Professor Potter: I’d say a typical salary in Poland is somewhere around 1000-1200 PLN, but these values vary. Famous books cost at least 50 PLN (HP books for example, 100 PLN was the cost of English version here) – it may seem not much but many parents would rather buy their children new clothes or so. Living here is pretty expensive, most of my friend’s families have to take loans to live in a satisfactionary way. But again, variety of salary is really huge. There are no price competitions when it comes to HP books. They have their prices printed on back cover and it’s forbidden to give a client account higher than 10% of that price.

Amazing how conversation can float from Harry Potter to salaries in Poland. Now I can tell my boyfriend that this is an officially educational website. I learn something every day from this web site and not just Harry Potter stuff.

Haha, you’re right, Egypt :) But I guess it’s a good thing. There’s not much HP stuff to discuss.

To be honest, I think the early release of some translated copies is a good thing. When you think about it, they’ve really had to wait long enough.

Well Agunia, I understand that it’s amazing to read a book in the mother tongue, there are some things you really understand better.

My leguage is german and even I dislike to read the book in german I find it useful to read it one time, as there are always some sentences I have not understood properly in english and sometimes I am laughing at a joke that I have read month before (Lavenders Uranus, U no poo..)

Przemek, I understand that it sounds weird for a parent to buy the same book twice, but beeing honest we parents buy a lot of things for our pleasure too and a book is a jewel you can enjoy over and over again, its very well spent money. When I see that my kids really want and apreciate something I buy it if I can.

Professor Potter this is a bit out of topic: I am looking for the document “A year in the life of JKR” like crazy and I cant found it anywhere, not Google, not Emma, not Youtube. Have you have any idea where else can it be seen ?

Przemek & aillinne.. Now I feel much less naive! That is very informative. Though in hindsight, I did ask a couple of “duh” questions havent I? i wondered if there were less celebrations because most people have read the English version anyway (is that a wrong assumption too?) but of course there would still be celebrations, what the heck was I thinking! its Harry Potter, we would all even celebrate Prof Flitwick’s birthday! I do feel sorry for the students and anyone with scholarly interests in Poland though, despite the “backdoor” access too reading and libraries. I’m sure in time such a situation will improve, fingers crossed :-)

Hey Eva, this is indeed off topic so we’ll make this a last digression. You probably remember that I had put the show up on youtube under my “theycallmemrglass” channel. But Youtube took it off on the request of an ITV associate citing copyright protection so of course I have to respect that. Only ITV website was showing it but I guess it must be gone now? I can only perhaps suggest checking a bit-torrent portal website. I so so so wish everyone can watch the documentary as it is soulful. Oh btw, the title is “JK Rowling: A year in the life”

Hi Prof. Potter, thanks a lot, what is a torrent portal website ?

@ Professor Potter

Well… uhm.. I’ve gone all crazy in July indeed and so now I’m not dying to know how it ended, cause I know it of course :) Sure the midnight-parties might have been “damped” a little bit, but the reason is the winter I think. You know: it’s something different to celebrate on warm July night and on the cold January one.

“i wondered if there were less celebrations because most people have read the English version anyway”

Most not, but many for sure :)

Hey, I’m from Egypt and we have the translated Harry Potter and Deathly Hallows here by a publisher called “Nahdet Misr” and i hope you write this in the site Can u Plz….........................

Thanks for the insight, Sonia and aillinne. I do wish all polish people to prosper in life and income, and get cheaper books in the future! It’s especially troublesome to hear that academic books are so expensive, when they’re the basis of knowledge, and knowledge is what brings a country forward in the long run. So let’s hope your government understands this and do something about the high price of books – and your low income!

I read the english version at the same time it was released in Europe. I consider myself lucky to be able to read english, and I really prefer english books in their native language. I don’t bother to buy the translated edition to my native langauge. Why should I, when the english is the best anyway? Besides, all the names and things are changed in the translated ed. and I just get confused. I hear others here talk about “Humlesnurr”... and I go – “Who?” Then they tell me that’s Dumbledore. And Hogwarts becomes “Galtvort”. Ha-ha-ha. So it’s just confusing and therefore I don’t read the translated books in my own language.

Cheers from Norway. :)

no, super książka kocham Dracon’a Malfoy’a (polish) yeaah, cool box I love tom felton :D

The character’s names are translated too??? But why? What about the British culture of the story – is that retained? I’m sure it is but thinking about it translators have got a tough job as they are not just translating language but also cultural nuances and jokes, right? But there also has to be a balance of what and what not to change/translate.

Eva Hedwig – you’re right about book being a jewel, but you have to remember that we’re talking about HP book. Not so many people in my country consider it a book that can teach you something important. Most of people still believe it’s book for children, some of them will even laugh at you if you mention that you read HP. What’s more, in this specific case my parent’s really can’t buy me this book, we have financial problems. If I had money, I’d rather buy a book I haven’t read before :]

Professor Potter – character’s names are not translated in Polish version (at least most of them aren’t). The form “Dracona Malfoya” comes from declination. It looks like that (letters are cases): M. Draco Malfoy D. Dracona Malfoya C. Draconowi Malfoyowi B. Dracona Malfoya N. Draconem Malfoyem Ms. Draconie Malfoyu W. Draconie Malfoyu It may seem strange, but that’s Polish language :)