New Harry Potter Book Sets Sales Records
From the Associated Press:
Harry Potter just keeps topping himself.
"We expected to sell 1 million copies in the first week and we sold that many within the first 48 hours," Barnes & Noble CEO Steve Riggio said Sunday as "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" set records around the world in its first weekend.
Nobody in the industry had seen anything like it, at least since "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire," which came out three years ago. Scholastic, the book's U.S. publisher, estimated 5 million copies were sold the first day alone, well ahead of the pace of "Goblet of Fire."
Borders Group reported worldwide sales of 750,000 the first day. Amazon.com shipped out more than a million copies of the new book, making Saturday the largest distribution day of a single item in e-commerce history.
In London, the supermarket chain Tesco said it sold 317,400 copies of the fifth in J.K. Rowling's fantasy series in the first 24 hours, seven times the number sold in the first week of Potter IV.
"The book has now broken all our sales records and there is no doubt that this will be the best selling book we have ever stocked," said Tesco book buyer Caroline Ridding.
"She has made a hero of somebody who could have become a victim," said graying Gillian Hammerton. Like Harry, she was orphaned at an early age. "It's marvelous for someone to have empathy with how a child can feel when they are not in the bosom of a family," she said.
Some retailers had worried that even an enormous first printing, 8.5 million just in the United States, wouldn't last long enough to keep up with demand. A lot of latecomers found themselves settling for a mere pre-order in place of a book.
Riggio said many Barnes & Noble stores had run out of copies, but that more would arrive "over the next few days." The Book House in Albany, N.Y., sold out its 1,050 copies of the book, even though it limited purchases to two per person.
A Borders bookstore in Columbus, Ohio, had just enough Potter books for the people who reserved them this weekend, and another shipment was expected by Monday or Tuesday.
Borders store manager Mathew Kowalski said many customers who could not get the new book bought copies of the other Potter novels.
"We sold some other books, but it was mainly Harry Potter sales this weekend," Kowalski said.
There were flaws in the Potter master plan. Some stores put the book on sale before its June 21 publication date and a seller in Lynchburg, Va., Givens Books, discovered that more than 40 of its copies were missing 33 pages. Scholastic said the books would be replaced.
Rowling's first four Potter books have sold an estimated 192 million copies worldwide and have been published in at least 55 languages and distributed in more than 200 countries. Blockbuster movies were made of the first two books and the movie stemming from the third will be released next year.
All the hype for Harry didn't stop critics from enjoying "Order of the Phoenix." The New York Times, in a rare front page review, praised the author's "bravura storytelling skills and tirelessly inventive imagination." USA Today cited Rowling's "wonderful, textured writing." The Associated Press said: "It was worth the wait. And then some."
Lights burned all through the weekend as Potter fans didn't let anything as silly as sleep keep them from working through the 870-page book.
Thursday, 3 May 2012
Harry Potter Book and Gillian Hammerton
"It's kind of nice to escape to a place a bit more magical," said her sister, Stephanie, 16, looking forward to the 768-page British edition, the longest yet in the tales of Harry and his pals at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. (The American edition runs 870 pages, but has the same content.)
The girls' family had rescheduled their two-week tour of Europe to be in London for the launch.
Paying homage to its King's Cross location, the WH Smith store re-created the gateway to Platform 9 3/4, where Harry, Ron and Hermione catch the magical Hogwarts Express to school.
A line of 100 or so eager fans trailed from the store into the station's cavernous arrival hall and contained an equal smattering of children, parents and Potter-mad adults. Entertainers dressed in multicolored capes and magical sorting hats juggled and performed tricks for delighted youngsters, and a painter created Harry Potter scars and glasses on the children's faces.
"She has made a hero of somebody who could have become a victim," said graying Gillian Hammerton. Like Harry, she was orphaned at an early age. "It's marvelous for someone to have empathy with how a child can feel when they are not in the bosom of a family," she said.
As Harry's daring exploits against the evil Lord Voldemort burst upon the waiting world, bookstore owners appeared as excited as their customers.
"It is like a concentrated burst of Christmas," said Wayne Winstone, children's books director for Ottakar's bookshop, which had 77,000 advance orders nationwide.
The book was being launched in Australia, South Africa and New Zealand at the same time as in Britain. And a Paris branch of WH Smith held a special late-night opening with a magician performing tricks and staff dressed as wizards.
Anticipation built in the United States, where the book was to be released at 12:01 a.m. EDT Saturday.
Aspiring young wizards visiting a Barnes & Noble bookstore in Henderson, Nev., received a pair of Harry Potter glasses and were placed under the famed Sorting Hat to determine which house they belong to at Hogwarts. At a Borders in Chicago, youngsters made owl puppets and got their faces painted as they awaited the midnight hour.
Security remained high at most outlets. The 100 copies already reserved at the Westerville Library in suburban Columbus, Ohio, were being kept out of sight in the basement.
"We are afraid if we wheel them through the library when patrons are in the building we will start a frenzy," manager Annabell Burton said.
The twists and turns in the plot were guarded closely by the British publisher, Bloomsbury. Rowling insisted on preserving her surprises for readers. She did reveal that one of the central figures dies in the book, but said she has not even told her husband who the doomed character is.
Yet leaks occurred. A store in Fishers, Ind., and a New York health food store were among those that mistakenly put copies out for sale. The Daily News in New York City, which bought a copy and published a preview, is now facing a $100 million lawsuit from Rowling and her publishers.
The girls' family had rescheduled their two-week tour of Europe to be in London for the launch.
Paying homage to its King's Cross location, the WH Smith store re-created the gateway to Platform 9 3/4, where Harry, Ron and Hermione catch the magical Hogwarts Express to school.
A line of 100 or so eager fans trailed from the store into the station's cavernous arrival hall and contained an equal smattering of children, parents and Potter-mad adults. Entertainers dressed in multicolored capes and magical sorting hats juggled and performed tricks for delighted youngsters, and a painter created Harry Potter scars and glasses on the children's faces.
"She has made a hero of somebody who could have become a victim," said graying Gillian Hammerton. Like Harry, she was orphaned at an early age. "It's marvelous for someone to have empathy with how a child can feel when they are not in the bosom of a family," she said.
As Harry's daring exploits against the evil Lord Voldemort burst upon the waiting world, bookstore owners appeared as excited as their customers.
"It is like a concentrated burst of Christmas," said Wayne Winstone, children's books director for Ottakar's bookshop, which had 77,000 advance orders nationwide.
The book was being launched in Australia, South Africa and New Zealand at the same time as in Britain. And a Paris branch of WH Smith held a special late-night opening with a magician performing tricks and staff dressed as wizards.
Anticipation built in the United States, where the book was to be released at 12:01 a.m. EDT Saturday.
Aspiring young wizards visiting a Barnes & Noble bookstore in Henderson, Nev., received a pair of Harry Potter glasses and were placed under the famed Sorting Hat to determine which house they belong to at Hogwarts. At a Borders in Chicago, youngsters made owl puppets and got their faces painted as they awaited the midnight hour.
Security remained high at most outlets. The 100 copies already reserved at the Westerville Library in suburban Columbus, Ohio, were being kept out of sight in the basement.
"We are afraid if we wheel them through the library when patrons are in the building we will start a frenzy," manager Annabell Burton said.
The twists and turns in the plot were guarded closely by the British publisher, Bloomsbury. Rowling insisted on preserving her surprises for readers. She did reveal that one of the central figures dies in the book, but said she has not even told her husband who the doomed character is.
Yet leaks occurred. A store in Fishers, Ind., and a New York health food store were among those that mistakenly put copies out for sale. The Daily News in New York City, which bought a copy and published a preview, is now facing a $100 million lawsuit from Rowling and her publishers.
Wait for Harry Potter Reaches the Witching Hour
. .LONDON -- With a jangle of cash registers and a whoosh of witches' capes, bookstores across Britain rang up the first official sales of "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" just after the stroke of midnight Saturday, bringing the boy wizard's fifth magical adventure to a legion of adoring fans.
"I love it so much I get goosebumps," said 12-year-old Lisa Brummett of Mesa, Ariz., after hours of waiting at the WH Smith bookstore at London's King's Cross rail station to buy the thick new book, J.K. Rowling's first in three years.
"Harry Potter is the most magic thing there is," Lisa said, clutching the book to her chest and grinning from ear to ear. "Once I get out of here, I will start reading."
"It's kind of nice to escape to a place a bit more magical," said her sister, Stephanie, 16, looking forward to the 768-page British edition, the longest yet in the tales of Harry and his pals at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. (The American edition runs 870 pages, but has the same content.)
The girls' family had rescheduled their two-week tour of Europe to be in London for the launch.
Paying homage to its King's Cross location, the WH Smith store re-created the gateway to Platform 9 3/4, where Harry, Ron and Hermione catch the magical Hogwarts Express to school.
A line of 100 or so eager fans trailed from the store into the station's cavernous arrival hall and contained an equal smattering of children, parents and Potter-mad adults. Entertainers dressed in multicolored capes and magical sorting hats juggled and performed tricks for delighted youngsters, and a painter created Harry Potter scars and glasses on the children's faces.
"She has made a hero of somebody who could have become a victim," said Gillian Hammerton. Like Harry, she was orphaned at an early age. "It's marvelous for someone to have empathy with how a child can feel when they are not in the bosom of a family," she said.
As Harry's daring exploits against the evil Lord Voldemort burst upon the waiting world, bookstore owners appeared as excited as their customers.
"It is like a concentrated burst of Christmas," said Wayne Winstone, children's books director for Ottakar's bookshop, which had 77,000 advance orders nationwide.
The book was being launched in Australia, South Africa and New Zealand at the same time as in Britain. And a Paris branch of WH Smith held a special late-night opening with a magician performing tricks and staff dressed as wizards.
Anticipation built in the United States, where the book was to be released at 12:01 a.m. EDT Saturday.
Aspiring young wizards visiting a Barnes & Noble bookstore in Henderson, Nev., received a pair of Harry Potter glasses and were placed under the famed Sorting Hat to determine which house they belong to at Hogwarts. At a Borders in Chicago, youngsters made owl puppets and got their faces painted as they awaited the midnight hour.
Security remained high at most outlets. The 100 copies already reserved at the Westerville Library in suburban Columbus, Ohio, were being kept out of sight in the basement.
"We are afraid if we wheel them through the library when patrons are in the building we will start a frenzy," manager Annabell Burton said.
The twists and turns in the plot were guarded closely by the British publisher, Bloomsbury. Rowling insisted on preserving her surprises for readers. She did reveal that one of the central figures dies in the book, but said she has not even told her husband who the doomed character is.
Yet leaks occurred. A store in Fishers, Ind., and a New York health food store were among those that mistakenly put copies out for sale. The Daily News in New York City, which bought a copy and published a preview, is now facing a $100 million lawsuit from Rowling and her publishers.
In England, 7,680 copies of the book were stolen from a truck parked outside a warehouse late Sunday night. Earlier this month, a print worker was sentenced to 180 hours community service for attempting to sell three chapters of the book to a tabloid newspaper.
Harry is 15 in the new book, and Rowling has disclosed that he will get to be a real adolescent, with his share of anger and some confusion over girls. There is much emotional interplay in the new book, which goes well beyond the children's genre.
Early reviews praised the fifth installment. USA Today cited Rowling's "wonderful, textured writing." The Associated Press said, "It was worth the wait. And then some."
Harry was 11 in the first volume, "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" -- released in the United States as "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone." Published in 1997, it was followed each year by another adventure -- "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets," "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" and "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire."
Rowling's four Potter books have sold an estimated 192 million copies worldwide and have been published in at least 55 languages and distributed in more than 200 countries. Blockbuster movies were made of the first two books and the movie stemming from the third will be released next year.
"I love it so much I get goosebumps," said 12-year-old Lisa Brummett of Mesa, Ariz., after hours of waiting at the WH Smith bookstore at London's King's Cross rail station to buy the thick new book, J.K. Rowling's first in three years.
"Harry Potter is the most magic thing there is," Lisa said, clutching the book to her chest and grinning from ear to ear. "Once I get out of here, I will start reading."
"It's kind of nice to escape to a place a bit more magical," said her sister, Stephanie, 16, looking forward to the 768-page British edition, the longest yet in the tales of Harry and his pals at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. (The American edition runs 870 pages, but has the same content.)
The girls' family had rescheduled their two-week tour of Europe to be in London for the launch.
Paying homage to its King's Cross location, the WH Smith store re-created the gateway to Platform 9 3/4, where Harry, Ron and Hermione catch the magical Hogwarts Express to school.
A line of 100 or so eager fans trailed from the store into the station's cavernous arrival hall and contained an equal smattering of children, parents and Potter-mad adults. Entertainers dressed in multicolored capes and magical sorting hats juggled and performed tricks for delighted youngsters, and a painter created Harry Potter scars and glasses on the children's faces.
"She has made a hero of somebody who could have become a victim," said Gillian Hammerton. Like Harry, she was orphaned at an early age. "It's marvelous for someone to have empathy with how a child can feel when they are not in the bosom of a family," she said.
As Harry's daring exploits against the evil Lord Voldemort burst upon the waiting world, bookstore owners appeared as excited as their customers.
"It is like a concentrated burst of Christmas," said Wayne Winstone, children's books director for Ottakar's bookshop, which had 77,000 advance orders nationwide.
The book was being launched in Australia, South Africa and New Zealand at the same time as in Britain. And a Paris branch of WH Smith held a special late-night opening with a magician performing tricks and staff dressed as wizards.
Anticipation built in the United States, where the book was to be released at 12:01 a.m. EDT Saturday.
Aspiring young wizards visiting a Barnes & Noble bookstore in Henderson, Nev., received a pair of Harry Potter glasses and were placed under the famed Sorting Hat to determine which house they belong to at Hogwarts. At a Borders in Chicago, youngsters made owl puppets and got their faces painted as they awaited the midnight hour.
Security remained high at most outlets. The 100 copies already reserved at the Westerville Library in suburban Columbus, Ohio, were being kept out of sight in the basement.
"We are afraid if we wheel them through the library when patrons are in the building we will start a frenzy," manager Annabell Burton said.
The twists and turns in the plot were guarded closely by the British publisher, Bloomsbury. Rowling insisted on preserving her surprises for readers. She did reveal that one of the central figures dies in the book, but said she has not even told her husband who the doomed character is.
Yet leaks occurred. A store in Fishers, Ind., and a New York health food store were among those that mistakenly put copies out for sale. The Daily News in New York City, which bought a copy and published a preview, is now facing a $100 million lawsuit from Rowling and her publishers.
In England, 7,680 copies of the book were stolen from a truck parked outside a warehouse late Sunday night. Earlier this month, a print worker was sentenced to 180 hours community service for attempting to sell three chapters of the book to a tabloid newspaper.
Harry is 15 in the new book, and Rowling has disclosed that he will get to be a real adolescent, with his share of anger and some confusion over girls. There is much emotional interplay in the new book, which goes well beyond the children's genre.
Early reviews praised the fifth installment. USA Today cited Rowling's "wonderful, textured writing." The Associated Press said, "It was worth the wait. And then some."
Harry was 11 in the first volume, "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" -- released in the United States as "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone." Published in 1997, it was followed each year by another adventure -- "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets," "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" and "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire."
Rowling's four Potter books have sold an estimated 192 million copies worldwide and have been published in at least 55 languages and distributed in more than 200 countries. Blockbuster movies were made of the first two books and the movie stemming from the third will be released next year.
First official sales of "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix"Gillian Hammerton
. .LONDON -- With a jangle of cash registers and a whoosh of witches' capes, bookstores across Britain rang up the first official sales of "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" just after the stroke of midnight Saturday, bringing the boy wizard's fifth magical adventure to a legion of adoring fans.
"I love it so much I get goosebumps," said 12-year-old Lisa Brummett of Mesa, Ariz., after hours of waiting at the WH Smith bookstore at London's King's Cross rail station to buy the thick new book, J.K. Rowling's first in three years.
"Harry Potter is the most magic thing there is," Lisa said, clutching the book to her chest and grinning from ear to ear. "Once I get out of here, I will start reading."
"It's kind of nice to escape to a place a bit more magical," said her sister, Stephanie, 16, looking forward to the 768-page British edition, the longest yet in the tales of Harry and his pals at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. (The American edition runs 870 pages, but has the same content.)
The girls' family had rescheduled their two-week tour of Europe to be in London for the launch.
Paying homage to its King's Cross location, the WH Smith store re-created the gateway to Platform 9 3/4, where Harry, Ron and Hermione catch the magical Hogwarts Express to school. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix opened on 12 July 2007.
The rebellion begins! Lord Voldemort is back, but the Ministry of Magic tries to keep a lid on the truth – including appointing a new, power-hungry Defense Against the Dark Arts professor at Hogwarts. Ron and Hermione convince Harry to secretly train students for the wizarding war ahead. A terrifying showdown between good and evil awaits
A line of 100 or so eager fans trailed from the store into the station's cavernous arrival hall and contained an equal smattering of children, parents and Potter-mad adults. Entertainers dressed in multicolored capes and magical sorting hats juggled and performed tricks for delighted youngsters, and a painter created Harry Potter scars and glasses on the children's faces.
"She has made a hero of somebody who could have become a victim," said Gillian Hammerton. Like Harry, she was orphaned at an early age. "It's marvelous for someone to have empathy with how a child can feel when they are not in the bosom of a family," she said.
As Harry's daring exploits against the evil Lord Voldemort burst upon the waiting world, bookstore owners appeared as excited as their customers.
"It is like a concentrated burst of Christmas," said Wayne Winstone, children's books director for Ottakar's bookshop, which had 77,000 advance orders nationwide.
The book was being launched in Australia, South Africa and New Zealand at the same time as in Britain. And a Paris branch of WH Smith held a special late-night opening with a magician performing tricks and staff dressed as wizards.
Anticipation built in the United States, where the book was to be released at 12:01 a.m. EDT Saturday.
Aspiring young wizards visiting a Barnes & Noble bookstore in Henderson, Nev., received a pair of Harry Potter glasses and were placed under the famed Sorting Hat to determine which house they belong to at Hogwarts. At a Borders in Chicago, youngsters made owl puppets and got their faces painted as they awaited the midnight hour.
Security remained high at most outlets. The 100 copies already reserved at the Westerville Library in suburban Columbus, Ohio, were being kept out of sight in the basement.
"We are afraid if we wheel them through the library when patrons are in the building we will start a frenzy," manager Annabell Burton said.
The twists and turns in the plot were guarded closely by the British publisher, Bloomsbury. Rowling insisted on preserving her surprises for readers. She did reveal that one of the central figures dies in the book, but said she has not even told her husband who the doomed character is.
Yet leaks occurred. A store in Fishers, Ind., and a New York health food store were among those that mistakenly put copies out for sale. The Daily News in New York City, which bought a copy and published a preview, is now facing a $100 million lawsuit from Rowling and her publishers.
In England, 7,680 copies of the book were stolen from a truck parked outside a warehouse late Sunday night. Earlier this month, a print worker was sentenced to 180 hours community service for attempting to sell three chapters of the book to a tabloid newspaper.
Harry is 15 in the new book, and Rowling has disclosed that he will get to be a real adolescent, with his share of anger and some confusion over girls. There is much emotional interplay in the new book, which goes well beyond the children's genre.
Early reviews praised the fifth installment. USA Today cited Rowling's "wonderful, textured writing." The Associated Press said, "It was worth the wait. And then some."
Harry was 11 in the first volume, "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" -- released in the United States as "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone." Published in 1997, it was followed each year by another adventure -- "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets," "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" and "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire."
Rowling's four Potter books have sold an estimated 192 million copies worldwide and have been published in at least 55 languages and distributed in more than 200 countries. Blockbuster movies were made of the first two books and the movie stemming from the third will be released next year.
"I love it so much I get goosebumps," said 12-year-old Lisa Brummett of Mesa, Ariz., after hours of waiting at the WH Smith bookstore at London's King's Cross rail station to buy the thick new book, J.K. Rowling's first in three years.
"Harry Potter is the most magic thing there is," Lisa said, clutching the book to her chest and grinning from ear to ear. "Once I get out of here, I will start reading."
"It's kind of nice to escape to a place a bit more magical," said her sister, Stephanie, 16, looking forward to the 768-page British edition, the longest yet in the tales of Harry and his pals at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. (The American edition runs 870 pages, but has the same content.)
The girls' family had rescheduled their two-week tour of Europe to be in London for the launch.
Paying homage to its King's Cross location, the WH Smith store re-created the gateway to Platform 9 3/4, where Harry, Ron and Hermione catch the magical Hogwarts Express to school. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix opened on 12 July 2007.
The rebellion begins! Lord Voldemort is back, but the Ministry of Magic tries to keep a lid on the truth – including appointing a new, power-hungry Defense Against the Dark Arts professor at Hogwarts. Ron and Hermione convince Harry to secretly train students for the wizarding war ahead. A terrifying showdown between good and evil awaits
A line of 100 or so eager fans trailed from the store into the station's cavernous arrival hall and contained an equal smattering of children, parents and Potter-mad adults. Entertainers dressed in multicolored capes and magical sorting hats juggled and performed tricks for delighted youngsters, and a painter created Harry Potter scars and glasses on the children's faces.
"She has made a hero of somebody who could have become a victim," said Gillian Hammerton. Like Harry, she was orphaned at an early age. "It's marvelous for someone to have empathy with how a child can feel when they are not in the bosom of a family," she said.
As Harry's daring exploits against the evil Lord Voldemort burst upon the waiting world, bookstore owners appeared as excited as their customers.
"It is like a concentrated burst of Christmas," said Wayne Winstone, children's books director for Ottakar's bookshop, which had 77,000 advance orders nationwide.
The book was being launched in Australia, South Africa and New Zealand at the same time as in Britain. And a Paris branch of WH Smith held a special late-night opening with a magician performing tricks and staff dressed as wizards.
Anticipation built in the United States, where the book was to be released at 12:01 a.m. EDT Saturday.
Aspiring young wizards visiting a Barnes & Noble bookstore in Henderson, Nev., received a pair of Harry Potter glasses and were placed under the famed Sorting Hat to determine which house they belong to at Hogwarts. At a Borders in Chicago, youngsters made owl puppets and got their faces painted as they awaited the midnight hour.
Security remained high at most outlets. The 100 copies already reserved at the Westerville Library in suburban Columbus, Ohio, were being kept out of sight in the basement.
"We are afraid if we wheel them through the library when patrons are in the building we will start a frenzy," manager Annabell Burton said.
The twists and turns in the plot were guarded closely by the British publisher, Bloomsbury. Rowling insisted on preserving her surprises for readers. She did reveal that one of the central figures dies in the book, but said she has not even told her husband who the doomed character is.
Yet leaks occurred. A store in Fishers, Ind., and a New York health food store were among those that mistakenly put copies out for sale. The Daily News in New York City, which bought a copy and published a preview, is now facing a $100 million lawsuit from Rowling and her publishers.
In England, 7,680 copies of the book were stolen from a truck parked outside a warehouse late Sunday night. Earlier this month, a print worker was sentenced to 180 hours community service for attempting to sell three chapters of the book to a tabloid newspaper.
Harry is 15 in the new book, and Rowling has disclosed that he will get to be a real adolescent, with his share of anger and some confusion over girls. There is much emotional interplay in the new book, which goes well beyond the children's genre.
Early reviews praised the fifth installment. USA Today cited Rowling's "wonderful, textured writing." The Associated Press said, "It was worth the wait. And then some."
Harry was 11 in the first volume, "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" -- released in the United States as "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone." Published in 1997, it was followed each year by another adventure -- "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets," "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" and "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire."
Rowling's four Potter books have sold an estimated 192 million copies worldwide and have been published in at least 55 languages and distributed in more than 200 countries. Blockbuster movies were made of the first two books and the movie stemming from the third will be released next year.
Wednesday, 2 May 2012
Long-awaited new Harry Potter book reaches eager readers
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix opened on 12 July 2007.
The rebellion begins! Lord Voldemort is back, but the Ministry of Magic tries to keep a lid on the truth – including appointing a new, power-hungry Defense Against the Dark Arts professor at Hogwarts. Ron and Hermione convince Harry to secretly train students for the wizarding war ahead. A terrifying showdown between good and evil awaits
At King's Cross, the line of 100 or so eager fans trailed from the store into the station's cavernous arrival hall and contained an equal smattering of children, parents and Potter-mad adults.
"She has made a hero of somebody who could have become a victim,'' said graying Gillian Hammerton.Like Harry, she was orphaned at an early age. "It's marvelous for someone to have empathy with how a child can feel when they are not in the bosom of a family.''
Long-awaited new Harry Potter book reaches eager readers
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix swooped into bookstores worldwide, including Malaysia, where eager fans waited in line at selected bookshops to be among the first to buy the boy wizard's fifth adventure in print.
wonderful, textured writing.'' The Associated Press said, "It was worth the wait. And then some.''
Harry was 11 in the first volume, "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone'' -- released in the United States as "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone.'' Published in 1997, it was followed each year by another adventure -- "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets,'' "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban'' and "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.''
Rowling's four Potter books have sold an estimated 192 million copies worldwide and have been published in at least 55 languages and distributed in more than 200 countries.
The rebellion begins! Lord Voldemort is back, but the Ministry of Magic tries to keep a lid on the truth – including appointing a new, power-hungry Defense Against the Dark Arts professor at Hogwarts. Ron and Hermione convince Harry to secretly train students for the wizarding war ahead. A terrifying showdown between good and evil awaits
"She has made a hero of somebody who could have become a victim,'' said graying Gillian Hammerton.Like Harry, she was orphaned at an early age. "It's marvelous for someone to have empathy with how a child can feel when they are not in the bosom of a family.''
Long-awaited new Harry Potter book reaches eager readers
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix swooped into bookstores worldwide, including Malaysia, where eager fans waited in line at selected bookshops to be among the first to buy the boy wizard's fifth adventure in print.
wonderful, textured writing.'' The Associated Press said, "It was worth the wait. And then some.''
Harry was 11 in the first volume, "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone'' -- released in the United States as "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone.'' Published in 1997, it was followed each year by another adventure -- "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets,'' "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban'' and "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.''
Rowling's four Potter books have sold an estimated 192 million copies worldwide and have been published in at least 55 languages and distributed in more than 200 countries.
Harry Potter and The New York Times
Paying homage to its King's Cross location, the WH Smith store re-created the gateway to Platform 9 3/4, where Harry, Ron and Hermione catch the magical Hogwarts Express to school.
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix opened on 12 July 2007.
The rebellion begins! Lord Voldemort is back, but the Ministry of Magic tries to keep a lid on the truth – including appointing a new, power-hungry Defense Against the Dark Arts professor at Hogwarts. Ron and Hermione convince Harry to secretly train students for the wizarding war ahead. A terrifying showdown between good and evil awaits
A line of 100 or so eager fans trailed from the store into the station's cavernous arrival hall and contained an equal smattering of children, parents and Potter-mad adults. Entertainers dressed in multicolored capes and magical sorting hats juggled and performed tricks for delighted youngsters, and a painter created Harry Potter scars and glasses on the children's faces.
"She has made a hero of somebody who could have become a victim," said Gillian Hammerton. Like Harry, she was orphaned at an early age. "It's marvelous for someone to have empathy with how a child can feel when they are not in the bosom of a family," she said.
As Harry's daring exploits against the evil Lord Voldemort burst upon the waiting world, bookstore owners appeared as excited as their customers.
"It is like a concentrated burst of Christmas," said Wayne Winstone, children's books director for Ottakar's bookshop, which had 77,000 advance orders nationwide.
The book was being launched in Australia, South Africa and New Zealand at the same time as in Britain. And a Paris branch of WH Smith held a special late-night opening with a magician performing tricks and staff dressed as wizards.
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix opened on 12 July 2007.
The rebellion begins! Lord Voldemort is back, but the Ministry of Magic tries to keep a lid on the truth – including appointing a new, power-hungry Defense Against the Dark Arts professor at Hogwarts. Ron and Hermione convince Harry to secretly train students for the wizarding war ahead. A terrifying showdown between good and evil awaits
A line of 100 or so eager fans trailed from the store into the station's cavernous arrival hall and contained an equal smattering of children, parents and Potter-mad adults. Entertainers dressed in multicolored capes and magical sorting hats juggled and performed tricks for delighted youngsters, and a painter created Harry Potter scars and glasses on the children's faces.
"She has made a hero of somebody who could have become a victim," said Gillian Hammerton. Like Harry, she was orphaned at an early age. "It's marvelous for someone to have empathy with how a child can feel when they are not in the bosom of a family," she said.
As Harry's daring exploits against the evil Lord Voldemort burst upon the waiting world, bookstore owners appeared as excited as their customers.
"It is like a concentrated burst of Christmas," said Wayne Winstone, children's books director for Ottakar's bookshop, which had 77,000 advance orders nationwide.
The book was being launched in Australia, South Africa and New Zealand at the same time as in Britain. And a Paris branch of WH Smith held a special late-night opening with a magician performing tricks and staff dressed as wizards.
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