The “will never be published” statement has been in news articles on the book, as has “no plans to publish”, but not as direct quotes. So it might be true that the text really won’t appear (though “publish” isn’t the same as “make publicly available”), but they could also be misinterpreting the information that the book wasn’t sold with copyright. So it isn’t clear what Jo’s position on making the text available actually is, but I do think that Jo will be aware that her fans will want to read these stories, so I do think they will appear at some point.
I don’t think it matters that the fan base has grown since FB and QA were released because they are still on sale, and new fans can still buy them. I rather doubt that the book was brought by Emma or any other HP actor, because although they could probably pay 2 million, it would be a significant chunk of the money they have earned.
J, (and others), perhaps fair enough. Certainly nobody owns JKR or her intellectual property or can claim a say in what she does with her writings. But likewise, nobody would’ve even had to know about the whole Beedle the Bard thing in the first place. She could’ve just written them as she did, given them privately as very special gifts to her close friends that she wanted to remember, and donated $4 million to her charity … and then kept quiet about it! Why the need to tell everyone and thus risk hurt feelings? Oh, yes, you could say “Because of the charity,” but I would assume that the second-richest woman in the UK could certainly afford to support the charity herself if it meant so much. Or, as has been pointed out, if the books were mass produced and sold publicly and all proceeds went to the charity, it would undoubtedly be more than $4 million. The whole thing, to me, just reeks of “Look at me, how generous and giving I’m being.” And if that’s sour grapes or being “Dudley-ish” then so be it, but I think there’s no denying she’s hurt a lot of fans’ feelings with this venture. Did she have the right to do it? Absolutely! But that doesn’t make it taste any better going down.
I used this analogy elsewhere—it’s like a dog owner holding a nice juicy steak in front of her dog’s nose, then yanking it away from him. It’s her steak, she worked hard for the money to buy it, and it’s absolutely her right to do that if she wishes. But it’s still not a very nice thing to do to the poor dog who brings her her slippers every night.
(And because it was apparently confusing the other time I used that - JKR is the owner; the Tales of Beedle the Bard is the steak, and we fans are the loyal dogs… sitting here drooling… and who would probably rather not have even seen the steak in the first place…) ;)
OMG! 4mil!! Thats CRAZY!! ^^ Lucky winner!
That is absolutely FABULOUS! The money should go a LONG way to getting children out of cage beds and other such inhumane things.
That’s nice and all, but we want to know what’s inside it!
To wondering…
It’s not that she “owes” us so much as I just wish she hadn’t told us about it if we were not going to have a chance to participate. That’s all. Certainly we’re not more “deserving” or “entitled” or whatever. It just hurts a bit to feel slightly shunned. I know it shouldn’t, but it does. And if we hadn’t known about it at all, we wouldn’t feel that way (those of us who do; obviously many don’t, which is great!)
mouth drops open and hangs WOW….!!! GREAT!!!!!!!
Well, when I made my offer I just had 3€ in my purse. Definitly not enough.
MP, let’s ask the question from a different direction, then?
Where are you finding any indication that the Tales will never ever be published?
Some of us are trying to work out for ourselves what the possibilities of publication are; we may not totally agree in our interpretations, but we are seeing the possibility of the Tales becoming available. What evidence do you see to the contrary?
and, sorry, as much as I and everyone else would enjoy having the Tales in hand right now, I really do not feel “let down”, and my feelings are not hurt. I don’t think a lot (your word, not mine) of fans share your position. You’re welcome to your position, but can you base it on some evidence so it makes more sense, please?
I wonder if the recipients of the other copies of the book now have to pay taxes based on the auction value. That would suck to be given a copy and then discover the IRS (for Americans) wants a million (or more) in taxes based on the “appraised” value. You’d have to sell it. Or be sure the IRS didn’t find out that you received one of the copies.
Anyway, if I received any of the copies of the book, I would make a photocopy to use for my enjoyment and then have the original vacuum sealed or something to protect it.
Amazing how much money that went for, eh? I’m just so happy that it all went to charity!
I wish (as most people do) that the book had been released to the public, so we could all go and do a midnight release and buy the book, but not everything she writes is going to be like that. I feel like, what with the catalogue available for just twenty dollars or so, it’s not such a huge deal for us not to have gotten the book.
But again, all that money to charity! Simply incredible.
@ Hehe…I once bid fifteen dollars on a picasso (a very very small picasso)...didn’t get it obviously, but I can laugh about it all these years
@Michelle …my personal favorite idea would be to have the Tales published as a stand alone small book, with a preface by Hermoine Jane Granger of course. ;-)
I don’t know why the people I have talked to are almost bitter about the fact that it’s not getting released for you or me…ALL that charity money goes to SUCH a worthy cause! When people say, “Cool, BUT…” It makes me sad. This is an important charity, and to act like you would rather have had the book then help those children…Well, it’s appalling, to me.
I think a release of these stories would bring more money than FB&QA because the fan base has grown since those books were release. I for one did not know about them because I did not get into HP until GOF movie came out.
I also agree with those who say it is up to Jo to release them if she wants we are not entitled to them just because we read her other books or saw the movies.
Some one said they bet Dan bought the book (the art dealers usually are bidding for an anonymous client not themselves) but if I was Emma I would want it since it is Hermione’s book in DH.