The Tales of Beedle the Bard, a Wizarding classic, first came to Muggle readersΓ’β¬β’ attention in the book known as Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Now, thanks to Hermione GrangerΓ’β¬β’s new translation from the ancient runes, we present this stunning edition with an introduction, notes, and illustrations by J. K. Rowling, and extensive commentary by Albus Dumbledore. Never before have Muggles been privy to these richly imaginative tales: Γ’β¬ΕThe Wizard and the Hopping Pot,Γ’β¬Β Γ’β¬ΕThe Fountain of Fair Fortune,Γ’β¬Β Γ’β¬ΕThe WarlockΓ’β¬β’s Hairy Heart,Γ’β¬Β Γ’β¬ΕBabbitty Rabbitty and Her Cackling Stump,Γ’β¬Β and of course, Γ’β¬ΕThe Tale of the Three Brothers.Γ’β¬Β But not only are they the equal of fairy tales we now know and love, reading them gives new insight into the world of Harry Potter.
The stories are accompanied by delightful pen-and-ink illustrations by Ms. Rowling herself, featuring a still-life frontispiece for each one. Professor DumbledoreΓ’β¬β’s commentaryΓ’β¬βapparently written some eighteen months before his deathΓ’β¬βreveals not just his vast knowledge of Wizarding lore, but also more of his personal qualities: his sense of humor, his courage, his pride in his abilities, and his hard-won wisdom. Names familiar from the Harry Potter novels sprinkle the pages, including Aberforth Dumbledore, Lucius Malfoy and his forebears, and Sir Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington (or Γ’β¬ΕNearly Headless NickΓ’β¬Β), as well as other professors at Hogwarts and the past owners of the Elder Wand. Dumbledore tells us of incidents unique to the Wizarding world, like hilariously troubled theatrical productions at Hogwarts or the dangers of having a Γ’β¬Εhairy heart.Γ’β¬Β But he also reveals aspects of the Wizarding world that his Muggle readers might find all too familiar, like censorship, intolerance, and questions about the deepest mysteries in life.
Altogether, this is an essential addition to our store of knowledge about the world and the magic that J. K. Rowling has created, and a book every true Harry Potter fan will want to have for their shelves.
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