The first Harry Potter novel was published in 1997. Since then the Harry Potter series has become a publishing phenomenon, selling over 250 million copies worldwide. The Harry Potter books are sold in more than 200 countries and have been translated into 60 different languages from Hindi to Ancient Greek.

The novels have also been successfully adapted for the big screen. The first three films have all been smash hits at the box office. The most recent film ‘Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban’ broke records in the UK, taking ￡11.5 million in its first three days on release . It went on to take more than $750 million worldwide!

It has been an incredible journey for the author of the books, JK Rowling. Just seven years ago she was a single mother writing her books in a café. Now she is a multi-millionaire, Britain’s richest woman and ranked as the world’s best-paid author.

It is difficult to pinpoint the secret to the Harry Potter series’ success. For whatever reason, the books have captured the imagination of millions of readers from around the world. Fans are passionate about the books and films, and there are many websites devoted to Harry and his friends and enemies.

Indeed, there has been a great deal of gossip and speculation surrounding the new book. However, for the moment the story remains a well-guarded secret . If you want to know what happens in the sixth Harry Potter book, you’ll just have to read it!

GLOSSARY 詞匯表 (收聽發音, 請單擊英語單詞)

novel 小說 published worldwide 全球出版發行
wizard （男）魔法師；男巫 publishing phenomenon 出版業的奇跡
the big screen 熒屏 smash hits 巨大成功
box office 票房 on release 出版；發行
single mother 單身母親 to pinpoint 精確查明
captured the imagination
捕獲…的想像力；使…極度著迷 gossip
閑話；流言蜚語
speculation 猜測 well-guarded secret 嚴守的秘密