Harry’s Havoc
- August 17th, 2007
- Posted by EUEditor
That Harry Potter craze is far from ex-spelled; it’s set to get back to full swing when it moves to Europe in the coming months — as Imogen Brennan has discovered.
Already in Europe, a French boy has been arrested for posting his own unauthorised translation of the latest book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows on the internet last Thursday (9.8.07).
The authorities say the sixteen year-old from Aix-en-Provence will not be forced to resort to any tricks to keep his freedom; they say he won’t be prosecuted for what he’s done.
He just couldn’t wait for the official French language version due out on 26.10.07 –one of 65 languages other than English which will be giving their own versions of Harry’s exploits
Even further afield, students in China had the “Deathly Hallows” translated in full and on line on 21.7.07, immediately after the English language release; once again they could not wait for the official version to arrive in October.
At home in the United Kingdom, Harry moved three-million copies in just twenty-four hours following after the launch in July – from that propitious moment, at 09:01 am. (Publishers advise us it is “not policy” to tell their sales figures since the launch).
Leading European bookshops are getting ready for the blast, even now warming up with displays carrying the English version.
In Brussels the capital of Europe itself a major outlet, Filigranes, have been running the promotion and talking about possible special events in October.
There’ll be plenty of precedents to work on, from a parade of wizards, a bathroom ghost, appearances by several incarnations of Harry himself, at least one giant – and several almost magical disappearances of books into the ands of small children.
Reference:
“New Harry Potter book sets worldwide sales record”, Belfast Telegraph, Belfast, 23.7.07. http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/breaking-news/world/europe/article2793502.ece
“Chinese wizards work their magic with Harry Potter”, Reuters, 16.8.07.
http://www.reuters.com/article/entertainmentNews/idUSPEK17609320070816
Picture: Google Images – freeeeworld.blogspot.com