A Pen to Change the World: The Life of J.K. Rowling

THE ONLY COMPLETE BIOGRAPHY OF THE WORLD'S MOST FAMOUS AUTHOR

Features exclusive interview content with relatives of Rowling

With nearly 150 full-color photographs - many published here for the first time

Contains 5 maps and a Family Tree specially created for this book

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.

Author: Solomon Schmidt
Publisher: Skyhorse Publishing
Published: 06/23/2026
Pages: 552
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 2.00lbs
Size: 9.10h x 6.40w x 2.00d
ISBN: 9781648210983

About the Author
Solomon Schmidt is the 22-year-old author of ten books. These include eight books in a series called History Bites, as well as biographies on Alan Dershowitz and J.K. Rowling. Solomon wrote his first book at the age of 12 and was described by national media as "the youngest child historian in America." He has traveled to all seven continents to film videos for his History Bites YouTube channel, has spoken at conferences throughout the US, and runs historical tours in England and Scotland. He is also working to help expand education in rural parts of Nepal through the JAPA Workbook Initiative.

Solomon's book, Legal Gladiator, is the authorized biography of Alan Dershowitz. It contains groundbreaking, archival research and interviews with some of the most significant historical figures of modern times. The book was lauded by prominent reviewers as a "must-read," "engrossing," "a significant biography," "objective and fascinating," and containing "gripping prose based on rigorous research." His latest book, A Pen to Change the World, is the first complete biography of J.K. Rowling, and it includes bombshell revelations and many never-before-seen photographs. Solomon's work has been praised by Mike Tyson, Jocko Willink, Glenn Greenwald, Nima Rinji Sherpa, Steven Pinker, John Solomon, Jay Sekulow, Robert Shapiro, Amb. Mike Huckabee, Rep. Jamie Raskin, Sec. Mike Pompeo, Noam Chomsky, Jane Goodall, and Pres. Donald Trump, among many others. He lives near Buffalo, New York.