Tales of Beedle the Bard Pre-Orders “Shipping Soon”

Nov 29, 2008

Posted by: SueTLC

Uncategorized

With just four days left until the release of the new book by Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling, fans (including this editor) who have pre-ordered their copies of The Tales of Beedle the Bard have started seeing their order status set to “shipping soon” or “dispatching soon.” Very exciting business indeed!
On a related note, the LA Times is one of many papers starting to preview the book which goes on sale this week on December 4, with the paper giving some new details on a time frame for the book and a quote from Dumbledore. It reads:

It’s J.K. Rowling’s new book of short fable-style stories set in 16th
century Muggle society, a time before the wizarding world went into
hiding (as they are in the “Harry Potter” novels). Thankfully,
Professor Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore puts the collection
in context for modern Muggle readers, noting that “Beedle was somewhat
out of step with his times in preaching a message of brotherly love for
Muggles.” (Thursday)

As a reminder, The Tales of Beedle the Bard were first mentioned in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, and are now being published in 23 countries on December 4, 2008. All proceeds from the sale of the new 128 page book will benefit the Children’s High Level Group charity. As reported many times previously, Scholastic, the US publishers of the Harry Potter novels, describes this new book as follows:

The Tales of Beedle the Bard, a Wizarding classic, first came to Muggle readers’ attention in the book known as Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.
Now, thanks to Hermione Granger’s new translation from the ancient
runes, we present this stunning edition with an introduction, notes,
and illustrations by J. K. Rowling, and extensive commentary by Albus
Dumbledore. Never before have Muggles been privy to these richly
imaginative tales: “The Wizard and the Hopping Pot’ “The Fountain of
Fair Fortune’ “The Warlock’s Hairy Heart’ “Babbitty Rabbitty and Her
Cackling Stump’ and of course, “The Tale of the Three Brothers.” But
not only are they the equal of fairy tales we now know and love,
reading them gives new insight into the world of Harry Potter.

The stories are accompanied by delightful pen-and-ink illustrations by
Ms. Rowling herself, featuring a still-life frontispiece for each one.
Professor Dumbledore’s commentary”apparently written some eighteen
months before his death”reveals not just his vast knowledge of
Wizarding lore, but also more of his personal qualities: his sense of
humor, his courage, his pride in his abilities, and his hard-won
wisdom. Names familiar from the Harry Potter novels sprinkle the pages,
including Aberforth Dumbledore, Lucius Malfoy and his forebears, and
Sir Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington (or “Nearly Headless Nick”), as well
as other professors at Hogwarts and the past owners of the Elder Wand.
Dumbledore tells us of incidents unique to the Wizarding world, like
hilariously troubled theatrical productions at Hogwarts or the dangers
of having a “hairy heart.” But he also reveals aspects of the Wizarding
world that his Muggle readers might find all too familiar, like
censorship, intolerance, and questions about the deepest mysteries in
life.





The Leaky Cauldron is not associated with J.K. Rowling, Warner Bros., or any of the individuals or companies associated with producing and publishing Harry Potter books and films.