Some amazing news this morning for you as author J.K. Rowling has announced on her website she has written a new book, however there is only one to be made available to the public, and it will be sold for charity. On her website, Jo states this new book is based on a tale that is mentioned in "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows." The book that is to be auctioned is one of seven handwritten by the Harry Potter author, the other six will be given to people she wanted to honor privately, with the final copy going on auction at Sotheby's in London on December 13th 2007. The book, leather-bound and embellished with silver and different semi-precious stones, "will be on display to the public for a short period before the sale, and catalogues will be sold, all profits going to the Children's Voice." Readers will remember this is the charity that Jo founded several years ago; more information on this group, here. The Children's Voice charity (formerly Children’s High Level Group (CHLG)) aims to stamp out cruelty, neglect and abuse of young people, especially in Eastern Europe. JKR made a moving visit to the area several years ago, and has remained dedicated to helping these children.
Sotheby's has a short description about the book itself (Note: A special 48 page catalogue previewing this will soon be available for sale to the public and includes a message from Jo about the creation of the book). "Autograph manuscript of “The Tales of Beedle the Bard ” translated from the original runes by J.K. Rowling. Individually handwritten and extensively illustrated by the author, c.160 pages written in an Italian hand-made notebook, bound in brown morocco embellished on upper cover by Edinburgh silversmiths Hamilton and Inches, with five individually hand-chased hallmarked sterling silver ornaments and mounted moonstones."UPDATE: Sotheby's has now officially released to the press three new photos here, here, and here.
Some additional information about this remarkable event can be found via the following :
(Please note, if you have not yet read the final Harry Potter novel, there are spoilers.)
I think all the publicity is to raise the profile of the Childrens’ Voice charity, not JKR’s or the HP books. I think that, in due course, she will publish Beedle in a facsimile edition for all the fans and again that profits will go to her charity.
BUT BUT BUT>> this way, her gratitude is felt by those closest to her, her Charity gets LOTS of publicity ( and the cause they fight for is PUBLICISED and perhaps PUBLIC pressure put on those people in high places in the relevant countries treating children so cruelly).
Then there can be another bite of the apple in a year or two when she publishes the tales for the rest of us, yet more PUBLICITY for Childrens’ Voice, (which she is probably trying to make a household name, not an also-ran to her public persona ) .
Perhaps JKR wishes for her legacy to not just be her published work, but the good use to which she has turned her money, public profile and influence.
To care about poor children is of course a good thing to do, no doubt. But. She could auction the books without the publicity hype. She doubtlessly knows enough people who have got a lot of money and are willing to buy the books.
What’s wrong with all of you?
Jo’s doing such a nice thing – she’s rich enough but instead of going out and buying things for those who stayed by her helping her with all the books, she’s handwriting a book for each of them. And like someone said, she didn’t have to write a seventh but she’s doing it for charity. Jo’s writing an encyclopedia for us fans and you’re grumbling that only her friends can get to read these Tales.
Oh man!! i wish i had that!!!
but its starting at 30000 pounds!! ahhh!! 60000 bucks! come on!
well i hope that a true potter fan is able to get it, and share it with the rest of the fandom. thats what i would do if i had that kind of money.
Also, tiny detail from the BBC interview video..dod you notice the box of tissues beside JKR on her sofa? Poor thing’s got a bad cold, probably from all the travelling, air travel is notorious for that.
“Mooom, I want Peter’s gifts! I wants them, no fair!”
“No honey, you can’t have everything. It’s Peter’s birthday, not yours.”
“Moooooooom! You’re evil money-grabbing witch and it’s your duty to give things to ME! It’s soooo unfaaaiir! I hate you!”
i’m actually somebody who might be able to go to the auction and get the book! I’m not a billionaire, but I net-worth of my family, we own a fortune 500 company is in the millions. I don’t care if you don’t believe me. I wonder if I have to a citizen of UK?
Posted by PensievePlotter on November 01, 2007, 02:34 PM
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The six recipients of these hand-written books will readily appreciate the thought that went into the gifts. She didn’t feel that anything store-bought was good enough to express her love and gratitude, so she gave them her time and talent by hand writing stories and illustrating them in beautiful books. Not content with that she had the covers enhanced by Scottish jewellers with individual designs. There had to be seven, of course, it is the magical number according to tradition, and this was gifted for a charity auction for children who are totally unwanted. I find the whole thing deeply moving and original in concept.
I am utterly disgusted with some of the comments I have read here.
Okay, reading the comments on Leaky I’m over this already – Good on Jo for doing something for charity as she always has. I hope it raises alot of money and the person who recieves it in the end appreciates it. Didn’t Dan’s Mum buy him something of JKR’s that was on auction as well? It’d be nice to see someone involved in some way with HP to get it but either way I’m sure it will raise money. And I’d be interested to see who she gives the other 6 too – just out of interst.
Why is every time jo gives to charity, it is from a book that she is selling or auctioning? I never heard of her giving money out of her own billionary pocket.
The charity would get more money if this was on sell to the fans she still has (I never intend to buy anything from her again), then the thousands she would get out of this auction for them.
And to people who say jo did us a favor, and we should appreciate her, give me a break.
-Her last two books were crappy.
-She can’t get her facts about her own world straight, and/or keep changing them.
-She is control freak, telling us to view her characters how she sees it. Ex. being snape
-She categorize a whole group in her book as evil (the slytherins (sp)). Teaching kids its okay to demonize everyone on the side your fighting with.
-she sues everyone it seems (theres that control freak character of hers again).
-We made her billionary. So if anything, she owes her fans.
I’m sorry, but this is one of the most goofy ideas I’ve ever heard of. So, one really super rich person gets the book. The rest of us.. the ones who bought all the other books… get zip.
She’d probably make more money for her charity if she published the book and let everyone buy a copy.
I think all the publicity is to raise the profile of the Childrens’ Voice charity, not JKR’s or the HP books. I think that, in due course, she will publish Beedle in a facsimile edition for all the fans and again that profits will go to her charity.
BUT BUT BUT>> this way, her gratitude is felt by those closest to her, her Charity gets LOTS of publicity ( and the cause they fight for is PUBLICISED and perhaps PUBLIC pressure put on those people in high places in the relevant countries treating children so cruelly). Then there can be another bite of the apple in a year or two when she publishes the tales for the rest of us, yet more PUBLICITY for Childrens’ Voice, (which she is probably trying to make a household name, not an also-ran to her public persona ) .
Perhaps JKR wishes for her legacy to not just be her published work, but the good use to which she has turned her money, public profile and influence.
Hmmn?