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Michael Merschel: Michael Merschel is The Dallas Morning News books editor. June 2009
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The illustrated collection of five wizard fables played an important role in the plot of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, but up till now it had been unseen except for photos of its cover and illustrations and the "reviews" posted on Amazon.com, which bought one of JKR's seven individually handcrafted copies at an auction for charity. (Net proceeds from these new editions also will go to a designated charity.) Until now, it was not thought these stories would ever be published for a general audience. Beedle is a short book, and the hardcover standard edition is not expensive at $12.99 (Amazon's offering it for $7.59 at pre-order). But Amazon's exclusive, elaborate collector's edition ("designed to evoke the spirit of the handcrafted original") is priced at $100 and includes 10 bonus illustrations by JKR, plus a special embroidered velvet storage bag. The US and UK editions have (like the seven Harry Potter books) different covers, with the American book bearing a colorful illustration whose elements hint at the five tales within. [UPDATE: We were sure we recognized the unmistakable style of Mary GrandPré in that illustration. Amazon.com didn't mention who illustrated the US cover, however. So we asked Ms. GrandPré herself: Did she create it? Let the record show that she told us, "Yes, I am the illustrator." We knew it!] Best of all, Beedle (which is newly "translated from the original runes by Hermione Granger") also contains an introduction by JKR, and commentary on the fairy tales by none other than Albus Dumbledore:
But the true jewel of this new edition is the enlightening and comprehensive commentary (including extensive footnotes!) by Professor Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, who brings his unique wizard's-eye perspective to the collection. Discovered "among the many papers which Dumbledore left in his will to the Hogwarts Archives," the venerable wizard's ruminations on the Tales allow today's readers to place them in the context of 16th century Muggle society, even allowing that "Beedle was somewhat out of step with his times in preaching a message of brotherly love for Muggles" during the era of witch hunts that would eventually drive the wizarding community into self-imposed exile. In fact, versions of the same stories told in wizarding households would shock many for their uncharitable treatment of their Muggle characters. Professor Dumbledore also includes fascinating historical backstory, including tidbits such as the history and pursuit of magic wands, a brief comment on the Dark Arts and its practitioners, and the struggles with censorship that eventually led "a certain Beatrix Bloxam" to cleanse the Tales of "much of the darker themes that she found distasteful," forever altering the meaning of the stories for their Muggle audience. Dumbledore also allows us a glimpse of his personal relationship to the Tales, remarking that it was through "Babbity Rabbity and Her Cackling Stump" that "many of us [wizards] first discovered that magic could not bring back the dead." E-mail entry: |
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I wonder if they will have a midnight release and the usual Potter parties for this one? I know I can't wait to get my hands on it!
Yeeaa!!! Sounds fun, even if I am 39. My husband and I will both read it.
My sister is a HUGE fan she has all the Harry Potter books and has read them three times each. And it only takes her like five days to read each book. She loves to read and she just got a biography about you and finished it in one day. She would die just to meet you she is all over your books. thank you! Keep writing
I am a HUGE fan I have all the Harry Potter books and have read them three times each. And it only takes me like five days to read each book. I love to read and I just got a biography about you and finished it in one day. I would die just to meet you I am all over your books. thank you! Keep writing