Harry Potter 1 and the Philosopher's Stone

A new era of Hogwarts begins. The HBO Original Series Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone is coming this Christmas to HBO Max. Loved by millions of readers worldwide, let the first instalment in the greatest children's story of all time take you on an unforgettable journey. The hope and wonder of Harry Potter's world will make you want to escape to Hogwarts again and again. The magic starts here! Harry Potter has never even heard of Hogwarts when the letters start dropping on the doormat at number four, Privet Drive. Addressed in green ink on yellowish parchment with a purple seal, they are swiftly confiscated by his grisly aunt and uncle. Then, on Harry's eleventh birthday, a great beetle-eyed giant of a man called Rubeus Hagrid bursts in with some astonishing news: Harry Potter is a wizard, and he has a place at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. An incredible adventure is about to begin. J.K. Rowling's enduringly popular Harry Potter books continue to captivate new generations of readers. Harry's first adventure alongside his friends, Ron and Hermione, will whisk you away to Hogwarts, an enchanted, turreted castle filled with ever-changing staircases, pearly-white ghosts and magical paintings that flit from frame to frame. This gorgeous paperback edition features a spectacular cover by award-winning artist Jonny Duddle, as well as refreshed bonus material including fun facts exploring the origins of names such as Albus Dumbledore, Hedwig and other favourite characters. Get ready for the magical journey of a lifetime! SORTING - SPELLS - SECRETS Seven magical stories, one epic adventure. ** Praise for the Harry Potter books: 'That rare thing, a series of stories adored by parents and children alike.' - Daily Telegraph 'A phenomenon . Grown men in suits have been spotted with them on trains. Parents squabble over who gets to read them to the kids, and teachers say a chapter can silence the most rowdy of classes.' - Guardian 'One of the greatest literary adventures of modern times.' - Sunday Telegraph 'Spellbinding, enchanting, bewitching stuff.' - Mirror 'The only thing wrong with it is that you can't put it down.' - Fiona Chadwick, 9 years old 'It is very funny. I would love to be Harry and make up some magic spell to play on my teachers.' - Tom El-Shawk, 11 years old 'My mum loved it so much she would not let my dad read any of it to me.' - Alexander Benn, 7 and 9- years old 'It's for all ages and it's brilliant.' - Katrina Farrant, 10 years old

J.K. Rowling is the author of the enduringly popular Harry Potter books. After the idea for Harry Potter came to her on a delayed train journey in 1990, she plotted out and started writing the series of seven books and the first, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, was published in the UK in 1997. The series took another ten years to complete, concluding in 2007 with the publication of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. The Harry Potter books have now sold over 600 million copies in 85 languages, been listened to as audiobooks for over one billion hours and made into eight smash hit movies. To accompany the series, J.K. Rowling wrote three short companion volumes for charity: Quidditch Through the Ages, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them and The Tales of Beedle the Bard, in aid of her international children's foundation Lumos. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them went on to inspire a new series of films featuring Magizoologist Newt Scamander. Harry's story as a grown-up was continued in a stage play, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, which J.K. Rowling wrote with playwright Jack Thorne and director John Tiffany, and which is now playing in locations around the world. She is also the author of a bestselling crime fiction series written under the pen name Robert Galbraith, and two stand-alone children's novels, The Ickabog and The Christmas Pig. J.K. Rowling has received many awards and honours for her writing, including the OBE and Companion of Honour, and a Blue Peter Gold Badge. She supports a wide number of humanitarian causes through her charitable trust Volant and is the founder of the international children's care reform charity Lumos. To find out more about J.K. Rowling visit jkrowling.com.