The Tales of Beedle the Bard

Overview:
In December 2007, J.K. Rowling unveiled
The Tales of Beedle the Bard, a very special book of five fairy tales illustrated
by the bard herself, embellished with silver ornaments and mounted moonstones. Amazon was fortunate to come into possession
of one of the original copies, and it was our privilege to share images and reviews of this incredible artifact. Now J.K.
Rowling is giving millions of Harry Potter fans worldwide cause for celebration with a new edition of
The Tales of Beedle
the Bard, available December 4, 2008.
Offering the trademark wit and imagination familiar to Rowling's legions of readers--as well as Aesop's wisdom and the
occasional darkness of the Brothers Grimm--each of these five tales reveals a lesson befitting children and parents alike:
the strength gained with a trusted friendship, the redemptive power of love, and the true magic that exists in the hearts
of all of us. Rowling's new introduction also comments on the personal lessons she has taken from the Tales, noting that
the characters in Beedle's collection "take their fates into their own hands, rather than taking a prolonged nap or waiting
for someone to return a lost shoe," and "that magic causes as much trouble as it cures."
But the true jewel of this new edition is the enlightening and comprehensive commentary (including extensive footnotes!)
by Professor Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, who brings his unique wizard's-eye perspective to the collection.
Discovered "among the many papers which Dumbledore left in his will to the Hogwarts Archives," the venerable wizard's ruminations
on the Tales allow today's readers to place them in the context of 16th century Muggle society, even allowing that "Beedle
was somewhat out of step with his times in preaching a message of brotherly love for Muggles" during the era of witch hunts
that would eventually drive the wizarding community into self-imposed exile. In fact, versions of the same stories told in
wizarding households would shock many for their uncharitable treatment of their Muggle characters.
Professor Dumbledore also includes fascinating historical backstory, including tidbits such as the history and pursuit of magic
wands, a brief comment on the Dark Arts and its practitioners, and the struggles with censorship that eventually led "a certain
Beatrix Bloxam" to cleanse the Tales of "much of the darker themes that she found distasteful," forever altering the meaning of
the stories for their Muggle audience. Dumbledore also allows us a glimpse of his personal relationship to the Tales, remarking
that it was through "Babbity Rabbity and Her Cackling Stump" that "many of us [wizards] first discovered that magic could not
bring back the dead."
Both a wise and delightful addition to the Harry Potter canon, this new translation of
The Tales of Beedle the Bard is all that
fans could hope for and more--and an essential volume for the libraries of Muggles, wizards, and witches, both young and old.
Standard Edition Product Features:
All five fairy tales from the original The Tales of Beedle the Bard
A new introduction by J.K. Rowling
Illustrations reproduced from the original handcrafted book
Commentary on each of the tales by Professor Albus Dumbledore
Collector's Edition Product Features:
All five fairy tales from the original The Tales of Beedle the Bard
Outer case disguised as a wizarding textbook from the Hogwarts library
Exclusive reproduction of J.K. Rowling's handwritten introduction
10 new illustrations by J.K. Rowling not included in the Standard Edition or the original handcrafted edition
Velvet bag embroidered with J.K. Rowling's signature
Metal skull, corners, and clasp
Replica gemstones
Emerald ribbon
Net proceeds from the Collector's Edition and the Standard Edition support
the Children's High Level Group, a charity registered in England and Wales to help the 1
million children across Europe still living in large residential institutions.
Preorder
Tales from Beedle the Bard from
Amazon.com:
Standard Edition |
Collector's Edition
You can also visit Amazon's Harry
Potter Store.
Book 1 | Book 2 | Book 3 | Book 4 | Book 5 | Book 6 | Book 7
Fantastic Beats/Quidditch Through the Ages | Beedle the Bard