Joanne “Jo” Rowling is known to readers the world over as J.K. Rowling, author of the best-selling book series of all time. The creator of Harry Potter was once a single mother writing in cafés and living on welfare, who experienced a fairytale-like rise from poverty and obscurity to becoming one of the richest and most influential women on the planet. And following her controversial stances in the cultural and political war over transgender rights, Rowling found herself a pariah in circles that had previously adored her.

Wunderkind author Solomon Schmidt spent years studying Rowling’s life and books. He spoke with her reclusive ex-husband in Portugal, along with relatives who shared substantial memories and never-before-seen photographs of Rowling and her family. During the course of his extensive interviews and research, Schmidt discovered dark family secrets that have remained concealed until now. He also uncovered numerous autobiographical references that Rowling hid in plain sight within her bestselling work. By systematically unpacking and “decoding” these references, this biography reveals entire new layers to Rowling’s books, which will forever change how the world reads and understands her work.

This book follows Rowling from her childhood in pastoral England, to seaside Porto where she became entangled in a violent marriage, to the depths of poverty in cloudy Edinburgh, to buzzing studios and red-carpet premieres in London, and beyond. New light is shed on her formative experiences of abuse, depression, and the tragic death of her mother, whose horrifying illness left Rowling emotionally shattered. Extensive coverage is also devoted to unpacking the tortured relationship between Rowling and her father, which had an indelible mark on Harry Potter, her post-Potter books, and her decision to speak out in the battle over transgender rights.

The full story of Rowling’s writing of Harry Potter is chronicled for the first time. Schmidt provides fascinating background on how she came up with her iconic characters and how she developed the magnificent, overarching plot of the seven-book series. The exciting production of the Harry Potter movies is also captured from Rowling’s unique perspective, along with the making of the Broadway play Harry Potter and the Cursed Child and the Fantastic Beasts film franchise.

On top of all this, woven into the story is a complete account of Rowling’s involvement in the conflict over sex and gender. Rooted in her experiences of sexual assault and domestic abuse, Rowling morphed from supporting trans rights in 2016 to later being seen as a fierce foe of the trans community. Sparring with politicians and media figures, she played a key role in the hottest controversies in the UK, which played out on social media, before the highest courts, and inside the halls of power. Along the way, she became a “cancelled” figure, facing the condemnation of prominent actors and fans from the Potter community and multiple threats on her life.

This dramatic book is the definitive biography of J.K. Rowling’s momentous life – a must read for all those intrigued, uplifted, or triggered by this era-defining billionaire.

This version sold exclusively in the United States.