Hogwarts, horcruxes and hippogriffs: Harry turns 20

[Photo/Agencies]

Far beyond the United Kingdom and English-language markets, the saga wove itself into the world's literary DNA.

The seven volumes have been translated into 79 languages in 200 countries, and Monday's 20th anniversary will feature fancy-dress reading parties around the world.

Marie Lallouet, editor-in-chief of a children's literature digest at the National Library of France, underlined the scale of the books' appeal beyond the UK, which already had a rich stock of literature conjuring tales out of the worlds of boarding schools and magic.

"Harry Potter re-validated children's literature in the eyes of adults, and encouraged an entire generation (of French children) to learn English so that they could read the books as soon as they came out in English," she said.

Rowling managed to magic "something very powerful" into existence, Lallouet said, by portraying one boy's struggle to come to terms with his tragic beginnings against the backdrop of an existential struggle of good against evil.

The first print run of Philosopher's Stone produced 1,000 copies - all now highly sought after by collectors - after numerous rejections.