J.K. Lucas
Mar. 5th, 2004 02:31 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
sombrefanRowling reveals she will rewrite the Harry Potter books and do a 'directors cut'. I say no missus. Leave those books alone.
Rowling promises to cast new spell by rewriting Harry Potter
By Jack Malvern
ALL the Harry Potter books are to be re-released in “director’s cut” versions because J. K. Rowling is unhappy with her original writing style.
The author, who was taking part in a live web broadcast for World Book Day yesterday, said that she would revise the Harry Potter series when she had completed volumes six and seven. “There are loads of things I would change,” she said in reply to a question from Tanya J. Potter, a fan. “I don’t think any writer is ever completely happy with what they’ve written.”
Bloomsbury, her publisher, said that no official plans had been drawn up but new editions of the books would be commercially viable. “We reprint her books all the time,” an official said. “I would not rule it out.” She has already sold 250 million books worldwide and has earned £559 million from the book sales and film rights, according to last week’s Forbes magazine.
Writers often revise their favourite works, but few modern authors succeed in publishing new versions of their books. Joyce Carol Oates, an American author, was a rare exception last year when she rereleased A Garden of Earthly Delights 36 years after its original publication. Her publisher had expected her to check the text for errors but received a completely rewritten manuscript instead.
Tennessee Williams often rewrote his short stories but never republished them. Asked by his friend Gore Vidal why he bothered revising something that was already in print, he replied: “Well, obviously it’s not finished.”
Other perfectionist authors include Henry James, who reworked more than a dozen books including The Portrait of a Lady, republished in the early 1900s. F. Scott Fitzgerald revised Tender is the Night after he regretted complicating the book by using flashbacks. It was republished after his death but not to public or critical acclaim. He also tried to change the title of his greatest work from The Great Gatsby to Under the Red White and Blue. His telegram to his publisher was too late, however.
Ms Rowling told her fans that she would not return to writing fantasy after the Harry Potter series. Asked if she would turn to science fiction or a new genre, she replied: “I don’t think I would be very good at science fiction; you need to know some science.”
Although she was happy with how faithful the films had been to the books, she said that the fourth instalment, scheduled for release in 2005, would probably be changed. “I think they will have to simplify the plot somewhat,” she said of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.
“Steve Kloves, the scriptwriter, is really good and if anyone can do the essence of the book justice then he can.”
She also confessed embarrassment that “muggle”, a word she uses to describe ordinary people with no magical powers, is used as a slang word for drugs. “I think ‘muggle’ sounds quite cuddly. I didn’t know that the word ‘muggle’ had been used as drug slang at that point.”
Rowling promises to cast new spell by rewriting Harry Potter
By Jack Malvern
ALL the Harry Potter books are to be re-released in “director’s cut” versions because J. K. Rowling is unhappy with her original writing style.
The author, who was taking part in a live web broadcast for World Book Day yesterday, said that she would revise the Harry Potter series when she had completed volumes six and seven. “There are loads of things I would change,” she said in reply to a question from Tanya J. Potter, a fan. “I don’t think any writer is ever completely happy with what they’ve written.”
Bloomsbury, her publisher, said that no official plans had been drawn up but new editions of the books would be commercially viable. “We reprint her books all the time,” an official said. “I would not rule it out.” She has already sold 250 million books worldwide and has earned £559 million from the book sales and film rights, according to last week’s Forbes magazine.
Writers often revise their favourite works, but few modern authors succeed in publishing new versions of their books. Joyce Carol Oates, an American author, was a rare exception last year when she rereleased A Garden of Earthly Delights 36 years after its original publication. Her publisher had expected her to check the text for errors but received a completely rewritten manuscript instead.
Tennessee Williams often rewrote his short stories but never republished them. Asked by his friend Gore Vidal why he bothered revising something that was already in print, he replied: “Well, obviously it’s not finished.”
Other perfectionist authors include Henry James, who reworked more than a dozen books including The Portrait of a Lady, republished in the early 1900s. F. Scott Fitzgerald revised Tender is the Night after he regretted complicating the book by using flashbacks. It was republished after his death but not to public or critical acclaim. He also tried to change the title of his greatest work from The Great Gatsby to Under the Red White and Blue. His telegram to his publisher was too late, however.
Ms Rowling told her fans that she would not return to writing fantasy after the Harry Potter series. Asked if she would turn to science fiction or a new genre, she replied: “I don’t think I would be very good at science fiction; you need to know some science.”
Although she was happy with how faithful the films had been to the books, she said that the fourth instalment, scheduled for release in 2005, would probably be changed. “I think they will have to simplify the plot somewhat,” she said of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.
“Steve Kloves, the scriptwriter, is really good and if anyone can do the essence of the book justice then he can.”
She also confessed embarrassment that “muggle”, a word she uses to describe ordinary people with no magical powers, is used as a slang word for drugs. “I think ‘muggle’ sounds quite cuddly. I didn’t know that the word ‘muggle’ had been used as drug slang at that point.”
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I looked at this a few time
Date: 2004-03-05 11:31 am (UTC)