In safe hands ... copies of JK Rowling’s new Harry
Potter novel — not due out until June 21 — at The Sun’s HQ
Posted on 05/05/2003 10:54:41 PM PDT by Slings and Arrows
 |
| RELATED STORIES |
| • Sun Says |
|
By MIKE DARVILL and THOMAS WHITAKER
TOP secret copies of the new Harry Potter book were handed to The Sun yesterday — after being found in a field.
Two first editions of JK Rowling’s The Order of the Phoenix — not due out until June 21 — were discovered by a reader in Suffolk.
The magical fifth instalment of the smash-hit series about schoolboy wizard Harry has been dubbed literature’s most closely-guarded secret ever.
Only a handful of people have had access to the manuscript.
Yet the 40-year-old dad-of-two stumbled across the copies yesterday morning while walking on common land in the market town of Bungay. He immediately called The Sun and we sent our man Mike Darvill to collect the books from him.
Last night they were under heavy security at our Wapping headquarters as we made arrangements to return them to publishers Bloomsbury — WITHOUT spoiling the plot for millions of young Harry fans.
The reader, who asked The Sun not to name him, discovered the world’s most eagerly-awaited novel just a quarter of a mile from Clays Ltd, a firm which will print hundreds of thousands of copies.
He said: “I was walking my regular route on the common at 11am when I saw something in the grass.
“I wondered what it was and bent down to pick it up. I was astonished when I read the first page and saw it was the latest Harry Potter book.
“I thought, ‘What the hell is this? And why has it been left here?’ It was broad daylight when I saw it and I am amazed nobody else found it.”
Bungay Common — a favourite spot for dog walkers — was also packed with joggers yesterday morning.
The two copies — found without the distinctive covers which have already been previewed for the public — were stuck together.
That is the usual practice for books during production. They are separated later using a special guillotine.
The first page of each copy gave the book’s title, while the second showed the title and JK Rowling’s name.
An inside page gave the usual information readers would find in any book — the year of publication, copyright and the name of the publishers and printers.
It also showed the copies handed to The Sun were first editions.
Author JK announced on January 15 that the manuscript was ready and that the book would be out in the summer.
At 255,000 words, it is 64,000 words longer than fourth instalment Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire and will cost £16.99.
News that it was ready sparked a mass stampede to shops by desperate Potter fans determined to make sure they could pick up copies on the day that it came out.
The Sun refuses to give away any of the blockbuster book’s secrets.
But we can reveal that a THIRD copy of the new book is in circulation.
Our news team received a call yesterday offering us the first three chapters of the book for £25,000.
A shifty-sounding man told us: “I want the money in a suitcase and I will give you the first three chapters.”
The Sun turned down his offer — keeping alive the excitement of legions of youngsters across the globe.
Clays, which also handled the autobiography of soccer hero Roy Keane, has won the contract to print all five Harry Potter books.
Some of the walls surrounding the firm’s Suffolk factory have barbed wire and lights on them — but others don’t.
Signs there warn: “In the interest of customer and staff safety and for crime prevention purposes these premises are protected by a 24 hours closed circuit television system.”
So far just a few teasing facts from the book have been given out to whet the appetites of young fans.
JK Rowling has said readers will learn why evil Voldemort killed Harry’s parents; the story will be “scary”; something really important will emerge about Harry’s mum Lily; and there will be a female teacher of Defence Against The Dark Arts.
The 37-year-old writer, who lives with her husband and two children in Scotland, also announced: “There’s at least one death that’s going to be horrible to write, or rather rewrite.
“Harry has to examine exactly what death means, in even closer ways.”
Bloomsbury Publishing tantalisingly revealed Harry will be told a secret which will change his world “forever”.
So far, two of the Harry novels have been turned into smash-hit movies starring 13-year-olds Daniel Radcliffe as the bespectacled boy wizard and Emma Watson as his pal Hermoine.
Harry Potter fans last night praised The Sun for recovering the lost books.
David Tattersall, ten, of Wakefield, West Yorks said: “I love all the Harry Potter books and I’ve been waiting for Order of the Phoenix to come out for months.
“I’m glad it hasn’t ended up on the internet or in a paper because it would ruin the surprise.”
Nine-year-old Jordan Clement, of Sandhurst, Berks, said: “I can’t wait to read the new book. I love Harry Potter because of all the magic — but also the surprises.
“Leaking it in bits and bobs would have spoiled it.”
Adult Potter fan Matt Dyson, of Hawley, Hants, said: “Good on The Sun for recovering this book. They’ve kept the dreams of millions of Harry fans alive.”
Jacob Buckle, eight, of Cambridge, said: “I’m so glad the book hasn’t leaked out — it could have meant its surprise ending was all spoiled.”
Makes sense to me. After all, the book might not sell without a bit of media attention. ;-)
This sounds like any other nefarious theft. Someone wanted to make a lot of money and stole hoping to do so.
Damn that Voldemort...
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
