Important Places

This Harry Potter tale takes place in modern day England. The world is divided between wizards, such as Harry Potter, and Muggles (who have no magical ability). Young wizards are sent to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in the lovely English countryside where they are educated in the magical arts. Much of the story takes place at Hogwarts.

Organizations

  • Slytherin: is one of the four Houses at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and is traditionally home to students who exhibit such traits as cunning and ambition. Its emblematic animal is the snake and its colours are green and silver. Founded by Salazar Slytherin, the house is comprised mostly of pure-blood students, due to its founder's mistrust of Muggle-born witches and wizards. The house has a negative reputation, with many claiming that it is the source of most Dark Wizards in Britain, notably Tom Marvolo Riddle, a.k.a. Lord Voldemort, as well as many of his Death Eaters. Slytherin corresponds roughly with the element of water.
  • Gryffindor: is one of the four Houses of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, founded by Godric Gryffindor. Its emblematic animal is the lion and its colours are scarlet and gold. Minerva McGonagall is the most recent Head of House. Sir Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington, also known as "Nearly Headless Nick" is the house ghost. The particular characteristics of students Sorted into Gryffindor are courage and chivalry, of which the lion is the symbol. Gryffindor corresponds roughly to the element of fire, which may partly be the reason for its colours.
  • Hufflepuff: s one of the four Houses of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Its founder was the Medieval witch Helga Hufflepuff. The Head of Hufflepuff is Pomona Sprout. The Fat Friar is the House's patron ghost. Hufflepuff is the most inclusive among the four houses, valuing hard work, patience, friendship and fair play rather than a particular aptitude in its members. Its emblematic animal is the badger, and yellow and black are its colours. Hufflepuff corresponds roughly to the element of earth.
  • Ravenclaw: is one of the four Houses of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, founded by Rowena Ravenclaw. Members of this house are characterised by their intelligence and cleverness. Its house colours are blue and bronze, and its symbol is the eagle.<1> The house ghost, who in life was the daughter of the house's founder Rowena Ravenclaw, is the Grey Lady<2>. Many great wizards and witches have come from this house, including Filius Flitwick and Luna Lovegood. Ravenclaw roughly corresponds with the element of air.

First Sentence

Mr. e Mrs. Dursely, que vivem no número quatro de Privet Drive, sempre afirmaram, para quem os quisesse ouvier, ser o mais normal que é possível ser-se, graças a Deus.

Table of Contents

1. The Boy Who Lived
2. The Vanishing Glass
3. The Letters from No One
4. The Keeper of the Keys
5. Diagon Alley
6. The Journey from Platform Nine and Three-quarters
7. The Sorting Hat
8. The Potions Master
9. The Midnight Duel
10. Halloween
11. Quidditch
12. The Mirror of Erised
13. Nicolas Flamel
14. Norbert The Norwegian Ridgeback
15. The Forbidden Forest
16. Through the Trapdoor
17. The Man with Two Faces

Glossary

  • Muggle: A human - Eg- Not a wizard
  • mudblood: muggle born
  • Animagi: Wizards who can turn themselves into animals at will. The singular form is animagus
  • Apparate: To transport oneself instantly to any destination. Apparating is difficult and must not be done without a license from the Department of Magical Transportation. There is a danger of splinching
  • Aragog: A huge spider that lives in the Forbidden Forest
  • Auror: Professional Dark-wizard-catcher
  • Azkaban: Prison fortress where wizarding criminals are sent. Guarded day and night by the terrifying Dementors, who drain peace, hope and happiness out of any human who comes too close to them
  • Charm: Spells

Errata

none found

Series

This is book 1 in the Harry Potter series.

Authors & Contributors

  1. J. K. Rowling (Author)

Other Contributors:

  1. Alicia Dellepiane
  2. Thomas Taylor (Illustrator) - The United Kingdom illustrator
  3. Mary GrandPré (Illustrator) - An American illustrator, best known for her illustrations in the US editions of the Harry Potter books
  4. Isabel Fraga (Translator) - Revisão de texto de Isabel Nunes

First Edition

Original Language: English
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Country: United Kingdom
Publication Date: June 30, 1997
ISBN: 0747532699
Page Count: 223

Awards

Classification

  • Library of Congress: PZ7.R79835
  • Dewey: 813.R88
 

More Books Like This

   
  • The Fellowship of the Ring
  • The Books of Magic
  • Fablehaven

Books with Additional Background Information

   
  • Harry, A History
  • The Book of Harry Potter Trifles, Trivias and Particularities
  • The Sorcerer's Companion

Books That Influenced This Book

   
  • The Books of Magic

Books Influenced by This Book

   
  • Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
  • Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
  • Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
  • Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
  • Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
  • Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

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