Harry Potter - a tale of two covers
Posted
July 19, 2007 at
8:15 am by
Prescott
I was reading the story about how the new Harry Potter book has been leaked on the internet (no, not the previously reported hacker story, this one appears to be legit), and the accompanying images caught my eye. Apparently the Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows covers are vastly different between the version sold in the U.S. and the one sold in the U.K.
Here’s the U.S. version of the cover:
And here’s the British version:
The second one looks like a Grisham novel for chrissakes. Why the two versions? I have my theories:
a) Brits want to be more subtle about the fact that they are sitting on the train reading a children’s book
b) American kids will only read something with a cartoon on the cover
c) It entices suckers, er, collectors to buy the book twice
d) J. K. Rowling demanded a more subdued version that didn’t clash with her solid gold jewel-encrusted castle
e) They just felt like it
I’m sure the answer could be easily found out with a bit of research, but why would I do that? Wild accusations and assumptions are so much more fun.
Tags: harry-potter, harry-potter-and-the-deathly-hallows |
5 Responses to “Harry Potter - a tale of two covers”
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1. Petulant Pixie
July 19, 2007 @ 2:00 pm
I believe all of the 7 Harry Potter books have had different covers for the US and the UK versions–but both editions are illustrated by Mary GrandPre, who lives in Minnesota. There is also a third edition, which is an “adult cover”–which is actually the version of Deathly Hallows that you have on this blog.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/pictures/galleries/newsid_3416000/3416125.stm
The regular UK version is here:
http://webweaversworld.blogspot.com/2007/03/harry-potter-and-deathly-hallows-cover.html
I enjoy the fact that there are different versions.
2. Prescott
July 19, 2007 @ 2:08 pm
Well see, what do I know. My knowledge of all things Potter is admittedly deficient.
3. Petulant Pixie
July 19, 2007 @ 2:11 pm
And, I’m going to further add in defense of those of us who are into the Potter books, I have not run across one single adult who likes these books and is an idiot. ALL of the adults I’ve come across who read the books are educated, intelligent people who read tons of high quality materials aside from the Potter books. I haven’t met in person or online one single person who only reads the Potter books, or just reads those books and Dean Koontz. So, it does say something for the population who follows these books. The idea that they’re laughable (or we’re laughable, since I guess I’m one of them) isn’t credible.
And, the “solid gold jewel-encrusted castle”, really? Why be bitter about a person who made a TON of money by writing books? And she never revlealed a breast! Or a navel ring! I have a lot of admiration for any woman who can become self made AND keep her dignity as a person along the way. But, of course I’m also insanely jealous, aren’t we all? Doesn’t everyone deep down wish that they had come up with this nugget of gold?
4. Prescott
July 19, 2007 @ 3:33 pm
Whoa, whoa, put the claws away. First, the little digs about adults reading Potter books is supposed to be light-hearted, like referring to “Star Trek geeks”, etc. Some of these “enlightened” adults that read Harry Potter even have a sense of humor about it. I don’t think anything I said was that outrageous, and I *certainly* didn’t call anyone an idiot, uneducated, or unintelligent. Frankly, I could care less what other people choose to read.
Secondly, saying Rowling has a “solid gold castle” was simply to infer that she’s very rich — which she is. How on earth do you interpret it that I’m bitter, or doesn’t think she deserves every penny? Do tell.
5. julymom
July 19, 2007 @ 4:10 pm
In the UK, they’ve always released 2 covers: one with a more cartoonish look for children and one for adults, so they wouldn’t feel so ‘conspicous’ reading them on the tube. I actually prefer the UK adult covers to the US covers. I’m not a big fan of Mary GrandPre’s art work, and like the UK adult version because they do not contain the silly sketches.
If you read the books Scott, you’d know the significance of the locket on the cover of the UK book.
BTW, I will be at a midnight release party with another adult friend of mine, ready to get our books and read all night.