Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone: Adult Hardback Edition - Hardcover

Rowling, J.K.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1408865270 ISBN 13: 9781408865279

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing, 2015

Synopsis

Strange things always seem to happen when Harry Potter is around. Things that unsettle his guardians, the Dursleys. They strongly disapprove of strangeness. It's only when a letter arrives, delivered by a shaggy giant of a man called Hagrid, that Harry learns the truth that will transform his entire future: his parents were killed by the evil Lord Voldemort, and he, Harry, is a wizard.

Whisked away to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardy, Harry discovers a world of enchantments, ghosts, Quidditch, and friends who will stand, through everything, by his side. But when Harry hears of a stone with great powers, he finds that his school has its own dark secrets - and an adventure that will become the stuff of legend begins.

These adult editions with glorious jacket art by Andrew Davidson are now available in hardback for the first time.

About this title

Review:

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, curry, grass and sardine. Not only that, but you discover that you are a wizard yourself! This is exactly what happens to young Harry Potter in JK Rowling's enchanting, funny debut novel, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. In the non-magical human world--the world of "Muggles"--Harry is a nobody, treated like dirt by the aunt and uncle who begrudgingly inherited him when his parents were killed by the evil Voldemort. But in the world of wizards, small, skinny Harry is renowned as a survivor of the wizard who tried to kill him. He is left only with a lightning-bolt scar on his forehead, curiously refined sensibilities and a host of mysterious powers to remind him that he's quite, yes, altogether different from his aunt, uncle, and spoilt, pig-like cousin Dudley.

A mysterious letter, delivered by the friendly giant Hagrid, wrenches Harry from his dreary, Muggle-ridden existence: "We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry". Of course, Uncle Vernon yells most unpleasantly, "I AM NOT PAYING FOR SOME CRACKPOT OLD FOOL TO TEACH HIM MAGIC TRICKS!" Soon enough, however, Harry finds himself at Hogwarts with his owl Hedwig ... and that's where the real adventure--humorous, haunting, and suspenseful--begins.

This magical, gripping, brilliant book--a future classic to be sure--will leave children clamouring for a sequel. (Ages 8-13) --Karin Snelson, Amazon.com

Review:

And you thought wizardry was for children. Harry Potter will make you think again. He casts his spells on grown-ups too (James Naughtie)

Funny, imaginative, magical . In the 2020s, thirty-something book-lovers will know each other by smug references to Diagon Alley and Quidditch (The Times)

The Harry Potter stories will join that small group of children's books which are read and reread into adulthood (TLS)

Rowling uses classic narrative devices with flair and originality and delivers a complex and demanding plot in the form of a hugely entertaining thriller (Scotsman)

One of the greatest literary adventures of modern times (Sunday Telegraph)

Spellbinding, enchanting, bewitching stuff (Mirror)

About this edition

• Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
• Publication date: 2015
• ISBN 10: 1408865270
• ISBN 13: 9781408865279
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 352