JK Rowling, the author of the Harry Potter novels has never been shy to share juicy tidbits about the Potter universe on social media. Sometimes the tweets are highly controversial, sometimes they put a smile on your face, always are they fascinating. This week, on a string of Twitter ‘quote tweets’ Rowling debunked some longtime fun “facts” about the creation of Harry Potter and the Wizarding World.
Rowling was asked about a coffee shop in Edinburgh called Elephant House, which for years has been referred to as the birthplace of the Boy Who Lived. Rowling said she had in fact been writing Harry Potter for a few years before even stepping into the cafe.
“I was thinking of putting a section on my website about all the alleged inspirations and birthplaces of Potter. I’d been writing Potter for several years before I ever set foot in this cafe, so it’s not the birthplace, but I *did* write in there so we’ll let them off!”
Rowling continued, “For instance, I never visited this bookshop in Oporto. Never even knew of its existence! It’s beautiful and I wish I *had* visited it, but it has nothing to do with Hogwarts!”
For instance, I never visited this bookshop in Oporto. Never even knew of its existence! It’s beautiful and I wish I *had* visited it, but it has nothing to do with Hogwarts! pic.twitter.com/f83rxBeeyY
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) May 21, 2020
So, where exactly is the true birthplace of Harry Potter? It’s Rowling’s flat in Clapham Junction, of course.
“This is the true birthplace of Harry Potter, if you define ‘birthplace’ as the spot where I put pen to paper for the first time.* I was renting a room in a flat over what was then a sports shop. The first bricks of Hogwarts were laid in a flat in Clapham Junction. If you define the birthplace of Harry Potter as the moment when I had the initial idea, then it was a Manchester-London train. But I’m perennially amused by the idea that Hogwarts was directly inspired by beautiful places I saw or visited, because it’s so far from the truth.”
JK Rowling also talked about Hogwarts.
I sometimes hear Hogwarts was based on one or other of Edinburgh’s schools, but that’s 100% false, too. Hogwarts was created long before I clapped eyes on any of them! I did finish Hallows in the Balmoral, though, & I can’t lie, I’d rate it a smidge higher than the Bournville. pic.twitter.com/Evt0ttqfYH
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) May 21, 2020
And you’re specifically wondering where exactly was JK Rowling sitting down when she wrote the part where Harry buys his wand, Rowling has an answer for you:
I wrote the bit where Harry buys his wand sitting under a tree, appropriately enough. (I can't absolutely guarantee they haven't taken away the old tree & planted a new one in the same corner of the field. I haven't been there for nearly 30 years. But I think it's this one.) pic.twitter.com/29IA3eHHl9
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) May 21, 2020
Rowling also talks about a bunch of other things, including Quidditch and other aspects of the Potterworld. Check em out here.
