在世界的另一個角落,有著一個神秘的魔法國度,裡面住滿了巫師。施魔法、派貓頭鷹送信都只是基本,他們還騎飛天掃帚當交通工具,和畫像裡的人交談,與各式各樣的神奇生物比鄰而居,甚至還有完整培育巫師的學校。
十一歲的哈利波特,從小被收養他的姨丈一家當成怪胎,經常得滿屋子躲避表哥達力的追打。雖然無法解釋發生在身邊的各種奇怪現象,但他一直以為自己只是個平凡的男孩。
直到那封信掉落在水蠟樹街四號的踩腳墊上,淡黃色的羊皮紙信封上用綠色墨水書寫著地址,以紫色蠟印彌封。哈利還沒弄清楚那是什麼,就立刻被恐怖的阿姨和姨丈給沒收了。
但寄信的人並沒有就此罷休,陸續寄來了十封、二十封,直到上百封。最後,擁有一頭濃密黑髮和雜亂鬍鬚的巨人海格出現在哈利的面前,直接將信塞給他,並帶來令人震驚的消息:「哈利波特是一名巫師,在霍格華茲魔法與巫術學院擁有一席之地。」哈利顫抖著雙手收下信,這時的他還不知道,他即將踏上全魔法世界最不可思議的冒險旅程!
----中文簡介擷取自中譯本《哈利波特(1):神秘的魔法石》,皇冠出版
Harry Potter has never been the star of a Quidditch team, scoring points while riding a broom far above the ground. He knows no spells, has never helped to hatch a dragon, and has never worn a cloak of invisibility.
All he knows is a miserable life with the Dursleys, his horrible aunt and uncle, and their abominable son, Dudley — a great big swollen spoiled bully. Harry’s room is a tiny closet at the foot of the stairs, and he hasn’t had a birthday party in eleven years.
But all that is about to change when a mysterious letter arrives by owl messenger: a letter with an invitation to an incredible place that Harry — and anyone who reads about him — will find unforgettable.
For it’s there that he finds not only friends, aerial sports, and magic in everything from classes to meals, but a great destiny that’s been waiting for him… if Harry can survive the encounter.