The last few days have seen a series of almighty rows about HP7 and I've mentioned the book a couple of times (and so have Clive Keble and others in the comments) here and here. I've had any number of journalists ring up and ask me to opine, all of which I declined on the grounds of ignorance of the detail of the row and also because Macmillan Distribution is Bloomsbury's client and has a hard enough job ensuring the security and efficient delivery of the millions of copies of HP7 without me muddying the waters. (And here I simply have to say a big thank you to all at MDL who have contributed to the toughest logistical exercise in book distribution history and who, in spite of the pressures, have managed to maintain their customary high levels of service for all the other things they do. You know who you are. Fingers crossed that nothing goes wrong today and that you can take a well-earned mini-rest and enjoy the sense of a job well done).
However, tonight is the night and I cannot resist expressing some views. Harry Potter is the most amazing literary phenomenon of all time. I don't have the numbers (nor does anyone I suspect) but I reckon that more people have bought (or will have bought) Harry Potter books than any other title. The Bible may have printed more (it's been going a sight longer) but the majority of copies are given away rather than purchased. I cannot think of anything else that comes close. Even Mao's Little Red Book must have been overtaken.
Its impact on our and other industries has been phenomenal. Of course, Bloomsbury as the original English-language publisher has benefitted but think of all the foreign-language publishers, all the sales agencies, all the rep commissions, the printers, papermakers, freight forwarders, mail delivery organisations, Hollywood, retailers large and small, journalist desperate for copy, literary agents who owe J.K. Rowling and the editorial team at Bloomsbury a huge debt of gratitude.
There will always be carpers and knockers but we should rejoice that a whole generation of children around the world have been introduced to books and reading. It is the job of the rest of us now to turn those children into long-term readers and book buyers.
On a much more local level, Sky News have decided to host a Potter party at the Pan Bookshop in Fulham Road, London. All our regular and not so regular customers are welcome and the shenanigans begins at 10 p.m. Enjoy.