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.)
For one thing, she gives away her billions to charity directly and anonymously.
She’s already written two books purely for charity, and she has announced her intentions to write another. Its her world and if she chooses to reserve a little part of it to those most dear to her, she has the right. I don’t think we can begrudge her that, no matter how agonizing it is to know that we cannot have access to this canon.
@ Upps, I’m afraid you’ve completely missed my point. Of course you shouldn’t need HP to teach you love and mercy. However, the type of person who snarls and carps because they are excluded from something that someone has made with love to give to a few other people and with compassion to give to a charity clearly hasn’t learnt about love and mercy fullstop. It is extremely ironic that they are demonstrating their failing on a site dedicated to HP, which is a story from which they certainly could have learnt these attributes.
@ PensievePlotter – I don’t think you need to be a UK citizen. They often have telephone bidders at these sorts of auctions. If you can afford to bid for the book then the phone bill generated from this shouldn’t be a problem for you!
Posted by karen (the one without the avatar!) on November 01, 2007, 02:50 PM
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I think what JKR is doing here for her children’s charity is wonderful.
I’d love to read Beedle’s tales. Hopefully, she’ll make them available to the general public in the future.
Ok, this is a bit weird. I have been thinking about it all day and I’m starting to get over it. Almost. Sorta. Okey, not at all, but it hurts a little bit less. Naturally, these gifts will mean so much more to the six lucky people who will get them if the rest of the world doesn’t get to share them. At first I wanted the one who bought the seventh copy to share it with everyone, and I still want that. Just not at once. Give the other six owners some time first. Please. It’s more than right. But then, after a month or so, please let us see it! Pretty please?
I felt like she had slapped us all in our faces, at first. Starting with the Steve thing, and now this. I think it’d have been a bit better to hear of these things seperatley, but as it is now… Ouch. We’ve defended Jo in all kinds of situations, we love Harry. Why can’t we see this book? But I guess she wanted to make a special gift, and I guess that she has the right to do that. Bit it still feels the slightest bit horrible. Yay, a book we’ll never read. What a great Harry Potter day.
Yes, I’m bitter. No, not going to change anytime soon. Yes, I’ll survive. We all will, sooner or later. (Later.)
And hey, I’ve found our silver lining!!! She would never be able to use her own encyclopedia as an argument against Steve’s unless she was really, definitely going to write it. And I know it’s not a surprise, but she just can’t back out on this now. I think it’s finally (completely) safe to say that there w i l l b e an encyclopedia!!!!! YAY!
So, let us all cry for a while, and then move on. I’m disappointed too. Just a little less now when I’ve had time to get used to it.
@not. JKR owes us? Don’t think so. She has made a contribution to popular culture and she is trying to make a charitable contribution through this auction. Enjoy her series for what they are, great stories and stop attacking people you don’t even know.
Oh, if only I were a bazillionare. But despite everyone else’s misgivings, I think this is a really wonderful thing she’s doing for the children. Maybe twenty years from now the person who buys the book might decide to share its contents with the world.
“For one thing, she gives away her billions to charity directly and anonymously.”
So why do we need to know about this and others. If she is going to put out there that she is somone who gives to charities, then show us that you do it out of your own pocket too.
“If she is going to put out there that she is somone who gives to charities, then show us that you do it out of your own pocket too.”
Well, I believe you are mistaken in thinking that she announced this book simply to show how much she give to charities. Jo has never been like that.
She announced it so that people would know so that it will earn even more money for charity.
I don’t believe Jo is the type to flaunt her generosity, except in cases where it would draw more attention to the issue and make others more generous.
‘So why do we need to know about this and others. If she is going to put out there that she is somone who gives to charities, then show us that you do it out of your own pocket too.’
Because this is a publicity event to raise money, whereas money from her own pocket needs no publicity. Some people give portions of their own money to charity and make a huge song and dance about it, without ever actually putting any effort into a cause.
Honestly, I’m feeling ashamed about the entitlement issues of my fellow fans right now.
“36??? But LAST year, there were 37!....I don’t care HOW big they are!!!”
Sound familiar, to any HP fan? Y’all sound a tad like ‘Dudley’, don’t you think? GET A GRIP, people! “I want it, I want it now! You OWE it to ME!” How very sad…......Ms Rowling, you OWE nothing to anyone. Your love and caring for both the Fans you have accumulated, and Charity (on BOTH sides of the Pond) are legendary!It has shown, these last 17 years, and despite what ANYONE here says, I imagine it will go on a long long time. If just one person gives, a fraction, it will be well worth it!
Posted by Confederate Lady on November 01, 2007, 03:03 PM
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Two items puzzle me about the comments posted to date.
First, I have not seen anywhere the words “this book will never be available as a mass publication”. Has anyone? My assumption is that the collection will be available “someday”, and given the length, probably with the proceeds going to a charity. If my assumption is correct, then we just need to be patient and await its arrival. Could be wrong, but the rending of clothes and whining is tiresome.
Second, what’s with the JKR bashing? Some of you are trying to portray her as greedy, etc etc…Haven’t you known all along that she does in fact make extremely large checks out to various charities of her choice (in particular to MS research and care charities, as well as a number involved with children’s issues). And if you aren’t aware of that fact, then excuse me if I question just how much interest you really have in TLC, HP and JKR. And anytime something happens, such as the India Incident, or the newest surrounding Steve Van Ark’s Lexicon, fingers point at her personally instead of recognizing its the corporate lawyers (and I think primarily working with WB) who are acting in her name. I personally would like to know—out of curiousity only, since I cannot do a darn thing about anything and really don’t care in the end—just how much control over anything she really has these days.
Was it Dave who posted above, about there being a Trace on the words “Harry Potter”, and if you utter them ten lawyers will instantly Apparate to your side and hand you legal papers? Good one, whoever it was!
So, with that, I will just sip my coffee, and look forward to the probablity that the Tales of Beedle will be available at the local bookstore, “someday”.
I forgot to add that I LOVE the covers for these books. I have a great intrigue of rare books, and these seven books are special. Besides, I’m also an environmentalist, so as far as I’m concerned money is being raised for charity with the bonus of lower production damage and transport pollution.
Don’t tell other people how they should be raising funds. It’s like telling people off for donating to the ‘wrong’ charity. Petty, petty.
When I read about the six dedicated handwritten books, I thought it was nice. But the seventh book in auction annoys me. It’s really amazing… for the few people that can afford it. Yay for rich people. Too bad for 99% of the other Harry Potter fans.
(I know it’s for charity, but I think it might bring more money to charity if a less expensive version was available for the rest of the world.)
Unless these six recepients are absolute saints, something tells me a copy of this book will be leaked online soon enough. No worries HP fans. And if the very rude portion of you all could stop treating Jo like sh*t the rest of us would really appreciate it. Thanks!
Posted by saying my piece on November 01, 2007, 03:15 PM
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...it was quite galling to be told not to be rash by a man who had served twelve years in the wizard prison, Azkaban, escaped, attempted to commit the murder he had been convicted for in the first place, then gone on the run with a stolen hippogriff...
not, I think you are misunderstanding Jo.
For one thing, she gives away her billions to charity directly and anonymously.
She’s already written two books purely for charity, and she has announced her intentions to write another. Its her world and if she chooses to reserve a little part of it to those most dear to her, she has the right. I don’t think we can begrudge her that, no matter how agonizing it is to know that we cannot have access to this canon.