Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
Un article de Vev.
Modèle:Pp-semi-vandalism Modèle:HPBooks
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is the seventh and final book of Harry Potter novels written by British author J. K. Rowling. The book was released on July 21, 2007, ending the series that began in 1997 with the publication of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. This book chronicles the events directly following Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2005), and leads to the long-awaited final confrontation between Harry Potter and Lord Voldemort.
Deathly Hallows is published in the UK by Bloomsbury Publishing, in the USA by Scholastic Press, in Canada by Raincoast Books and in Australia and New Zealand by Allen & Unwin. Released globally in ninety-three countries, Deathly Hallows broke sales records as the fastest-selling book ever, selling more than eleven million copies in the first twenty-four hours following its release. The previous record, nine million in its first day, had been held by Half-Blood Prince.<ref name="sales"/>
Sommaire |
Epigraph
All the books in the Harry Potter series have dedications, but Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is the only one to include an epigraph. It contains two quotes relating to death and friendship. The first quotation is an English translation from Ancient Greek of a passage from The Libation Bearers, by the 5th century BC playwright Aeschylus.<ref>The Libation Bearers is the second in a trilogy of tragedies called The Oresteia. See Oresteia#The Libation Bearers. The quotation's wording depends on the translation used - Rowling used the Robert Fagles translation published by Penguin Classics.</ref> The second quotation is from More Fruits of Solitude (1682) by William Penn, the Quaker author and founder of the American Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.<ref>More Fruits of Solitude is the second part of the work Fruits of Solitude (1682), a collection of aphorisms published by William Penn. The full Penn quote used in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is the last four lines of the aphorism titled Union of Friends.</ref>
Plot
The final summer
Lord Voldemort and his followers plan to ambush Harry Potter when he leaves the protected Dursley home with the Order of the Phoenix for the final time. Voldemort also seeks a new wand to defeat Harry's. As members of the order escort Harry to a safe house, they are attacked en route by Death Eaters. Harry narrowly escapes, but Hedwig and Mad-Eye Moody are killed.
At the Burrow, Minister for Magic Rufus Scrimgeour arrives to give Harry, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger bequests from Albus Dumbledore's will. Ron receives a Deluminator, and Hermione is left a children's book, The Tales of Beedle the Bard. Harry inherits Godric Gryffindor's Sword and the Snitch he caught in his first-ever Quidditch match, although Scrimgeour withholds the sword. The trio, while puzzled, presume the items will help them in their Horcrux hunt.
The search begins
At Bill Weasley and Fleur Delacour's wedding reception, Kingsley Shacklebolt's Patronus arrives, announcing that Scrimgeour is dead and the Ministry of Magic has fallen under Voldemort's control. As Death Eaters approach, Harry, Ron and Hermione Disapparate, escaping to a Muggle cafe, where they are attacked by more Death Eaters. They take refuge in 12 Grimmauld Place, the Order of the Phoenix former headquarters.
While at Grimmauld Place, Harry deduces that Sirius Black's brother Regulus was the "R.A.B" who removed the Locket Horcrux from the sea cave.Modèle:HP6 Hermione recalls seeing a locket amongst house-elf Kreacher's possessions.Modèle:HP5 Kreacher admits that he placed the Locket Horcrux in the cave for Voldemort, and Regulus later died retrieving it. The Horcrux has since fallen into Dolores Umbridge's possession via Mundungus Fletcher. The trio successfully infiltrate the Ministry of Magic and recover the locket, but Grimmauld Place is compromised during their escape, forcing them to flee to the countryside.
The trio learn that the Gryffindor Sword confiscated by the Ministry is a fake. They must find the real one to destroy Horcruxes with, but a frustrated Ron leaves the group. Harry and Hermione seek the sword in Godric's Hollow, but they are ambushed by Voldemort and his snake, Nagini. During their retreat, Hermione accidentally breaks Harry's wand with a defensive spell.
In the Forest of Dean, a doe-shaped Patronus leads Harry to an icy pond containing the real Sword. As Harry attempts to retrieve it, the Locket Horcrux tightens around his neck, strangling him. He is saved by Ron, who was guided back by Dumbledore's Deluminator. Ron destroys the Locket with the sword. He warns that Voldemort's name is now Tabooed: speaking it reveals the speaker's location to bounty hunters, known as Snatchers.
The Deathly Hallows
The trio learn from Xenophilius Lovegood, Luna's father, that the cryptic symbol they have repeatedly encountered represents the three Deathly Hallows: the Elder Wand, Resurrection Stone and Invisibility Cloak. When pressed about Luna's absence, Lovegood admits that Death Eaters abducted her in retaliation for supporting Harry in his paper, The Quibbler. Hoping for Luna's return, he has alerted Death Eaters of the trio's whereabouts, but they escape.
Snatchers later capture them when Harry utters Voldemort's tabooed name. Taken to Malfoy Manor, the trio join the imprisoned Luna, Dean, Ollivander and Griphook. Finding Gryffindor's Sword among the trio's possessions, Bellatrix Lestrange fears they have broken into her Gringotts vault, and tortures Hermione for information. Dobby Apparates into the cellar and rescues Luna, Dean and Ollivander. The noise prompts Peter Pettigrew to investigate. He throttles Harry, but reminded of his life debt,Modèle:HP3 Pettigrew loosens his grip, causing his own silver hand to choke him to death in retribution. Harry and Ron rush upstairs. Ron disarms Bellatrix and Harry takes Draco's wand. Dobby reappears, and they Disapparate to Bill and Fleur Weasley's cottage. Dobby is killed by Bellatrix's knife during the escape.
At the cottage, Ollivander confirms the Elder Wand's existence and says that a wand can transfer allegiance if its owner is defeated or disarmed. Ollivander also utters a caveat: although the Elder Wand is undefeatable, its master is not and must always guard against a surprise attack. Bellatrix's behaviour convinces the trio that another Horcrux is hidden in the Lestrange vault. Aided by Griphook, they penetrate Gringotts' defences and retrieve Hufflepuff's Cup Horcrux.
Meanwhile, Voldemort steals the Elder Wand from Dumbledore's tomb, believing it is the only wand that can defeat Harry. Dumbledore captured it after defeating the Dark wizard Grindelwald in a duel. Voldemort also realises that his Horcruxes are being destroyed; his mind link with Harry unintentionally reveals that another Horcrux is hidden at Hogwarts.
The Battle of Hogwarts
In Hogsmeade, Aberforth Dumbledore smuggles the trio into Hogwarts. Harry's return reignites Dumbledore's Army and members prepare to fight. Harry had no intention of leading an all-out revolt against Voldemort; he only planned to find the Horcrux, and leave. But when word is sent that Harry is at Hogwarts, more D.A. and Order of the Phoenix members arrive, and battle is imminent.
Harry alerts the Hogwarts staff to Voldemort's impending invasion, as allies continue arriving. Harry, meanwhile, must find the final Horcrux. Luna Lovegood suggests it could be Ravenclaw's lost diadem. Harry recalls seeing the diadem in the Room of Requirement when he hid his Potions book there.Modèle:HP6 Meanwhile, Hermione destroys the Cup Horcrux with a basilisk fang that she and Ron retrieve from the Chamber of Secrets.Modèle:HP2 The trio go to the Room of Requirement and are attacked by Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle. Crabbe mishandles the powerful Fiendfyre spell, killing himself and destroying the diadem, but the others escape unharmed.
Harry glimpses Voldemort's mind again and leads the trio to the Shrieking Shack. They witness Voldemort kill Snape with Nagini, believing it will make him the Elder Wand's master. As Snape dies, he gives Harry memories that prove Snape's loyalty to Dumbledore, motivated by his lifelong love for Harry's mother Lily. After being cursed by Gaunt's Ring Horcrux, a doomed Dumbledore had ordered Snape to kill him at a strategic time, sparing Draco from carrying out Voldemort's order to murder him. It was Snape who sent the doe Patronus. The memories also show that Harry himself is a Horcrux; he must die in order to destroy Voldemort.
Resigned to death, Harry approaches Voldemort's camp in the Forbidden Forest. Along the way, he finds the Resurrection Stone inside the Snitch and summons the spirits of his parents, Sirius Black and the recently killed Remus Lupin, who accompany him to Voldemort's camp. Voldemort strikes him with Avada Kedavra.
Awakening in an ethereal place, Harry is unsure whether he is alive or dead. Dumbledore appears and explains that Voldemort's Horcrux within Harry has been destroyed. He says that just as Voldemort cannot die while his soul fragments remain, Voldemort cannot kill Harry because he used Harry's blood in his resurrection.
Harry revives, but feigns death. Voldemort orders Narcissa Malfoy to check Harry. Although she realises that Harry is alive, she declares him dead, hoping it will help her to search for Draco inside the castle. Harry is carried to Hogwarts as Voldemort's trophy by the captured Hagrid. When Neville Longbottom defies Voldemort, the Sorting Hat is thrust aflame onto his head; pulling it off, he withdraws Gryffindor's sword from inside it and beheads Nagini, destroying the final Horcrux. As the battle resumes, many magical folk join in combat against the Death Eaters. Knowing that he is the Elder Wand's true master, Harry confronts Voldemort. When Draco Malfoy disarmed Dumbledore on the Astronomy Tower,Modèle:HP6 he unknowingly became the Elder Wand's master; this allegiance was then transferred to Harry when he captured Draco's wand at Malfoy Manor. Voldemort casts another Killing Curse at Harry, but the wand refuses to attack its master and the spell rebounds on Voldemort, killing him.
Among the casualties are Fred Weasley, Remus Lupin, Nymphadora Tonks, Colin Creevey and Bellatrix Lestrange. After the battle, Harry tells Dumbledore's portrait that he is keeping the Invisibility Cloak, but the Resurrection Stone will remain lost in the forest. The Elder Wand shall be returned to Dumbledore's tomb, where its power will be extinguished if Harry dies undefeated. Dumbledore approves. Before returning the Elder Wand to the tomb, Harry uses it to repair his own wand.
Epilogue
Nineteen years later, Harry and Ginny Weasley are married and have three children: James, Albus Severus and Lily. Ron has married Hermione and they have two children, Rose and Hugo. The families meet at King's Cross station, where a nervous Albus is departing for his first year at Hogwarts. Harry's nineteen-year-old godson, Teddy Lupin (Remus and Tonks's orphaned son), is found kissing Victoire Weasley (Bill and Fleur's daughter) in a train compartment. Teddy is a frequent visitor to the Potters, coming to dinner several times a week. Harry sees Draco Malfoy and his unnamed wife with their son, Scorpius; Malfoy acknowledges Harry with a curt nod, then turns away. Harry comforts Albus, who is worried he will be sorted into Slytherin. He tells his son that one of his two namesakes, Severus Snape, was a Slytherin and the bravest man he had ever met. He adds that the Sorting Hat takes one's own choice into account. Neville Longbottom is now the Hogwarts Herbology professor and is close friends with Harry. The book concludes: "The scar had not pained Harry for nineteen years. All was well."
Rowling's commentary and supplement
In an interview<ref name="connect"> Brown , Jen
. " Finished Potter? Rowling tells what happened next. " , MSNBC , 2007-07-25 . Retrieved on 2007-07-26 . </ref>, online chat,<ref name="webchat"/><ref name="chat"> Toler , Lindsay . " Rowling Answers Fans' Final Questions " , Associated Press . Retrieved on 2007-07-30 . </ref><ref name="chat2">" Rowling Answers Fans' Final Questions " , MSN Entertainment , 2007-07-30 . Retrieved on 2007-07-31 . </ref>, Wizard of the Month section of her website, and during her 2007 U.S. Open Book Tour, Rowling revealed additional character information that she chose not to include in the book. She stated that:
- Harry becomes an Auror for the Ministry of Magic, and is later appointed head of the department. He keeps Sirius's motorcycle, which Arthur Weasley repaired for him, but he can no longer speak Parseltongue after Voldemort's soul fragment inside him was destroyed.
- Ginny Weasley plays for the Holyhead Harpies Quidditch team for a time, leaves to establish a family with Harry and later becomes the lead Quidditch correspondent for the Daily Prophet.
- Ron Weasley works at George's store for a time, Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes, then joins Harry as an Auror.
- Hermione finds her parents in Australia and removes the memory modification charm she had put on them for safety. She initially works for the Ministry of Magic in the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures, greatly improving life for house elves and their ilk. She later moves to the Department of Magical Law Enforcement and assists in eradicating oppressive, pro-pureblood laws.
- Dumbledore's friendship with Gellert Grindelwald extended to romantic love, which may have initially blinded him to the extent of Grindlewald's schemes.<ref>"
JK Rowling outs Dumbledore as gay " , BBC News , 2007-10-20 . Retrieved on 2007-10-21 . </ref>
Rowling also explained the fates of several secondary characters:
- George Weasley continues his successful joke shop and names his first child Fred, in memory of his late twin brother.
- Luna Lovegood searches the world for odd and unique creatures. She eventually marries Rolf, a grandson of the famed naturalist Newt Scamander.<ref name="chat2"/> Her father's publication, The Quibbler, has returned to its usual condition of "advanced lunacy" and is appreciated for its unintentional humour.
- Firenze is welcomed back into his herd, who finally acknowledge the virtue of his pro-human leanings.
- Dolores Umbridge is arrested, interrogated, and imprisoned for crimes against Muggle-borns.
- Cho Chang went on to marry a Muggle.<ref> Larson , Susan
. " New Orleans students give Rowling a rousing welcome " , The Times-Picayune , 2007-10-18 . Retrieved on 2007-10-18 . </ref>
- Neville Longbottom eventually marries Hannah Abbott and lives in a flat above the Leaky Cauldron, when she becomes its new landlady.<ref>« »</ref>
There have been transformations in the wider wizarding world:
- Kingsley Shacklebolt is the permanent Minister for Magic, with Percy Weasley working under him as a high official. Among the reforms introduced by Shacklebolt, Azkaban no longer uses Dementors. Consequently, the world is now a "much sunnier place". Harry, Ron, and Hermione have also been instrumental in reforming the Ministry.
- At Hogwarts, Slytherin House has become more diluted and is no longer the pureblood bastion it once was, although its dark reputation lingers.
- Voldemort's jinx on the Defence Against the Dark Arts position is broken with his death. There is now a permanent Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher. Harry comes to the Defence Against the Dark Arts class to lecture a few times out of the year.
- A portrait of Snape, who briefly served as Hogwarts Headmaster, does not appear in the headmaster's office as he abandoned his post. Harry ensures the addition of Snape's portrait, and publicly reveals Snape's steadfastness.
Pre-release history
Choice of title
Shortly before releasing the title, J. K. Rowling announced that she had considered three titles for the book.<ref name="webchat">"
Online Chat Transcript " , Bloomsbury , 2007-07-31 . Retrieved on 2007-07-31 . </ref><ref> J.K.Rowling Official Site . News Archive
. Retrieved on 2007-04-23. </ref> The final title, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows was released to the public on December 21 2006 via a special Christmas-themed hangman puzzle on Rowling's website, confirmed shortly afterwards by the book's publishers.<ref name=book-7-title> Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
. Bloomsbury Publishing (2006-12-21)
. Retrieved on 2006-12-21. </ref> Asked during a live chat as to the other titles she had been considering, Rowling mentioned Harry Potter and the Elder Wand and Harry Potter and the Peverell Quest.<ref name="webchat"> Bloomsbury
. Webchat with J. K. Rowling (2007-07-30)
. Retrieved on 2007-08-01. </ref>
Marketing campaigns
| Scholastic's Seven Questions | |
In the build-up to the book's release, American publisher Scholastic released seven questions that fans would find answered in the final book:<ref> Harry Potter: Shrieking Shack Poll
. Scholastic . Retrieved on 2007-08-18.
</ref>
|
The launch was celebrated by an all-night book signing and reading at the Natural History Museum in London, which Rowling attended along with 1700 guests chosen by ballot.<ref> Harry Potter
. scholastic
. Retrieved on 2007-05-25. </ref> Rowling intends to tour the USA in October 2007, where another event will be held at Carnegie Hall in New York with tickets allocated by sweepstake.<ref> USA open book tour
. Retrieved on 2007-06-15.
</ref>
Scholastic Inc., the American publisher of the Harry Potter series, launched a multi-million dollar "THERE WILL SOON BE 7" marketing campaign with a 'Knight Bus' travelling to forty libraries across the United States, online fan discussions and competitions, collectible bookmarks, tattoos, and the staged release of seven Deathly Hallows questions most debated by fans.<ref name=scholastic_announcement/>
Scholastic also hosted "Harry Potter Place" — a magical and interactive street celebration at Scholastic headquarters in New York City, where the first U.S. signed edition of Deathly Hallows were unveiled on July 20, 2007.<ref> Scholastic to Host 'Harry Potter Place'
. Scholastic (2007-06-26)
. Retrieved on 2007-06-26. </ref> The festivities included a 20 foot (6 metre)-high Whomping Willow, face-painting, wand-making, fire-eaters, magicians, jugglers and stilt-walkers.
Several bookstores set up small kiosks displaying free-to-take bookmarks. The bookmarks show reasons why Severus Snape should be considered a friend or a foe on opposite sides along with the Deathly Hallows logo at the bottom.<ref> Laminated Harry Potter Deathly Hallows 7 Snape Bookmark
(2007-06-26)
. Retrieved on 2007-06-26. </ref>
J. K. Rowling arranged with her publishers for a poster bearing the face of the missing Madeleine McCann to be made available to book sellers when Deathly Hallows was launched on 21 July and said that she hoped that the posters would be displayed prominently in shops all over the world.<ref>"
Rowling in Madeleine poster plea " , BBC News , 2007-07-16 . Retrieved on 2007-07-17 . </ref>
Rowling on finishing the book
Rowling completed the book while staying at the Balmoral Hotel in Edinburgh in January 2007, and left a signed statement on a marble bust of Hermes in her room which read: "JK Rowling finished writing Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows in this room (652) on 11 January 2007".<ref> Cornwell , Tim
(2007-02-03) . Finish or bust - JK Rowling's unlikely message in an Edinburgh hotel room . The Scotsman
. Retrieved on 2007-03-29. </ref> In a statement on her website, she said, "I've never felt such a mixture of extreme emotions in my life, never dreamed I could feel simultaneously heartbroken and euphoric." She compared her mixed feelings to those expressed by Charles Dickens in the preface of the 1850 edition of David Copperfield, "a two-years' imaginative task." "To which," she added, "I can only sigh, try seventeen years, Charles..." She ended her message, "Deathly Hallows is my favourite, and that is the most wonderful way to finish the series."<ref name="End">"
Rowling reacts to Potter's end " , USA Today , Associated Press , 2007-02-06 . Retrieved on 2007-07-21 . </ref>
When asked before publication about the forthcoming book, Rowling stated that she could not change the ending even if she wanted to. "These books have been plotted for such a long time, and for six books now, that they're all leading a certain direction. So, I really can't."<ref name=Owen-Jones>"
One-on-one interview with J.K. Rowling " (reprint) , ITV , 2005-07-17 . Retrieved on 2007-06-16 . </ref> She also commented that the final volume related closely to the previous book in the series, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, "almost as though they are two halves of the same novel."<ref name=book-six-progress> Rowling , J. K.
(2004-03-15) . Progress on Book Six . J. K. Rowling Official Site
. Retrieved on 2006-12-23. </ref> She has said that the last chapter of the book was written "in something like 1990", as part of her earliest work on the series.<ref name="last chapter">"
"Rowling to kill two in final book" " , BBC News , 2006-06-27 . Retrieved on 2007-07-25 . </ref>
Spoiler embargo
Rowling made a public request that anyone with advance information about the content of the last book should keep it to themselves, in order to avoid spoiling the experience for other readers.<ref> J.K.Rowling Official Site
. J K Rowling (14 May 2007)
. Retrieved on 2007-05-18. </ref> To this end, Bloomsbury invested GB£10 million in an attempt to keep the book's contents secure until the July 21 release date.<ref> 10 million pounds to guard 7th Harry Potter book
. Rediff (16 July 2007)
. Retrieved on 2007-07-16. </ref> Arthur Levine, U.S. editor of the Harry Potter series, denied distributing any copies of Deathly Hallows in advance for press review, but two U.S. papers published early reviews anyway.<ref> Editor Says 'Deathly Hallows' Is Unleakable
. MTV Overdrive (video) (July 17, 2007)
. Retrieved on 2007-07-19. </ref><ref>There was speculation that some shops would break the embargo and distribute copies of the book early, as the penalty imposed for previous installments — that the distributor would not be supplied with any further copies of the series — would no longer be a deterrent. Potter embargo 'could be broken'
. BBC News (12 July 2007)
. Retrieved on 2007-07-17. </ref>
Online leaks and early delivery
In the week prior to its release, a number of texts purporting to be genuine leaks appeared in various forms. On July 16, a set of photographs representing all 759 pages of the U.S. edition was leaked to the Internet and was fully transcribed prior to the official release date.<ref> Harry Potter Fans Transcribe Book from Photos
. TorrentFreak (18 July 2007)
. Retrieved on 2007-07-19. </ref><ref> New Potter book leaked online
. Sydney Morning Herald, Fairfax newspapers (18 July 2007)
. Retrieved on 2007-07-18. </ref><ref> Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows leaked to BitTorrent
. TorrentFreak (17 July 2007)
. Retrieved on 2007-07-19. </ref><ref> Harry Potter Spoiler Count
. Los Angeles Times (20 July 2007)
. Retrieved on 2007-07-20. </ref> The photographs later appeared on websites and peer-to-peer networks, leading Scholastic to seek a subpoena in order to identify one source.<ref name="nyt20070717"> New Did the Times Betray Harry Potter Fans?
. New York Times (30 July 2007)
.</ref> This represented the most serious security breach in the Harry Potter series' history.<ref> Web abuzz over Potter leak claims
(17 July 2007)
.</ref> Rowling and her lawyer admitted that there were genuine online leaks.<ref> Malvern , Jack
. " Harry Potter and the great web leak " , Times , 2007-07-19 . Retrieved on 2007-07-19 . </ref> Reviews published in both The Baltimore Sun and The New York Times on July 18, 2007 corroborated many of the plot elements from this leak, and about one day prior to release, The New York Times confirmed that the main circulating leak was real.<ref> Web abuzz over Potter leak claims (17 July 2007)
.</ref>
Scholastic announced that approximately one ten-thousandth (0.01%) of the U.S. supply had been shipped early — interpreted to mean about 1,200 copies.<ref> Publisher slams book on "Harry Potter" distributor
. Newsday (18 July 2007)
. Retrieved on 2007-07-18. </ref> One reader in Maryland received a copy of the book in the mail from DeepDiscount.com four days before it was launched, which evoked incredulous responses on the part of both Scholastic and DeepDiscount. Scholastic initially reported that they were satisfied it had been a "human error" and would not discuss possible penalties.<ref> The spell is broken
. The Baltimore Sun (18 July 2007)
. Retrieved on 2007-07-18. </ref> However, the following day Scholastic announced that it would be launching legal action against DeepDiscount.com and its distributor, Levy Home Entertainment.<ref> Press release from Scholastic
. PR Newswire (from Scholastic) (July 18, 2007)
. Retrieved on 2007-07-18. </ref> Scholastic has filed for damages in Chicago's Circuit Court of Cook County, claiming<ref> Distributor mails final Potter book early
. MSNBC Interactive (July 18, 2007)
. Retrieved on 2007-07-18. </ref> that DeepDiscount engaged in a "complete and flagrant violation of the agreements that they knew were part of the carefully constructed release of this eagerly awaited book." Some of the early release books soon appeared on eBay, in one case being sold to Publishers Weekly for US$250 from an initial price of US$18.<ref> I Was an eBay Voldemort
. National Review Online (20 July 2007)
. Retrieved on 2007-07-20. </ref>
Price wars and other controversies
ASDA,<ref>In the UK, supermarket chain Asda claimed that the retail price of the book (GB£17.99, equivalent to about US$37 at the time of release) was "holding children to ransom". The publisher responded by threatening to withdraw Asda's supply of the book, claiming a previously unpaid debt. Potter book firm clashes with supermarket over price
. Times Newspapers (2007-07-17)
. Asda issued an apology and settled the debt, and its supply of the book was restored. http://books.guardian.co.uk/news/articles/0,,2128891,00.html</ref> plus several other UK supermarkets, had already taken pre-orders for the book at a heavily discounted price. ASDA then sparked a further price war two days before the book's launch by announcing they would sell it for just GB£5.00 a copy (about US$10). Other retail chains also offered the book at discounted prices.<ref> At these prices the book is a loss leader, but attracting large numbers of customers to their stores. This caused uproar from traditional UK booksellers who argued they had no hope of competing in those conditions. http://www.accesshollywood.com/news/ah6148.shtml Access Hollywood. Independent shops protested loudest, but even Waterstone’s, the UK's largest dedicated chain bookstore, could not compete with the supermarket price. Some small bookstores hit back by buying their stock from the supermarkets rather than their wholesalers. Asda tried to counter this by imposing a limit of two copies per customer to prevent bulk-buying. Philip Wicks, a spokesman for the UK Booksellers Association, said: 'It is a war we can't even participate in. We think it's a crying shame that the supermarkets have decided to treat it as a loss-leader, like a can of baked beans." Michael Norris, an analyst at Simba Information, said: "You are not only lowering the price of the book. At this point, you are lowering the value of reading."</ref> In Malaysia, a similar price war brought about controversy regarding sales of the book.<ref name="pricewars"> Harry Potter and the ugly price war
. The Star Malaysia (21 July 2007)
. Retrieved on 2007-07-21.
Four of the biggest bookstore chains in Malaysia, mph Bookstores, Popular Bookstores, Times and Harris, decided to pull Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows off their shelves as a protest against Tesco and Carrefour hypermarkets. The retail price of the book in Malaysia is MYR 109.90 (about GB£16), while the hypermarkets Tesco and Carrefour sell the book at MYR 69.90 (about GB£10). The move by the bookstores was seen as an attempt to pressure the distributor Penguin Books to remove the books from the hypermarkets. However, as of 24 July 2007, the price war has ended, with the four bookstores involved resuming selling the books in their stores with discount. Penguin Books has also confirmed that Tesco and Carrefour are selling the book at a loss, urging them to practice good business sense and fair trade. Bookstores end ‘Harry Potter’ boycott . The Star Malaysia (24 July 2007)
. Retrieved on 2007-07-24. </ref> The book's early Saturday morning release in Israel was criticised for violating the Sabbath.<ref> Trade and Industry Minister Eli Yishai commented that "It is forbidden, according to Jewish values and Jewish culture, that a thing like this should take place at 2 a.m. on Saturday. Let them do it on another day." Plans for Sabbath sales of Harry Potter draw threats of legal action in Israel
. International Herald Tribune (July 17, 2007)
. Retrieved on 2007-07-18.
Yishai indicated that he would issue indictments and fines based on the Hours of Work and Rest Law. Yishai warns stores over Harry Potter book launch on Shabbat . Haaretz (July 21, 2007)
. Retrieved on 2007-07-18. </ref>
Sales
On 21 July 2007, all English language editions, except for the American and Canadian editions, were released at one minute past midnight (00:01) BST; the American and Canadian editions were released at one minute past midnight (00:01), local time.<ref name=release-date> Rowling , J. K.
. " Publication Date for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows " , J. K. Rowling Official Site , 2007-02-01 . Retrieved on 2007-03-29 . </ref><ref name=Canada-release> Official Raincoast Harry Potter page . Raincoast Books
. Retrieved on 2007-07-20. </ref> It was released globally in 93 countries.<ref name=countries>"
Potter books fly off the shelves " , BBC , 2007-07-21 . Retrieved on 2007-07-23 . </ref> The book reached the top spot on both the Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble best-seller lists just a few hours after the date of publication was announced on 1 February 2007.<ref> 'HPDH' reaches no. 1 on U.S. Amazon & BN lists . HPANA (2007-02-01)
. Retrieved on 2007-03-29. </ref> In July 2007 the U.K. newspaper the Daily Telegraph reported that it had been bought by more than 10% of the British population in the 5 days since its release.<ref name="dt_on_sales">Issue number 47,318 Tuesday 24 July 2007 p9 New Harry Potter book in over 10pc of homes </ref>
Retailers such as Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, and Borders reported that more orders had been placed for this book than for any other in history,<ref> Blais , Jacqueline
. " After final 'Harry Potter' book, can anyone fill the void? " , USA Today , 2007-05-03 . Retrieved on 2007-05-03 . </ref> with Amazon.com stating that advance orders of the book reached 2.2 million worldwide,<ref> 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows' Sells 2.2 Million Online
.</ref> breaking the record set by the sixth book of 1.5 million.<ref> 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows' Breaks Online Record
.</ref> Scholastic announced an unprecedented initial print run of 12 million copies.<ref name=scholastic_announcement> Scholastic Announces Record-Breaking 12.1 Million First Printing In United States Of J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows
. Scholastic (2007-03-14)
. Retrieved on 2007-03-29. </ref>
On the book's first day of sales, it sold 11 million copies in the UK and U.S., breaking the record of 9 million held by the sixth book.<ref name="11mil"> Harry Potter finale sales hit 11 m
.</ref> In the U.S., 8.3 million hardcovers were sold during the first 24 hours, breaking the record of 6.9 million set by the sixth book.<ref>'Deathly Hallows' sells 8.3 million in first 24 hours. Retrieved on 2007-07-25.</ref> In addition 400,000 copies were sold in Germany in the first 24 hours,<ref name="dt_on_sales" /> all 250,000 copies made available in the Netherlands and Belgium,<ref name="dt_on_sales" /> 170,000 in India,<ref>Potter magic: 1.7 lakh copies sold, The Hindu, 22 July, 2007</ref> and just over 573,000 copies in Australia;<ref>Bloomsbury Says `Harry Potter' Sold 573,845 Copies in Australia, News.com.au, 21 July, 2007</ref> while in Canada over 800,000 copies were sold in the first two days.<ref>Canadian Potter sales up 25% over No. 6, Globe and Mail, 24 July 2007</ref> Barnes & Noble, the largest U.S. book chain, reported all-time record sales of 1.8 million copies in the first two days including 560,000 in the first hour - a rate of more than 150 copies per second. The audiobook broke records as well, with 225,000 copies sold in the first two days, according to Random House Audio's Listening Library.<ref>'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows' Breaks Records. Retrieved on 2007-07-25.</ref> Borders reported record sales of 1.2 million copies on the first day, breaking the record of 850,000 set by the sixth book.<ref>Final Harry Potter book posts spellbinding sales. Retrieved on 2007-07-27.</ref>
During the run-up to the release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Bloomsbury's stock lost more than £151M in value. Investors were reacting to the end of the publisher's key product.<ref name="bloomsburystock">"
Harry Potter and a nightmare for the high street bookshops " , The Independent , 2007-07-23 . Retrieved on 2007-07-23 . </ref> In the last financial year in which no Harry Potter book was released, Bloomsbury's profits dropped by 75%.
Critical reception
The Baltimore Sun's critic, Mary Carole McCauley's, praised the entire Harry Potter series as "a classic bildungsroman, or coming-of-age tale." She noted that "[b]ook seven... lacks much of the charm and humor that distinguished the earlier novels. Even the writing is more prosaic", but then observed that given the book's darker subject matter, "[h]ow could it be otherwise?"<ref> McCauley, Mary Carole
(July 18, 2007) . An inevitable ending to Harry Potter series . Baltimore Sun
. Retrieved on 2007-07-21. </ref>
Reviewer Alice Fordham from The Times writes that "Rowling’s genius is not just her total realisation of a fantasy world, but the quieter skill of creating characters that bounce off the page, real and flawed and brave and lovable." Fordham concludes, "We have been a long way together, and neither [Rowling] nor Harry let us down in the end."<ref> Fordham, Alice
(July 21, 2007) . Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows . The Times
. Retrieved on 2007-07-25.
</ref>
By contrast, Jenny Sawyer of the Christian Science Monitor says that while "There is much to love about the Harry Potter series, from its brilliantly realized magical world to its multilayered narrative," however, "A story is about someone who changes. And, puberty aside, Harry doesn't change much. As envisioned by Rowling, he walks the path of good so unwaveringly that his final victory over Voldemort feels, not just inevitable, but hollow."<ref> Sawyer, Jenny
(July 25, 2007) . Missing from 'Harry Potter" – a real moral struggle . Christian Science Monitor
. Retrieved on 2007-07-25.
</ref>
Stephen King criticised the reactions of some reviewers to the books, including McCauley, for jumping too quickly to surface conclusions of the work.<ref> Stephen King
. J K Rowling's Ministry of Magic . entertainment weekly
. Retrieved on 2007-8-21. </ref> He felt this was inevitable, because of the extreme secrecy before launch which did not allow reviewers time to read and consider the book, but meant that many early reviews lacked depth. Rather than finding the writing style disappointing he felt it had matured and improved. He acknowledged that the subject matter of the books had become more adult, and that Rowling had clearly been writing with the adult audience firmly in mind since the middle of the series. He compared the works in this respect to Huckleberry Finn and Alice in Wonderland which also achieved success and have become established classics, in part by appealing to the adult audience as well as children.
Translations
Following a pre-release question from the Swedish publisher about the difficulty of translating the two words "Deathly Hallows" without having read the book, Rowling revealed an alternative title from which non-English editions could be translated: Harry Potter and the Relics of Death.<ref name="tiden"> Släppdatum för sjunde Harry Potter-boken klar!
. Tiden
. Retrieved on 2007-07-24. </ref>
The first translation to be released was the Ukrainian translation, on September 25, 2007 (as Гаррі Поттер і смертельні реліквії). <ref>http://www.kyivpost.com/guide/general/27427/</ref> Translation of the book is still underway in a range of languages. Expected publication dates for various translations:
- Turkish (as Harry Potter ve Ölüm Yadigarları), released on October 9, 2007 [1]
- Russian (as Гарри Поттер и Дары Смерти), released on October 13, 2007 [2]
- Chinese (as 哈利波特－死神的聖物, Pinyin: Hālìpōtè - Sǐshéndeshèngwù), released on October 20, 2007 [3]
- Croatian (as Harry Potter i darovi smrti), released October 26, 2007 [4]
- French (as Harry Potter et les reliques de la mort), released on October 26, 2007 [5]
- German (as Harry Potter und die Heiligtümer des Todes), released on October 27, 2007 [6]
- Vietnamese (as Harry Potter và bảo bối tử thần), released on October 27, 2007 [7]
- Greek (as Ο Χάρι Πότερ και οι κλήροι του θανάτου), released on November 3, 2007 [8]
- Brazilian Portuguese (as Harry Potter e as Relíquias da Morte), released on November 10, 2007
- Portuguese, (as Harry Potter e os talismãs da Morte), released on November 16, 2007 [9]
- Dutch (as Harry Potter en de Relieken van de Dood), released on November 17, 2007 [10]
- Romanian (as Harry Potter şi Talismanele Morţii, [11]), released on December 1, 2007
- Norwegian (as Harry Potter og Dødstalismanene), released on December 1, 2007 [12]
- Hebrew (as הארי פוטר ואוצרות המוות), released on December 5, 2007 (Chicago Jewish Star, July 27, 2007)
- Bulgarian (as Хари Потър и Даровете на Смъртта, [13]), released on December 13, 2007
- Italian (as Harry Potter e i doni della morte), expected release date January 5, 2008 [14]
- Polish (as "Harry Potter i Insygnia Śmierci"), expected release date January 25, 2008
- Hungarian (as "Harry Potter és a Halál ereklyéi"), expected release date February 9, 2008 [15]
- Spanish (as "Harry Potter y las Reliquias de la Muerte"), expected release date February 21, 2008
- Finnish (as Harry Potter ja kuoleman varjelukset, [16]), expected release date March 7, 2008 [17]
Film adaptation
A film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is planned. Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson will reprise their roles as Harry, Ron and Hermione,<ref name=trio-returns>Modèle:Cite press release</ref> while Helena Bonham Carter and David Thewlis have confirmed they will reprise their roles as Bellatrix Lestrange and Remus Lupin respectively.<ref>"
Harry Potter Film Star Talks To Sky News " , Sky News , 2007-10-06 . Retrieved on 2007-10-06 . </ref> Imelda Staunton wishes to reprise the role of Dolores Umbridge.<ref> Olly Richards . " Heroes of 2007 " , January 2008 , pp. 130 . </ref> Alfonso Cuarón, director of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, has said that he would be "tempted" to return to direct,<ref> Utichi , Joe . " RT-UK Exclusive: Alfonso Cuaron talks Mexico and a Return to Harry Potter " , 2007-07-27 . Retrieved on 2007-07-30 . </ref> Chris Columbus, director of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, and David Yates, director of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix and Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince have also expressed interest in returning if time and scheduling allowed it.<ref>" All US Order of the Phoenix Premiere Videos and Photos " , Harry Potter's Page , 2007-07-11 . Retrieved on 2007-08-06 . </ref> Guillermo Del Toro, who passed on Prisoner of Azkaban, has also expressed interest in directing Deathly Hallows.<ref> Larry Carroll . " Guillermo Game For ‘Harry Potter’ " , MTV , 2007-10-26 . Retrieved on 2007-10-26 . </ref> The screenplay will be written by Steve Kloves, who wrote the screenplays to the first four and the sixth films,<ref name="Kloves-directing">" Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix " , KPBS , 2007-06-11 . Retrieved on 2007-07-21 . "Steve Kloves ... will write the remaining two Potter scripts [and] will direct the final installment." </ref> whilst John Williams, who composed the scores to the first three films, has expressed interest in returning to score the film.<ref name=williams-hpana-august>" Williams Might be Back for Last 'Potter' Film " , JWFAN , 2007-08-22 . Retrieved on 2007-08-25 . </ref>
Editions
- Bloomsbury (United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, South Africa, etc.)
- ISBN 0-7475-9105-9 Hardcover
- ISBN 0-7475-9106-7 Hardcover (adult edition)
- ISBN 0-7475-9107-5 Hardcover (special edition)
- Scholastic (United States, etc.)
- ISBN 0-545-01022-5 Hardcover
- ISBN 0-545-02937-6 Deluxe Hardcover; Raincoast (Canada, etc. - Same as Bloomsbury editions)
- ISBN 1551929767 Hardcover
- ISBN 1551929783 Hardcover (adult edition)
References
External links
Modèle:Wikiquote Modèle:Wikibooks
- J.K. Rowling's Official Website
- Harry Potter at Bloomsbury.com web site U.K. publisher book information
- Harry Potter at Scholastic.com web site U.S. publisher book information
- Harry Potter at Raincoast.com web site Canadian publisher book information
- Harry Potter at Allen & Unwin web site Australia-New Zealand publisher book information
Modèle:Harrypotterar:هاري بوتر وآثار الموت az:Harri Potter və məşum cəsədlər bs:Harry Potter i Sveti smrtnici bg:Хари Потър и Даровете на Смъртта ca:Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows cs:Harry Potter a Relikvie smrti da:Harry Potter og Dødsregalierne de:Harry Potter und die Heiligtümer des Todes et:Harry Potter ja Surma vägised el:Ο Χάρι Πότερ και οι Κλήροι του Θανάτου es:Harry Potter y las reliquias de la Muerte eo:Hari Poter kaj la Sanktaĵoj de la Morto fa:هری پاتر و یادگاران مرگ fr:Harry Potter et les Reliques de la Mort gl:Harry Potter e as reliquias da morte ko:해리 포터와 죽음의 성물 hi:हैरी पॉटर एंड द डेथली हैलोज़ hr:Harry Potter i Darovi smrti id:Harry Potter dan Relikui Kematian it:Harry Potter e i Doni della Morte he:הארי פוטר ואוצרות המוות la:Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows lt:Haris Poteris ir pražūtingos relikvijos hu:Harry Potter és a Halál ereklyéi ms:Harry Potter dan Khazanah Kematian nl:Harry Potter en de Relieken van de Dood (boek) ja:ハリー・ポッターと死の秘宝 no:Harry Potter og Dødstalismanene pl:Harry Potter i Insygnia Śmierci pt:Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (livro) ro:Harry Potter şi Talismanele Morţii ru:Гарри Поттер и Дары Смерти simple:Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows sk:Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows sl:Harry Potter in Svetinje smrti sr:Хари Потер и смртоносни благослови fi:Harry Potter ja kuoleman varjelukset sv:Harry Potter och dödsrelikerna ta:ஹரி பொட்டர் அன் த டெத்லி ஹலோவ்ஸ் (நாவல்) th:แฮร์รี่ พอตเตอร์กับเครื่องรางยมทูต vi:Harry Potter và Bảo bối Tử thần tr:Harry Potter ve Ölüm Yadigârları (kitap) zh:哈利波特－死神的聖物
