The fourth Potter book

WHEN J. K. Rowling set out to write the first of her three books, little did she realise that she would whip up a frenzy among children in this generation with a plot that seemed more suited to the Middle Ages. Her first book, Harry Potter And The Philosopher's Stone set the ball rolling and today almost every Harry Potter book launch is like a major world event. With the impending launch of her fourth book, Rowling has created more than just the usual Potter fever.

According to Amazon.com, the book, to the released on July 8, has unleashed a torrent of advance orders from even Bermuda, Brazil, Hong Kong and Indonesia.

Rowling who has bagged the Smarties Nestle Book Award, the Children's Book Award, the Young Telegraph Book Award among others, has capitalised on the sheer inventiveness of her main character and the incredible child appeal that he has, which has captured the imagination of most children. Rowling's English publishers, Bloomsbury, reported that their profits were 66 per cent higher last year because of the popularity of Harry Potter, books.

They have sold more than 18 million copies in the United States alone and now there will soon be a film made on the first saga of Harry Potter. Film makers have said that they have already received 40,000 requests and submissions from young hopefuls who want to play the part of Harry.

Who is Harry Potter? What is it about him that has made him click? Rowling's character is actually a 12-year-old boy who is rather unusual. He is a wizard. With no parents to look after him, Harry is forced to stay with the Dursley's, who are a normal ordinary family and do not understand or appreciate Harry's peculiarities.

But when Harry is finally asked to join Hogwarts his school life changes. Hogwarts is no ordinary school - it teaches witchcraft and wizardry. From here on the reader and Harry are transported to a world of magic with loads of humour thrown in.

So popular are the books with children that one teacher, writing to Rowling, said that "one chapter of the book was good enough to calm down a riotous class". While most schools have reacted positively to the series, since it has revived the zest for reading in the age of TV and computers, there is one school in England that has banned it because Harry's magical powers go against the teachings of the Bible:

Rowling says that when she started to write, she wanted to create a different sort of book, and she thought the world of magic was just right. Her latest book, Harry Potter And The Doomspell Tournament is about Harry at Hogwarts. Now 14 years old, he gets into a romance with a girl called Cho Chang, his classmate, who has also been a seeker in the game of quidditch.

"Last time you met him he was 13. Now he is 14 and has started to realise that girls are interesting," says Rowling. "I've said all along there will be death. Yes, you will see death in book four." Apart from that the storyline is a huge secret. In fact a grand launch has been scheduled for schoolchildren at a London railway platform which will be converted into the famous "platform nine- and-three-quarters".

Hailed as the next best thing to Roald Danl, Tolkien, Lewis and Ransome, J. K. Rowling has createda wonder. Most children say that reading Harry Potter was "an experience in itself".

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