Waiting for Harry...

[xela]

Seven or eight years ago, I read a remarkably well written article (I think it was in The New Yorker, but haven't been able to find it again) by a twelve-year-old American reader complaining about the American edition of the first Harry Potter book. She (he? I don't remember) felt the changes both damaged the story and insulted American children. I had not previously been aware that this was going on — hadn't even been aware that the US title was different. Once I knew, I agreed, and resolved to get my Harry Potter in the original flavor from then on.

Right now is one of the only times this decision has made me unhappy.

My copy of Deathly Hallows is currently in the hands of the Royal Mail or perhaps, if I am very lucky and the logistics went just right, in the belly of a BA flight somewhere over the Atlantic. I'll be lucky to have it by Wednesday.

All of which is my roundabout way of asking you all to please keep any discussion behind cuts for a while.

Comments

[ocschwar.livejournal.com]

It looks like the US edition is not de-Anglicized from what I've seen so far.

[msmemory.livejournal.com]

Certainly I have found a reference to an automobile having a "boot" not a "trunk," and a potion reminding someone of "bogies" rather than "boogers" or "snot."

[yakshaver.livejournal.com]

Good to know. But at this point I have UK editions of the first six, and both the size and the covers are different, so I'd kind of like to collect the whole set....

[earthdragon.livejournal.com]

I was told, but have not confirmed, that as of book 5 or 6, there was a unary American English/British English text as opposed to the previous translated versions.

If you find this is not the case, I would appreciate knowing.

[kareila]

I am rereading Book 5 today and finding several phrases that make me think it is indeed the British text.

[motodraconis.livejournal.com]

Finished it today. It's good, that's all I'm sayin'
:-)