2017 is a very special year for Potterheads. 'Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone' was first published on 26th June 1996, bringing us an incredibly magical world full of adventures. Celebrations marking the 20th anniversary of the saga are already well under away, but the best by far is taking place in London.
The British Library (not far from Kings Cross station) has recently opened a new exhibition called 'Harry Potter: A history of Magic'. The exhibition offers us a look at J.K. Rowling's influences whilst she began writing the saga, and we're able to see books, manuscripts, folklore, and legends from which the author drew her inspiration. The items on show also show us how Rowling came about naming some of the classes the students took at Hogwarts. The author, along with the publishing house Bloomsbury, also revealed a little surprise for fans of the saga.
Before Bloomsbury accepted Rowling's work, they had to be 100% sure of it. The author therefore, had to sell her work about the boy who survived, in the most convincing way possible. In an industry like publishing, when one door closes, it's often very difficult to open another. Also at the exhibition, we're able to see the synopsis that Rowling sent to publishers, in which she briefly explained what happens in her story. The aim of the synopsis is to attract the attention of whoever is reading it, in the hope that they'll want to read more, and eventually accept to publish the novel. Below we've got just the first page of the summary, typed up by Rowling herself in 1995.
Bloomsbury were the first publishers to have faith in Rowling's work. The author has previously mentioned that she has a box full of rejection letters somewhere in her attic from other publishing houses (who still probably haven't yet recovered from stupidly closing the door on Rowling all those years ago). The funny thing is that the same publishers who initially rejected Harry Potter, also turned down Cormoran Strike, Rowling's mystery series written under the pseudonym of Robert Gailbrath. Some publishing houses suggested the author take writing classes, and others even offered advice on how to make the story more attractive. Needless to say, Rowling had quite a laugh upon receiving such responses.
By popular request, 2 of @RGalbrath's rejection letters! (For inspiration, not revenge, so I've removed signatures.) pic.twitter.com/vVoc0x6r8W
? J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) March 25, 2016
The British Library's exhibition will remain open until February 2018.
