2002 · Beijing
by Rowling, J.K.
Beijing: Renmin wenxue chubanshe, 2002. 198p., paperback, "Harry Potter" penned on front endpaper in Chinese, and in smaller characters on cover; minor handling wear, otherwise generally very good. An entirely fraudulent Chinese entry in the Harry Potter series; not an unauthorized translation, but a whole new book ghostwritten in Rowling's name. English title on rear cover. In 2007, the NY Times published an article by Howard French on the topic of fake Harry Potter books. French wrote that "Chinese readers could not wait for the official release of 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows,' the much anticipated seventh and concluding book in the series, a little more than a week ago. And they did not have to. A book with the same title came out a full 10 days before the official worldwide English-language release on July 21 — a wholly unauthorized version that bears nothing in common with the instant best seller written by J. K. Rowling." There are at least a dozen different books of this type, masquerading as official Rowling titles and making use of her characters, produced to cash in on Pottermania in a country without strong intellectual property protections. (Inventory #: 305729)
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