Over the past decade, the magic of J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series has spread across the globe, touching the imagination of hundreds of millions of people of all ages. From the 1997 U.K. publication of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone through the summer 2007 theatrical release of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, the saga has been an amazing one in print, on screen, and in real life.

The Making of the Potterverse: A Month-by-Month Look at Harry’s First 10 Years is the complete chronicle of Harry’s history, from the moment that Rowling conceived the character on a train ride, to the Pottermania that has followed the publication of each novel and release of each film adaptation. Broken down month-by-month and year-by-year, this one-of-a-kind book covers all of the major and minor news events centering on the world of Harry Potter, interweaving quotes from the films’ cast and crew members — among them, Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint; directors Chris Columbus (The Sorcerer’s Stone, The Chamber of Secrets), Alfonso Cuaron (The Prisoner of Azkaban), and Mike Newell (The Goblet of Fire); producer David Heyman and behind-the-scenes personnel who bring the magic to life.