Date: 12th June 2003

Potter extract appears on web


An extract from the audio recording of the fifth Harry Potter book has been made available on the internet.
It gives fans, awaiting the global release of the book on 21 June, a brief glimpse of Harry's next adventure.

Details of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix have been kept a closely-guarded secret ahead of its release.

There is a legal injunction forbidding anyone from revealing any of the plot, but the extract can be found on the Amazon and AOL websites in the United States.

The one minute and 45 second clip, read by Carry On actor Jim Dale, gives fans the first taste of the latest wizarding tale as Harry embarks on another year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

The extract is taken from the US audio recording read by Dale, who has now narrated all five Harry Potter books.

In the UK the audio recording is voiced by actor Stephen Fry.

British actor Dale creates 134 characters for the latest recording, which runs for more than 26 hours over 17 cassette tapes.

When Harry Potter is released it is expected to be an instant bestseller, with shops holding midnight openings to allow readers to be among the first to get hold of a copy.

The four previous Harry Potter books have sold 200 million copies in 55 languages.

Source: Press Release