More news today regarding the translations of the Harry Potter series, very soon readers in Poland will be able to get their hands on translated editions of the final Harry Potter book, as the novel is set to hit book shelves at midnight on January 26th. The Polish Press is reporting, however, some stores have begun to set copies out early. The Polish Press Agency notes a statement from Media Rodzina, the novel’s publisher, saying that nothing can be done at this point, as they had formed a ‘gentlemen’s agreement’ with the sellers. This edition is set to have 784 pages and a first printing of 650,000.
I’m from Poland and I couldn’t wait longer fot this amazing book! And I have already bought it two hours ago, it’s wonderful! It has american cover, but different title: “Harry Potter i Śmiertelne Relikwie”. Enjoy!
Hmmph. They get it early? In America it would have been a huge news thing, likely a lawsuit or two. Foolish of the publishers to not get a contract, at least that is how it seems to me. Oh well. Enjoy it in your native tongue, those of you from Poland!...
Only 650,000 copies in the Polish first edition? Poland is a country with 38,5 million people… but then again they’re mostly catholic, and the pope has banned the Harry Potter books. Is that why the publisher in Poland is so careful with the 1st edition?
Eva Hedwig, thank you very much! You are right, I have already read it in English, but it’s not the same as book in my native, polish language. :)
And something about unfair booksellers – it’s horrible. My friends bought the book even 6 days later! And Media Rodzina says that nothing can be done at this pont… Terribly! Of cours, I bought HP7 in a rightly way.
“Poland is a country with 38,5 million people… but then again they’re mostly catholic, and the pope has banned the Harry Potter books. Is that why the publisher in Poland is so careful with the 1st edition?”
No, not becouse of that. In Poland books are really expensive and probebly they printed so little becouse they’re afraid that they won’t sell it all. Second: most of children borrow this books from public librairies or firends… some of them read in in English, some illegal Polish translation by Swistak Army in Internet… Third: not many people buy/read books here – they prefer go to library or something. So generally publisher is afraid that they won’t sell whole 1st edition.
It’s the last book…
With the previous books, if the booksellers will start to sell it earlier they lost their contracts to sell next books.
Yes – Polish is a language :)
Well – at now it’s the biggest number of copies. I think it’s enought.
Yeah, book is amazing. And we have one different drawing above the epilogue. It’s quite unexpected, i think. We have not drawing of platform 9 3/4, but we have a Harry, Ron and Hermione (in a background are some paintings).
No Bjorn. That’s not the reason. We in Poland very rearly have big books’ sales. It may shock you but 650000 of first edition is extremly high for my country. Usually books that sale over 10000 copies are seen as bestsellers, so… you can see: our bookmarket is to some extent neglected, because we generally read or rather BUY very little books and if they were written by foreign author it’s even worse then, cause they are (for the most Poles) astronomic expensive. If you have only 700 or 800 PLN for month to live on, then you will not buy a book that costs 90 or 100 PLN for sheer enjoyment.
I am so happy when I think about all these people in my country who can finally read Book 7. I’ve read DH in English and I had to translate it for my younger sister, she wouldn’t give me a rest :) I’d love to buy polish version too, but, as many people have said, it’s too expensive. My parents wouldn’t let my buy it because I already have it in English and they consider having two versions of one books a waste of money.
Anyway, I can’t wait to talk about DH with my friends who didn’t read it in English :]
aillinne : When you say 700 – 800 PLN to live on, is that the typical average salary in Poland? If so, 90 PLN for HP book is a frightening ratio. Average salary in UK (I think) is 20000 – 25000 GBP. With a new hard back book costing 17GBP (paperbacks average £6 – £10). Furthermore, I bought the DH book on midnight opening release at ASDA store for £5 as all retailers were competing in price to absolutely stupefying levels (way below their trade price hence loss of profit from the books itself). I suppose there are none of that sort of competition in Poland then? I hope its only the books which are so expensive there and not everyday conveniences. Are there any midnight parties held or is there less “razzmatazz” on the release than other countries?
Posted by Professor Potter on January 26, 2008, 12:39 PM
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i’m from argentina and i have already read the book in english twice. but some friends that dont really speak english well and want to read it have to wait a really long time!! it isn’t fair south america is left last… nobody’s got a clue when it’s coming out in spanish hahaha
700 or 800 PLN – I mean netto for person pro month.
For year 2007 the year’s income was less than 17000 $ pro citizen.
This is for first thanks to the fact that we are now in EU and we have huge economic emigration to Western Europe, where we can earn much more money as in our motherland. (Well… that changes too… for our missfourtune)
Second: we have none such a thing like well-established middle-class.You either make a packet or you’re person on a low income, so the reasonable average doesn’t mirror the truth.
“I suppose there are none of that sort of competition in Poland then?”
Of course there is competition! We are not communistic country anymore! But it doesn’t change the fact that if I were going to buy all the books I’d like to see on my bookshelf I’d end up moneyless! (Emmm… O.K. It’s true for any buyer in any country, if you’re stubborn collector! ;))
“Are there any midnight parties held or is there less “razzmatazz” on the release than other countries?”
Oh pleaseeeeeeee!!! There are dammit midnight-blue-kind-of-stagy-parties! :)
Actually JKR has resigned of her part of earnings, so the prize is two times lower than it’d be if she didn’t. And THAT is one point to the mistery why HP-books sale so well.
The most expensive books in Poland are the academic/scholarly ones. You can’t imagine how difficult life this means for students here! We know of course how to get out of this mess, but… let’s say… khem, khem!... some things better to left unsaid… ;)
"...my mother died to save me. My common [i]Muggle-born[/i] mother," he added, shaking with suppressed rage. "She stopped you killing me. And I've seen the real you, I saw you last year. You're a wreck. You're barely alive. That's where all your power got
Early release! Lucky them!