Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

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   10歳になるまで、あなたのことが大嫌いな家族の住む階段の下で暮らしてきたとしてみよう。それが、どんな運命のいたずらか、気がつけば魔法使いやかごに入った真っ白なフクロウ、不死鳥の羽根で作った魔法の杖、イチゴ味からカレー味、草味にイワシ味までありとあらゆる味のあるジェリービーンズに囲まれていて、しかも、自分も魔法使いであることがわかったら、あなたはどうする？ だが、これこそが、J・K・ローリングの実に愉快なデビュー作『Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone』（邦題『ハリー・ポッターと賢者の石』）の主人公のハリー・ポッター少年に起こったできごと。魔法を使えない人間の国（「マグル」の世界）では、まったく取るに足りない存在だったハリー。邪悪なヴォルデモートによって両親が殺されたために、おじさんとおばさんにやむなく引き取られ、ゴミのように扱われていたのだ。けれども、魔法使いの世界では、小さくてやせっぽちのハリーはちょっとした有名人。ヴォルデモートに殺されそうになりながらも、たったひとり生き残った子どもだから。ハリーに残されたのは、稲妻型の額のきずと研ぎ澄まされた感覚、そしておばさんやおじさん、甘やかされたブタのようなダドリーとはまったく違う存在であることを思わせる不思議な力だった。

   マグルの意地悪に悩まされたハリーの憂鬱な日々は、優しい大男のハグリッドが運んできた不思議な手紙によって一変する。「貴殿のホグワーツ魔法学校への入学が許可されたことを、ここにお知らせいたします」もちろんバーノンおじさんが黙っているはずはない。「おまえに魔法などというインチキを教える頭のおかしな奴らにカネなど払えん！」それでも、無事フクロウのヘドウィグと一緒にホグワーツへ向かうことになったハリー……いよいよ本当の――ユーモラスで、恐ろしくて、スリルたっぷりの――冒険が始まる。

   読み出したら止まらない何とも魅力的な1冊。これからもずっと古典として読みつがれることは間違いない。続編を待ち望む子どもたちの声が聞こえてくるようだ。（8－13歳向け）

Product Description

Amazon.com

Here is a very special edition of the book that started it all: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. Shortly after publication, J.K. Rowling's debut became a runaway bestselling award winner, and each new title in the sequence has all but created riots in the streets, as delirious fans chomp at the bit for the latest escapades of Harry Potter and his cohorts. For the true devotee of the series, this collector's edition is a must. Gold foil stamping on an embossed leather cover marks the book as a bona fide treasure. Most exciting of all is a previously unpublished sketch of Harry by Rowling herself! Don't miss this opportunity to collect a beautiful version of a modern classic. (Ages 9 and older) --Emilie Coulter

Amazon.com Review

Say you've spent the first 10 years of your life sleeping under the stairs of a family who loathes you. Then, in an absurd, magical twist of fate you find yourself surrounded by wizards, a caged snowy owl, a phoenix-feather wand, and jellybeans that come in every flavor, including strawberry, curry, grass, and sardine. Not only that, but you discover that you are a wizard yourself! This is exactly what happens to young Harry Potter in J.K. Rowling's enchanting, funny debut novel, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. In the nonmagic human world--the world of "Muggles"--Harry is a nobody, treated like dirt by the aunt and uncle who begrudgingly inherited him when his parents were killed by the evil Voldemort. But in the world of wizards, small, skinny Harry is famous as a survivor of the wizard who tried to kill him. He is left only with a lightning-bolt scar on his forehead, curiously refined sensibilities, and a host of mysterious powers to remind him that he's quite, yes, altogether different from his aunt, uncle, and spoiled, piglike cousin Dudley.

A mysterious letter, delivered by the friendly giant Hagrid, wrenches Harry from his dreary, Muggle-ridden existence: "We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry." Of course, Uncle Vernon yells most unpleasantly, "I AM NOT PAYING FOR SOME CRACKPOT OLD FOOL TO TEACH HIM MAGIC TRICKS!" Soon enough, however, Harry finds himself at Hogwarts with his owl Hedwig... and that's where the real adventure--humorous, haunting, and suspenseful--begins. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, first published in England as Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, continues to win major awards in England. So far it has won the National Book Award, the Smarties Prize, the Children's Book Award, and is short-listed for the Carnegie Medal, the U.K. version of the Newbery Medal. This magical, gripping, brilliant book--a future classic to be sure--will leave kids clamoring for Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets and Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. (Ages 8 to 13) --Karin Snelson