Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Harry Potter, Book 4)
Harry Potter is fourteen and about to face his most dangerous year yet at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. When his name mysteriously emerges from the Goblet of Fire, he becomes an unwilling competitor in the legendary Triwizard Tournament. This deadly competition pits him against older, more experienced wizards in three terrifying tasks.
The tournament brings students from two other magical schools to Hogwarts for a year of friendship and rivalry. Harry must navigate new challenges both inside and outside the arena, from dragons to dark secrets. Meanwhile, Lord Voldemort's followers are growing bolder, and disturbing signs suggest the Dark Lord himself may be regaining power.
This fourth book in the Harry Potter series marks a turning point as the story grows darker and more complex. J.K. Rowling expands the wizarding world beyond Hogwarts, introducing new characters and magical creatures. The stakes have never been higher for Harry and his friends.
Perfect for readers ready for a longer, more intense adventure, this installment delivers mystery, action, and unforgettable moments. The Goblet of Fire combines school life with life-or-death challenges that will keep readers spellbound until the final page.
Interesting Facts
Nearly Double the Length: This fourth installment weighs in at 636 pages in the UK edition and 734 pages in the US edition, almost twice the size of the first three books combined! J.K. Rowling knew from the beginning it would be the biggest of the first four, saying she needed a proper run-up for the series conclusion and couldn't rush such a complex plot.
The Hardest Book to Write: Rowling has called this book an absolute nightmare, admitting she literally lost the plot halfway through writing. She discovered a giant plot hole involving a character named Mafalda (a Weasley relative who was eventually cut) and had to go back and unpick everything she'd written.
Chapter Nine's Thirteen Rewrites: One chapter nearly finished Rowling completely. She rewrote Chapter 9 (the chaotic scene after the Quidditch World Cup) more times than she can remember, later telling a struggling fan on Twitter that she understood the pain of rewriting the same chapter forty times.
The Title Changed Three Times: The working title was "Harry Potter and the Doomspell Tournament," which then became "Triwizard Tournament" before Rowling finally settled on "Goblet of Fire" because it had that cup of destiny feel, which perfectly captures the book's theme.
Simultaneous International Release: For the first time in the series, this book was published on the same date in both the UK and US on July 8, 2000. The strategic Saturday release meant children wouldn't have school conflicting with buying the book, and bookstores held their very first midnight release parties.
Record-Breaking Sales Phenomenon: Three million copies sold in the first weekend in the US alone, with 372,775 hardback copies flying off shelves on UK publication day. The demand was so intense that FedEx dispatched more than 9,000 trucks and 100 planes to fulfill deliveries.
The Only Hugo Award Winner: This is the only Harry Potter novel to win the prestigious Hugo Award for Best Novel in 2001, a highly coveted prize typically reserved for science fiction and fantasy works. It also won the Scottish Arts Council Book Award and the Indian Paintbrush Book Award.
New York Times Created a Separate List: The massive success of this book (along with the previous three topping the adult fiction bestseller list) motivated The New York Times to create an entirely separate bestseller list just for children's literature in 2000.
Everything on a Bigger Scale: Rowling deliberately made everything larger in scope because it was symbolic of Harry's horizons widening both literally and metaphorically as he grew up. She wanted to explore more of the magical world beyond Hogwarts.
The Triwizard Tournament's Ancient History: The competition featured in the book dates back approximately 700 years and was traditionally held every five years between Europe's three largest wizarding schools. It was discontinued in 1792 after too many accidents before being revived for this story.
Braille Edition Was Massive: For visually impaired fans, the braille edition wasn't available until July 28, 2000, and consisted of six volumes with 1,037 braille pages weighing about 18.5 pounds, costing $173 from the Braille Bookstore.
Stephen King Praised It: The legendary horror author reviewed the book for The New York Times, calling it every bit as good as the first three Potter books and praising the humor and subplots, though he noted there was a moderately tiresome amount of adolescent squabbling.
Quotes
"Dark and difficult times lie ahead. Soon we must all face the choice between what is right and what is easy."
"If you want to know what a man’s like, take a good look at how he treats his inferiors, not his equals."
"Remember, if the time should come when you have to make a choice between what is right and what is easy, remember what happened to a boy who was good and kind and brave."
"Numbing the pain for a while will make it worse when you finally feel it."
"We are only as strong as we are united, as weak as we are divided."
"You fail to recognize that it matters not what someone is born, but what they grow to be!"
"There will be no foolish wand-waving or silly incantations in this class."
"It matters not what someone is born, but what they grow to be."
"Curiosity is not a sin… But we should exercise caution with our curiosity."
"I am what I am, an’ I’m not ashamed."
"I don’t go looking for trouble. Trouble usually finds me."
"Just because it’s taken you three years to notice, Ron, doesn’t mean no one else has spotted I’m a girl!"
"The world isn’t split into good people and Death Eaters."
"Understanding is the first step to acceptance, and only with acceptance can there be recovery."
"Twitchy little ferret, aren’t you, Malfoy?"
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