[Jazhara7]

I just realized that the french version of Harry Potter 1 is actually called "Harry Potter Ă* l'Ă©cole de Sorciers" - Harry Potter at the School of Sorcerers.

So the american change of the name is not *that* great, in comparison to the french change of name.



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[RLacey]

Originally Posted by Jazhara7

I just realized that the french version of Harry Potter 1 is actually called "Harry Potter Ă* l'Ă©cole de Sorciers" - Harry Potter at the School of Sorcerers.

So the american change of the name is not *that* great, in comparison to the french change of name.



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What's the German version's name? I would presume a translation of the English version, given your surprise at the French title, but it could be something different again...

[Jazhara7]

I always found it interesting to watch people reading the books in my school.

You see, I go to an international school, and many of them read the book in their native language.

There are the people that read the English or American version. But then there are some reading the german version, the Korean version, the dutch, the russian, the chinese, the hebrew, japanese version (many of them use the american cover), french and spanish versions. All are reading it.

It is strange seeing this familiar book which you think you know, but with a title which you don't understand, or in a completely different writing.

It's really amazing!

Originally Posted by RLacey

What's the German version's name? I would presume a translation of the English version, given your surprise at the French title, but it could be somethign different again...

The german title is "Harry Potter und der Stein der Weisen" - "Harry Potter and the Stone of the Wise". "Stone of the Wise", that's the name of the Philosophers Stone in german. (Wise is plural.)


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[Jake]

I've never noticed a problem with the binding of the US versions... all of mine have held together fine and I've loaned them each to a couple friends.

The little illustrations at the beginning of chapters are not my favorite thing in the world, though, since they tend to be illustrations of things I haven't yet read about. "Oh, I wonder how that little bundle of worms and seaweed will fit into the story... oh I guess it lets him breathe underwater. Why did the book tell me that existed using that illustration before I read about it? Oh well, it was a decently well executed picture of a ball of worms and seaweed, I guess, so there's that at least."

[RLacey]

Originally Posted by Jake

I've never noticed a problem with the binding of the US versions... all of mine have held together fine and I've loaned them each to a couple friends.

The little illustrations at the beginning of chapters are not my favorite thing in the world, though, since they tend to be illustrations of things I haven't yet read about. "Oh, I wonder how that little bundle of worms and seaweed will fit into the story... oh I guess it lets him breathe underwater. Why did the book tell me that existed using that illustration before I read about it? Oh well, it was a decently well executed picture of a ball of worms and seaweed, I guess, so there's that at least."

I'm obviously going to have to go to Amazon.com and use the look-inside-the-book feature. Can anyone give me a page number for a chapter mid-way through the novel?

[ATMachine]

Originally Posted by RLacey

I'm obviously going to have to go to Amazon.com and use the look-inside-the-book feature. Can anyone give me a page number for a chapter mid-way through the novel?

I've got all six books in the American edition; which one do you want pictures from? Or shall I just pick at random?

(I only have the first four in the British editions as of yet - the adult versions - and I must say I really like the new, improved UK adult cover design. The British children's covers, though, seem to me far inferior to the American ones...)

edit: My UK copies' paper is far coarser to the touch than my US ones'. Plus the American versions use interesting fonts that represent flashing signs or handwritten letters, so that, for example, Dumbledore's writing is different from Hagrid's, which is different from Snape's.

[Jazhara7]

Originally Posted by ATMachine

Plus the American versions use interesting fonts that represent flashing signs or handwritten letters, so that, for example, Dumbledore's writing is different from Hagrid's, which is different from Snape's.

Oh yes, I remember that. Didn't they even make it look like there were blotches from teardrops, in some of Hagrid's letters?


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[ATMachine]

Originally Posted by Jazhara7

Oh yes, I remember that. Didn't they even make it look like there were blotches from teardrops, in some of Hagrid's letters?

Heh, yes.

Besides the issue of "translation" from British spelling and slang, however, there are also the issues of correct grammar; mainly, commas and quote marks.

British usage as seen frequently, including in HP British editions:
He opened the letter, said 'I don't believe this', and turned white as a sheet.

Common American usage:
He opened the letter, said "I don't believe this," and turned white as a sheet.

It's very uncommon here in the US to find books with the former usage, and as dialogue is so frequent in Harry Potter, it might be a distraction to readers old and young who don't know punctuation rules abroad.

[RLacey]

I've always wondered quite what the point of releasing the Harry Potter books with adult covers is. Am I supposed to be ashamed that I enjoy children's books? And if not - if it really is solely that the adult cover looks spiffier - then why not release the books with only the adult cover?