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Hogwarts Library #3
음유시인비들이야기 : 룬문자로된원본을헤르미온느 그레인저가 번역하다
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올 겨울, 조앤 K. 롤링이 <해리포터> 팬들에게
전하는 아주 특별한 동화 선물!
국내에서도 이미 1천 3백만 부의 판매 기록을 세운 <해리포터> 시리즈의 저자 조앤 K. 롤링이, 자필로 쓴 한정판 일곱 권을 세상에 내보이며 화제가 됐던 『음유시인 비들 이야기』가 전 세계 동시 발매되었다. 『음유시인 비들 이야기』는 <해리포터> 시리즈의 마지막 완결편인 『해리포터와 죽음의 성물』에서 덤블도어 교수가 헤르미온느에게 남겨준 마지막 유산이다. 덤블도어와 볼드모트의 감춰진 과거의 수수께끼를 푸는 데 결정적인 단서가 된 책이기도 하다.
<해리포터> 시리즈에 의하면 『음유시인 비들 이야기』는 마법 세계의 어린이들에게 사랑받아온 이야기책이며, 마법 세계의 모든 옛날이야기가 이 책에서 나왔다고 할 정도로 마법사들 사이에서는 오랫동안 널리 읽혀 왔다. 또한 헤르미온느가 룬 문자로 된 원본 이야기를 번역하고, 현재 호그와트 교장인 미네르바 맥고나걸 교수의 동의를 얻어 이 책이 세상의 빛을 보게 되었다는 것이 롤링의 재치 있는 설명이다.
조앤 K. 롤링은 이 책에서 특유의 상상력을 발휘하며 마법 세계에 전해 내려오는 이야기를 흥미진진하게 펼쳐낸다. 그녀가 직접 그린 아기자기한 20여 컷의 일러스트는 『음유시인 비들 이야기』의 또 다른 즐거움이다. <해리포터>를 사랑하는 모든 팬들에게 특별한 선물이 되기에 충분하다. 무엇보다 각 동화에 딸린 알버스 덤블도어 교수의 해설은 동화 이상의 재미와 가치가 있다. 단순한 이야기 해설에서 그치지 않고 ‘머글’(Muggle. 마법사나 마녀들의 사이에 사용되는 단어로, 이른바 ‘보통 인간’을 뜻한다.) 독자에게 호그와트 생활상을 엿볼 수 있는 뒷이야기와, 마법 세계에 대한 이해를 폭넓게 해 주는 요소들로 가득하기 때문이다. 마법 세계와 머글 세계의 화해와 공존에 대한 이야기,「엄청난 행운의 샘」을 마법학교에서 공연하다 화재가 발생했던 사건, 동물로 변하는 애니마구스의 변신술에 대한 이야기와 그 역사, 그리고 마법 지팡이에 대한 학술적인 접근까지, 그동안 <해리포터> 시리즈에서도 쉽게 들을 수 없었던 풍부한 마법 정보를 다양한 에피소드와 함께 소개하고 있다. 그야말로 ‘덤블도어 교수의 핵심마법 요점정리’라 해도 손색이 없다.
조앤 K. 롤링은 이 책의 판매수익금 전액을 그녀와 엠마 니콜슨 유럽의회 의원이 설립한 취약아동 후원 단체 CHLG(Children’s High Level Group)에 전액 기부될 예정이다.
‘머글’에게 들려주는 마법 세계의 다섯 편의 동화
『음유시인 비들 이야기』가 특히 우리의 흥미를 끄는 이유는, 인간 세계의 동화에서 대개 주인공의 조력자나 훼방꾼으로 등장하는 마녀나 마법사가 여기에서는 모두 동화의 주인공으로 등장하기 때문이다. 그들이 주인공이 되었을 때는 과연 어떻게 될까? 마법을 통해 어떤 시련도, 슬픔도, 장애물 없이 단박에 해결할 수 있을까? 조앤 롤링은 ‘비들 이야기’에서뿐 아니라 <해리포터> 시리즈 전체를 관통하는 일관된 질문을 하나 던진다. “과연 마법이 삶의 모든 문제를 해결해 줄 수 있을까? 모든 인생의 고통이 마법으로 사라질 수 있을까?”다.
결론부터 말하자면 “아니다”. 하늘을 날고 집안일을 대신 해 주고 병을 고쳐 줄 수는 있어도, 마법으로 죽음을 이기지는 못하며, 진정한 사랑을 가져다 줄 수 없을뿐더러, 어리석은 욕망도 치유할 수 없다. 제아무리 뛰어난 마법사라도 사랑의 고통과 상실, 죽음을 피해 갈 수 없는 것이다.
“『음유시인 비들이야기』에는 마법을 부릴 수는 있지만, 그럼에도 불구하고 머글과 마찬가지로 문제를 해결하지 못해 끙끙거리는 주인공이 등장합니다. 대대로 마법사 부모들은 비들 이야기를 들려줌으로써, 어린 자식들에게 이런 가슴 아픈 삶의 현실을 넌지시 가르쳐 왔던 것입니다. 마법은 문제의 해결책이기도 하지만 근원이기도 하다는 사실을 말이죠.”
-조앤 K. 롤링의 「서문」 중에서
꿈과 상상력의 성찬인 <해리포터> 시리즈와 마찬가지로 『음유시인 비들 이야기』 역시 ‘상처를 입는 것은 숨 쉬는 것만큼이나 인간적’이라는 덤블도어 교수의 해설처럼, 결국 이웃을 돕는 마음과 다른 사람에 대한 배려, 겸손과 중용이 모든 인간의 ‘마법’이자 미덕이라는 것을 역설적으로 보여 준다.
진정한 마법은 지혜와 용기, 그리고 희망이다
『음유시인 비들 이야기』에 실린 다섯 편의 동화는 결국 마법으로 무엇을 할 수 있는가가 아닌, 마법으로 할 수 없는 것은 무엇인가에 대한 이야기다.
「마법사와 깡충깡충 냄비」에서는 젊은 마법사가 마법으로 이웃을 도와준 아버지와 달리 그들의 고통을 외면하자, ‘깡충깡충 냄비’가 놋쇠 외발로 그를 따라 다닌다. 냄비는 이웃들의 눈물을 대신 흘리고, 사마귀 난 얼굴로 뛰어다니는가 하면, 이웃의 통곡과 신음 소리를 그대로 전달하며 젊은 마법사를 괴롭힌다. 이웃의 고통을 외면한다면 마법도 소용이 없는 것이다. 덤블도어 교수의 해설에서는 머글과 마법 세계의 공존에 대한 그의 혜안이 빛을 발한다.
마법 능력을 지닌 세 명의 마녀들이 질병과 가난, 실연의 고통으로 ‘엄청난 행운의 샘’을 찾아 극복한다는 이야기인 「엄청난 행운의 샘」은, 서로를 도와가며 배려하면서 ‘행운의 샘’에 도달하는 힘 자체가 놀라운 마법이라고 말한다. 질병이 치유되고 실연의 아픔을 떨치고 가난이 해결된 것은 모두 샘에 도달하는 과정에서 이루어졌기 때문이다. 덤블도어 교수는 마법학교에서 이 이야기를 대본 삼아 연극하던 도중, 소품으로 제작한 뜨거운 ‘알’이 마루판자를 태우면서 공연장이 삽시간에 아수라장이 된 에피소드 하나를 들려준다.
「마술사와 털 난 심장」은 자신의 ‘털 난 심장’을 크리스털 상자에 보관해 두어 사랑의 감정마저 마법으로 억누르는 한 마술사 이야기다. 결국 그의 몸속으로 도로 집어넣은 털 난 심장이 나오려 하지 않자, 심장을 도려내는 무시무시한 극약 처방을 내리며 파멸을 맞이한다. 덤블도어 교수는 해설에서 ‘육체와 영혼, 육체와 마음은 결코 분리하거나 합체할 수 없다’고 단언한다.
「배비티 래비티와 깔깔 웃는 그루터기」는 사기꾼에게 엉터리로 배운 마법으로 죽은 개를 살리려다 망신을 당한 어리석은 머글 세계 왕의 이야기다. 마법으로 말을 공중에 띄워 올리고 모자를 사라지게 하더라도, 마법이 욕망과 죽음마저 뛰어넘지 못한다는 냉혹한 현실을 짚어 낸다. 마법사 배비티 래비티는 토끼로 변신한 뒤 그루터기에 숨어 어리석은 왕을 꾸짖는데, 덤블도어 교수는 해설에서 ‘배비티 래비티 이야기’가 변실술에 대한 가장 오래된 문학적 사료라면서, 마법사와 변신술에 대한 마법 세계 이야기를 들려준다.
「삼 형제 이야기」는 이미 『해리포터와 죽음의 성물』(7권 21장)에 등장하여 유명해진 이야기다. ‘죽음’을 만난 세 형제가 죽음의 유혹에 어떻게 지혜롭게 대처하는지 보여 준다. 첫째와 둘째는 막강한 힘을 지닌 마법 지팡이와, 죽은 자를 다시 불러올 수 있는 힘을 얻은 반면 막내는 죽음을 피할 수 있는 투명 망토를 얻는다. 첫째와 둘째는 결국 자신의 힘에 죽임을 당하지만 막내는 죽는 날까지 죽음을 피해 살다 나이가 들어 아들에게 망토를 넘겨주고 당당히 죽음을 맞이한다.
롤링은 『음유시인 비들 이야기』에서 진정한 ‘마법’의 힘을 발휘하는 곳은 마법 세계가 아니라 오히려 머글 세계라고 말한다. 지혜와 용기, 포기하지 않는 끈기와 희망이 불가능한 것을 가능하게 하는 또 하나의 마법인 셈이다. 마법사 비들이 들려주는 지혜로운 동화와 덤블도어 교수의 마법 세계 뒷이야기, 그리고 롤링의 따뜻한 일러스트가 함께 어우러진 『음유시인 비들 이야기』는, 완결편의 여운과 아쉬움이 채 가시지 않은 <해리포터> 팬들의 갈증을 씻어 주기에 부족함이 없는 최고의 선물이 될 것이다.
§『음유시인 비들 이야기』 뒷이야기
☆ 44억짜리 명품 책, 『음유시인 비들 이야기』
지난 2007년 조앤 K. 롤링은, 갈색 모로코가죽 장정에 해골 모양 은장식과 월장석으로 고풍스럽게 치장한 『음유시인 비들 이야기』를 단 7권만 수제로 제작했다. 그 중 6권은 그녀가 지난 17년 동안 도움을 준 <해리포터> 시리즈에 관련된 편집자와 지인들에게 선물했다. 그리고 남은 한 권이 2007년 12월 런던 소더비에서 자선경매에 부쳐졌다. 이 책은 온라인서점 ‘아마존닷컴’이 예상가의 40배를 뛰어넘는 195만파운드(약 44억원)라는 어마어마한 금액에 사들여 화제가 됐다.
롤링이 단 1권만을 경매를 통해 대중에게 공개된다는 소식이 전해지자, <해리포터> 팬들은 실망을 금치 못했다. 이 사실을 안 롤링은, 한정판을 소장한 사람들에게 허락을 얻어 2008년 12월 4일, 이 책을 전 세계 <해리포터> 팬들에게 동시 공개하게 된다. 롤링 역시 “이 책을 모든 <해리포터> 팬들에게 공개할 수 있어 기쁘다”고 밝혔다.
☆ 한정판은 누가 가지고 있을까?(현재까지 공개된 자료에 한함)
1. 배리 커닝햄: 영국 블룸즈베리 출판사의 전 편집자. <해리포터>를 세상에 내놓은 인물로 현재는 아동문학출판사 치킨하우스를 설립했다.
2. 아서 레빈: 미국판 <해리포터> 편집자
3. 아마존닷컴: 소더비 자선경매를 통해 195만 파운드에 낙찰받았다.
☆ 칠드런 하이레벨 그룹(Children’s High Level Group, CHLG)이란?
CHLG는 2005년 조앤 K. 롤링과 엠마 니콜슨이 유럽의 취약 아동의 삶을 개선시키려는 목적으로 설립한 자선단체다. 유럽 전역 복지 시설에는 100만 명이 넘는 아동들이 살고 있다. 대부분이 가난하거나 장애아이거나 소수인종 어린이들이다. CHLG는 이 아이들이 복지 시설에서 벗어나 진짜 자신의 가정이나 소규모 공동 양육 가정에 살 수 있도록 하는 방법을 모색한다. CHLG가 벌이는 캠페인을 통해 매년 약 25만 명의 아동들이 도움을 받고 있으며 해마다 수십만 명의 아동들에게 도움과 정보를 제공하는 독립적인 전용 상담전화 라인에도 자금을 지원하고 있다. CHLG는 궁극적으로 전 세계에서 UN...
올 겨울, 조앤 K. 롤링이 <해리포터> 팬들에게
전하는 아주 특별한 동화 선물!
국내에서도 이미 1천 3백만 부의 판매 기록을 세운 <해리포터> 시리즈의 저자 조앤 K. 롤링이, 자필로 쓴 한정판 일곱 권을 세상에 내보이며 화제가 됐던 『음유시인 비들 이야기』가 전 세계 동시 발매되었다. 『음유시인 비들 이야기』는 <해리포터> 시리즈의 마지막 완결편인 『해리포터와 죽음의 성물』에서 덤블도어 교수가 헤르미온느에게 남겨준 마지막 유산이다. 덤블도어와 볼드모트의 감춰진 과거의 수수께끼를 푸는 데 결정적인 단서가 된 책이기도 하다.
<해리포터> 시리즈에 의하면 『음유시인 비들 이야기』는 마법 세계의 어린이들에게 사랑받아온 이야기책이며, 마법 세계의 모든 옛날이야기가 이 책에서 나왔다고 할 정도로 마법사들 사이에서는 오랫동안 널리 읽혀 왔다. 또한 헤르미온느가 룬 문자로 된 원본 이야기를 번역하고, 현재 호그와트 교장인 미네르바 맥고나걸 교수의 동의를 얻어 이 책이 세상의 빛을 보게 되었다는 것이 롤링의 재치 있는 설명이다.
조앤 K. 롤링은 이 책에서 특유의 상상력을 발휘하며 마법 세계에 전해 내려오는 이야기를 흥미진진하게 펼쳐낸다. 그녀가 직접 그린 아기자기한 20여 컷의 일러스트는 『음유시인 비들 이야기』의 또 다른 즐거움이다. <해리포터>를 사랑하는 모든 팬들에게 특별한 선물이 되기에 충분하다. 무엇보다 각 동화에 딸린 알버스 덤블도어 교수의 해설은 동화 이상의 재미와 가치가 있다. 단순한 이야기 해설에서 그치지 않고 ‘머글’(Muggle. 마법사나 마녀들의 사이에 사용되는 단어로, 이른바 ‘보통 인간’을 뜻한다.) 독자에게 호그와트 생활상을 엿볼 수 있는 뒷이야기와, 마법 세계에 대한 이해를 폭넓게 해 주는 요소들로 가득하기 때문이다. 마법 세계와 머글 세계의 화해와 공존에 대한 이야기,「엄청난 행운의 샘」을 마법학교에서 공연하다 화재가 발생했던 사건, 동물로 변하는 애니마구스의 변신술에 대한 이야기와 그 역사, 그리고 마법 지팡이에 대한 학술적인 접근까지, 그동안 <해리포터> 시리즈에서도 쉽게 들을 수 없었던 풍부한 마법 정보를 다양한 에피소드와 함께 소개하고 있다. 그야말로 ‘덤블도어 교수의 핵심마법 요점정리’라 해도 손색이 없다.
조앤 K. 롤링은 이 책의 판매수익금 전액을 그녀와 엠마 니콜슨 유럽의회 의원이 설립한 취약아동 후원 단체 CHLG(Children’s High Level Group)에 전액 기부될 예정이다.
‘머글’에게 들려주는 마법 세계의 다섯 편의 동화
『음유시인 비들 이야기』가 특히 우리의 흥미를 끄는 이유는, 인간 세계의 동화에서 대개 주인공의 조력자나 훼방꾼으로 등장하는 마녀나 마법사가 여기에서는 모두 동화의 주인공으로 등장하기 때문이다. 그들이 주인공이 되었을 때는 과연 어떻게 될까? 마법을 통해 어떤 시련도, 슬픔도, 장애물 없이 단박에 해결할 수 있을까? 조앤 롤링은 ‘비들 이야기’에서뿐 아니라 <해리포터> 시리즈 전체를 관통하는 일관된 질문을 하나 던진다. “과연 마법이 삶의 모든 문제를 해결해 줄 수 있을까? 모든 인생의 고통이 마법으로 사라질 수 있을까?”다.
결론부터 말하자면 “아니다”. 하늘을 날고 집안일을 대신 해 주고 병을 고쳐 줄 수는 있어도, 마법으로 죽음을 이기지는 못하며, 진정한 사랑을 가져다 줄 수 없을뿐더러, 어리석은 욕망도 치유할 수 없다. 제아무리 뛰어난 마법사라도 사랑의 고통과 상실, 죽음을 피해 갈 수 없는 것이다.
“『음유시인 비들이야기』에는 마법을 부릴 수는 있지만, 그럼에도 불구하고 머글과 마찬가지로 문제를 해결하지 못해 끙끙거리는 주인공이 등장합니다. 대대로 마법사 부모들은 비들 이야기를 들려줌으로써, 어린 자식들에게 이런 가슴 아픈 삶의 현실을 넌지시 가르쳐 왔던 것입니다. 마법은 문제의 해결책이기도 하지만 근원이기도 하다는 사실을 말이죠.”
-조앤 K. 롤링의 「서문」 중에서
꿈과 상상력의 성찬인 <해리포터> 시리즈와 마찬가지로 『음유시인 비들 이야기』 역시 ‘상처를 입는 것은 숨 쉬는 것만큼이나 인간적’이라는 덤블도어 교수의 해설처럼, 결국 이웃을 돕는 마음과 다른 사람에 대한 배려, 겸손과 중용이 모든 인간의 ‘마법’이자 미덕이라는 것을 역설적으로 보여 준다.
진정한 마법은 지혜와 용기, 그리고 희망이다
『음유시인 비들 이야기』에 실린 다섯 편의 동화는 결국 마법으로 무엇을 할 수 있는가가 아닌, 마법으로 할 수 없는 것은 무엇인가에 대한 이야기다.
「마법사와 깡충깡충 냄비」에서는 젊은 마법사가 마법으로 이웃을 도와준 아버지와 달리 그들의 고통을 외면하자, ‘깡충깡충 냄비’가 놋쇠 외발로 그를 따라 다닌다. 냄비는 이웃들의 눈물을 대신 흘리고, 사마귀 난 얼굴로 뛰어다니는가 하면, 이웃의 통곡과 신음 소리를 그대로 전달하며 젊은 마법사를 괴롭힌다. 이웃의 고통을 외면한다면 마법도 소용이 없는 것이다. 덤블도어 교수의 해설에서는 머글과 마법 세계의 공존에 대한 그의 혜안이 빛을 발한다.
마법 능력을 지닌 세 명의 마녀들이 질병과 가난, 실연의 고통으로 ‘엄청난 행운의 샘’을 찾아 극복한다는 이야기인 「엄청난 행운의 샘」은, 서로를 도와가며 배려하면서 ‘행운의 샘’에 도달하는 힘 자체가 놀라운 마법이라고 말한다. 질병이 치유되고 실연의 아픔을 떨치고 가난이 해결된 것은 모두 샘에 도달하는 과정에서 이루어졌기 때문이다. 덤블도어 교수는 마법학교에서 이 이야기를 대본 삼아 연극하던 도중, 소품으로 제작한 뜨거운 ‘알’이 마루판자를 태우면서 공연장이 삽시간에 아수라장이 된 에피소드 하나를 들려준다.
「마술사와 털 난 심장」은 자신의 ‘털 난 심장’을 크리스털 상자에 보관해 두어 사랑의 감정마저 마법으로 억누르는 한 마술사 이야기다. 결국 그의 몸속으로 도로 집어넣은 털 난 심장이 나오려 하지 않자, 심장을 도려내는 무시무시한 극약 처방을 내리며 파멸을 맞이한다. 덤블도어 교수는 해설에서 ‘육체와 영혼, 육체와 마음은 결코 분리하거나 합체할 수 없다’고 단언한다.
「배비티 래비티와 깔깔 웃는 그루터기」는 사기꾼에게 엉터리로 배운 마법으로 죽은 개를 살리려다 망신을 당한 어리석은 머글 세계 왕의 이야기다. 마법으로 말을 공중에 띄워 올리고 모자를 사라지게 하더라도, 마법이 욕망과 죽음마저 뛰어넘지 못한다는 냉혹한 현실을 짚어 낸다. 마법사 배비티 래비티는 토끼로 변신한 뒤 그루터기에 숨어 어리석은 왕을 꾸짖는데, 덤블도어 교수는 해설에서 ‘배비티 래비티 이야기’가 변실술에 대한 가장 오래된 문학적 사료라면서, 마법사와 변신술에 대한 마법 세계 이야기를 들려준다.
「삼 형제 이야기」는 이미 『해리포터와 죽음의 성물』(7권 21장)에 등장하여 유명해진 이야기다. ‘죽음’을 만난 세 형제가 죽음의 유혹에 어떻게 지혜롭게 대처하는지 보여 준다. 첫째와 둘째는 막강한 힘을 지닌 마법 지팡이와, 죽은 자를 다시 불러올 수 있는 힘을 얻은 반면 막내는 죽음을 피할 수 있는 투명 망토를 얻는다. 첫째와 둘째는 결국 자신의 힘에 죽임을 당하지만 막내는 죽는 날까지 죽음을 피해 살다 나이가 들어 아들에게 망토를 넘겨주고 당당히 죽음을 맞이한다.
롤링은 『음유시인 비들 이야기』에서 진정한 ‘마법’의 힘을 발휘하는 곳은 마법 세계가 아니라 오히려 머글 세계라고 말한다. 지혜와 용기, 포기하지 않는 끈기와 희망이 불가능한 것을 가능하게 하는 또 하나의 마법인 셈이다. 마법사 비들이 들려주는 지혜로운 동화와 덤블도어 교수의 마법 세계 뒷이야기, 그리고 롤링의 따뜻한 일러스트가 함께 어우러진 『음유시인 비들 이야기』는, 완결편의 여운과 아쉬움이 채 가시지 않은 <해리포터> 팬들의 갈증을 씻어 주기에 부족함이 없는 최고의 선물이 될 것이다.
§『음유시인 비들 이야기』 뒷이야기
☆ 44억짜리 명품 책, 『음유시인 비들 이야기』
지난 2007년 조앤 K. 롤링은, 갈색 모로코가죽 장정에 해골 모양 은장식과 월장석으로 고풍스럽게 치장한 『음유시인 비들 이야기』를 단 7권만 수제로 제작했다. 그 중 6권은 그녀가 지난 17년 동안 도움을 준 <해리포터> 시리즈에 관련된 편집자와 지인들에게 선물했다. 그리고 남은 한 권이 2007년 12월 런던 소더비에서 자선경매에 부쳐졌다. 이 책은 온라인서점 ‘아마존닷컴’이 예상가의 40배를 뛰어넘는 195만파운드(약 44억원)라는 어마어마한 금액에 사들여 화제가 됐다.
롤링이 단 1권만을 경매를 통해 대중에게 공개된다는 소식이 전해지자, <해리포터> 팬들은 실망을 금치 못했다. 이 사실을 안 롤링은, 한정판을 소장한 사람들에게 허락을 얻어 2008년 12월 4일, 이 책을 전 세계 <해리포터> 팬들에게 동시 공개하게 된다. 롤링 역시 “이 책을 모든 <해리포터> 팬들에게 공개할 수 있어 기쁘다”고 밝혔다.
☆ 한정판은 누가 가지고 있을까?(현재까지 공개된 자료에 한함)
1. 배리 커닝햄: 영국 블룸즈베리 출판사의 전 편집자. <해리포터>를 세상에 내놓은 인물로 현재는 아동문학출판사 치킨하우스를 설립했다.
2. 아서 레빈: 미국판 <해리포터> 편집자
3. 아마존닷컴: 소더비 자선경매를 통해 195만 파운드에 낙찰받았다.
☆ 칠드런 하이레벨 그룹(Children’s High Level Group, CHLG)이란?
CHLG는 2005년 조앤 K. 롤링과 엠마 니콜슨이 유럽의 취약 아동의 삶을 개선시키려는 목적으로 설립한 자선단체다. 유럽 전역 복지 시설에는 100만 명이 넘는 아동들이 살고 있다. 대부분이 가난하거나 장애아이거나 소수인종 어린이들이다. CHLG는 이 아이들이 복지 시설에서 벗어나 진짜 자신의 가정이나 소규모 공동 양육 가정에 살 수 있도록 하는 방법을 모색한다. CHLG가 벌이는 캠페인을 통해 매년 약 25만 명의 아동들이 도움을 받고 있으며 해마다 수십만 명의 아동들에게 도움과 정보를 제공하는 독립적인 전용 상담전화 라인에도 자금을 지원하고 있다. CHLG는 궁극적으로 전 세계에서 UN...
144 pages, Hardcover
First published December 4, 2008
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About the author
J.K. Rowling
697 books234k followersSee also: Robert Galbraith
Although she writes under the pen name J.K. Rowling, pronounced like rolling, her name when her first Harry Potter book was published was simply Joanne Rowling. Anticipating that the target audience of young boys might not want to read a book written by a woman, her publishers demanded that she use two initials, rather than her full name. As she had no middle name, she chose K as the second initial of her pen name, from her paternal grandmother Kathleen Ada Bulgen Rowling. She calls herself Jo and has said, "No one ever called me 'Joanne' when I was young, unless they were angry." Following her marriage, she has sometimes used the name Joanne Murray when conducting personal business. During the Leveson Inquiry she gave evidence under the name of Joanne Kathleen Rowling. In a 2012 interview, Rowling noted that she no longer cared that people pronounced her name incorrectly.
Rowling was born to Peter James Rowling, a Rolls-Royce aircraft engineer, and Anne Rowling (née Volant), on 31 July 1965 in Yate, Gloucestershire, England, 10 miles (16 km) northeast of Bristol. Her mother Anne was half-French and half-Scottish. Her parents first met on a train departing from King's Cross Station bound for Arbroath in 1964. They married on 14 March 1965. Her mother's maternal grandfather, Dugald Campbell, was born in Lamlash on the Isle of Arran. Her mother's paternal grandfather, Louis Volant, was awarded the Croix de Guerre for exceptional bravery in defending the village of Courcelles-le-Comte during the First World War.
Rowling's sister Dianne was born at their home when Rowling was 23 months old. The family moved to the nearby village Winterbourne when Rowling was four. She attended St Michael's Primary School, a school founded by abolitionist William Wilberforce and education reformer Hannah More. Her headmaster at St Michael's, Alfred Dunn, has been suggested as the inspiration for the Harry Potter headmaster Albus Dumbledore.
As a child, Rowling often wrote fantasy stories, which she would usually then read to her sister. She recalls that: "I can still remember me telling her a story in which she fell down a rabbit hole and was fed strawberries by the rabbit family inside it. Certainly the first story I ever wrote down (when I was five or six) was about a rabbit called Rabbit. He got the measles and was visited by his friends, including a giant bee called Miss Bee." At the age of nine, Rowling moved to Church Cottage in the Gloucestershire village of Tutshill, close to Chepstow, Wales. When she was a young teenager, her great aunt, who Rowling said "taught classics and approved of a thirst for knowledge, even of a questionable kind," gave her a very old copy of Jessica Mitford's autobiography, Hons and Rebels. Mitford became Rowling's heroine, and Rowling subsequently read all of her books.
Rowling has said of her teenage years, in an interview with The New Yorker, "I wasn’t particularly happy. I think it’s a dreadful time of life." She had a difficult homelife; her mother was ill and she had a difficult relationship with her father (she is no longer on speaking terms with him). She attended secondary school at Wyedean School and College, where her mother had worked as a technician in the science department. Rowling said of her adolescence, "Hermione [a bookish, know-it-all Harry Potter character] is loosely based on me. She's a caricature of me when I was eleven, which I'm not particularly proud of." Steve Eddy, who taught Rowling English when she first arrived, remembers her as "not exceptional" but "one of a group of girls who were bright, and quite good at English." Sean Harris, her best friend in the Upper Sixth owned a turquoise Ford Anglia, which she says inspired the one in her books.
Although she writes under the pen name J.K. Rowling, pronounced like rolling, her name when her first Harry Potter book was published was simply Joanne Rowling. Anticipating that the target audience of young boys might not want to read a book written by a woman, her publishers demanded that she use two initials, rather than her full name. As she had no middle name, she chose K as the second initial of her pen name, from her paternal grandmother Kathleen Ada Bulgen Rowling. She calls herself Jo and has said, "No one ever called me 'Joanne' when I was young, unless they were angry." Following her marriage, she has sometimes used the name Joanne Murray when conducting personal business. During the Leveson Inquiry she gave evidence under the name of Joanne Kathleen Rowling. In a 2012 interview, Rowling noted that she no longer cared that people pronounced her name incorrectly.
Rowling was born to Peter James Rowling, a Rolls-Royce aircraft engineer, and Anne Rowling (née Volant), on 31 July 1965 in Yate, Gloucestershire, England, 10 miles (16 km) northeast of Bristol. Her mother Anne was half-French and half-Scottish. Her parents first met on a train departing from King's Cross Station bound for Arbroath in 1964. They married on 14 March 1965. Her mother's maternal grandfather, Dugald Campbell, was born in Lamlash on the Isle of Arran. Her mother's paternal grandfather, Louis Volant, was awarded the Croix de Guerre for exceptional bravery in defending the village of Courcelles-le-Comte during the First World War.
Rowling's sister Dianne was born at their home when Rowling was 23 months old. The family moved to the nearby village Winterbourne when Rowling was four. She attended St Michael's Primary School, a school founded by abolitionist William Wilberforce and education reformer Hannah More. Her headmaster at St Michael's, Alfred Dunn, has been suggested as the inspiration for the Harry Potter headmaster Albus Dumbledore.
As a child, Rowling often wrote fantasy stories, which she would usually then read to her sister. She recalls that: "I can still remember me telling her a story in which she fell down a rabbit hole and was fed strawberries by the rabbit family inside it. Certainly the first story I ever wrote down (when I was five or six) was about a rabbit called Rabbit. He got the measles and was visited by his friends, including a giant bee called Miss Bee." At the age of nine, Rowling moved to Church Cottage in the Gloucestershire village of Tutshill, close to Chepstow, Wales. When she was a young teenager, her great aunt, who Rowling said "taught classics and approved of a thirst for knowledge, even of a questionable kind," gave her a very old copy of Jessica Mitford's autobiography, Hons and Rebels. Mitford became Rowling's heroine, and Rowling subsequently read all of her books.
Rowling has said of her teenage years, in an interview with The New Yorker, "I wasn’t particularly happy. I think it’s a dreadful time of life." She had a difficult homelife; her mother was ill and she had a difficult relationship with her father (she is no longer on speaking terms with him). She attended secondary school at Wyedean School and College, where her mother had worked as a technician in the science department. Rowling said of her adolescence, "Hermione [a bookish, know-it-all Harry Potter character] is loosely based on me. She's a caricature of me when I was eleven, which I'm not particularly proud of." Steve Eddy, who taught Rowling English when she first arrived, remembers her as "not exceptional" but "one of a group of girls who were bright, and quite good at English." Sean Harris, her best friend in the Upper Sixth owned a turquoise Ford Anglia, which she says inspired the one in her books.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 19,879 reviews
March 17, 2022
(B) 75% | More than Satisfactory
Notes: Nothing special but no complaints, just a solid set of bonus stories that remind you how fun Harry Potter books were.
Notes: Nothing special but no complaints, just a solid set of bonus stories that remind you how fun Harry Potter books were.
August 11, 2025
(B) 75% | More than Satisfactory
Notes: On accepting reality/nature/mortality (finagling doesn't fix), a rustic-medieval, magic upheaval, tone and matter mix.
*Check out progress updates for detailed commentary:
Notes: On accepting reality/nature/mortality (finagling doesn't fix), a rustic-medieval, magic upheaval, tone and matter mix.
*Check out progress updates for detailed commentary:
September 1, 2022
I am one among the lucky generation who were able to queue up in front of the bookshops on the releasing day of the new Harry Potter book to purchase it and finish reading it on the first day itself. If you ask me which are the most valuable books I have, the answer will definitely have the first edition of all the Harry Potter books.
This book deals with five fairy tales related to the magical world. The additional notes given by Professor Albus Dumbledore will provide you with a unique reading experience. My favorite, like many other readers, is the tale of three brothers, which was mentioned in Deathly hallows
“The quest for the elder wand nearly supports an observation I have had occasion to make many times in the course of my life that humans have the knack of choosing precisely those things that are worst for them.”
September 9, 2021
English (The Tales of Beedle the Bard) / Italiano
«There was once a kindly old wizard who used his magic generously and wisely for the benefit of his neighbours»
Directly from the Hogwarts Library, with commentaries by Albus Silente, here we have a collection of stories for young witch or wizard, the equivalent of muggle fables for muggle kids (namely un-magic children). And muggle Arianna, my daughter, cannot but appreciate the umpteenth bedtime reading on the Rowling's universe. In fact, she listens carefully, wide-eyed, then she giggles, then she gets serious, again she laughs heartily, and so on. In short: the perfect goodnight.
"The Wizard and the Hopping Pot" tale deserves a special mention. It is a quite criticised story by the magical community, due to its bottom line in favour of the muggles. A father teach a lesson to his son, preaching love and tolerance for un-magic people, the muggles, that is to say... ourselves, the readers.
And I, muggle for many generations, am so jaelous of all the un-muggles. Damn!
Vote: 7,5
«C'era una volta un vecchio mago gentile che adoperava la magia con generosità e saggezza a beneficio dei suoi vicini»
Direttamente dalla Biblioteca di Hogwarts, commentate nientemeno che dal Professor Silente, arriva una raccolta di storie per giovani maghi e streghe, l'equivalente delle fiabe babbane per bimbi babbani (ossia per bambini non magici). E la babbana Arianna, mia figlia, non può non apprezzare questa ennesima lettura serale sull'universo narrativo della Rowling. E difatti ascolta con attenzione, occhi sgranati, poi sghignazza, poi si fa seria, poi di nuovo ride di cuore, e così via. La buonanotte perfetta.
Menzione speciale merita la fiaba "Il mago e il pentolone salterino", racconto piuttosto criticato dalla comunità magica per via della morale pro-babbana in esso contenuta. In questa fiaba infatti si predica, attraverso una lezione che impartisce un padre al proprio figlio, amore e tolleranza verso il popolo non magico, i babbani, vale a dire... noi, i lettori.
Ed io, babbano da svariate generazioni, provo invidia per tutti i non-babbani. Mannaggia!
Voto: 7,5
March 15, 2024
As a muggle, I was raised on the classics: Grimm, Andersen and Aesop. Little did I know I was missing out. Why settle for mundane fables and fairy tales when you can have tales of three brothers giving Death the slip, a fountain of dreams, a heart in dire need of a sharp razor, a cackling tree stump or a warty, braying hopping cauldron?
Each story is a crash course in wizarding wisdom with some footnotes from Dumbledore, and tackles different life lessons, from kindness and empathy to dealing with the consequences of hubris and selfishness.
My personal picks are the death-dodgers,The Tale of the Three Brothers, the endearing Babbitty Rabbitty and the Cackling Stump, and one where three witches, a knight, and a dream walk into a tale as old as time itself in The Fountain of Fair Fortune. It’s a warm, fuzzy, comfort read that evoked nostalgic memories of the HP series for me. I recommend this as a nice, non-compulsory supplement for people who have read all the HP books already.
1. The Wizard and the Hopping Pot | ★★★★☆
2. The Fountain of Fair Fortune | ★★★★★
3. The Warlock's Hairy Heart | ★★★☆☆
4. Babbitty Rabbitty and her Cackling Stump | ★★★★★
5. The Tale of the Three Brothers | ★★★★★
Note: This was a second-hand bookshop find, no finances were used to support the author.
........
Always been curious about Hermione Granger's reading material during those Horcrux-hunting escapades with Harry and Ron.
Each story is a crash course in wizarding wisdom with some footnotes from Dumbledore, and tackles different life lessons, from kindness and empathy to dealing with the consequences of hubris and selfishness.
My personal picks are the death-dodgers,The Tale of the Three Brothers, the endearing Babbitty Rabbitty and the Cackling Stump, and one where three witches, a knight, and a dream walk into a tale as old as time itself in The Fountain of Fair Fortune. It’s a warm, fuzzy, comfort read that evoked nostalgic memories of the HP series for me. I recommend this as a nice, non-compulsory supplement for people who have read all the HP books already.
1. The Wizard and the Hopping Pot | ★★★★☆
2. The Fountain of Fair Fortune | ★★★★★
3. The Warlock's Hairy Heart | ★★★☆☆
4. Babbitty Rabbitty and her Cackling Stump | ★★★★★
5. The Tale of the Three Brothers | ★★★★★
Note: This was a second-hand bookshop find, no finances were used to support the author.
........
Always been curious about Hermione Granger's reading material during those Horcrux-hunting escapades with Harry and Ron.
April 24, 2017
عندما يتحول عمل أدبي إلي عالم حقيقي
لايهدف فقط لأمتاعك، وإنما أيضا يحاول خلق عالما أفضل...يغير من شخصيتك وافكارك للأحسن والأجمل
وهذا الكتاب سيشعرك فعلا بهذا العالم العجيب الذي ابتدعته جي كي رولينج
الكتاب مترجم عربيا للقراءة هنا
حكايات بيدل الشاعر هي مجموعة قصص كتبت للسحرة والساحرات الصغار , شهيرة كشهرة سندريللا و الاميرة النائمة لدي الاطفال "غير السحرة"
تتشابه قصص بيدل مع قصصنا الخيالية الشهيرة في ان الخير ينتصر ويكافأ و الشر يعاقب . الا ان هناك اختلاف واضح, في قصصنا الخيالية يكون السحر موجود في اصل المشكلة التي يواجهها البطل او البطلة - الساحرة الشريرة تسمم التفاحة, او تجعل الاميرة تنام مائة عام , او تحول الامير الي "وحش".
اما في حكايات بيدل البطل او البطلة يمكنهم عمل السحر بنفسهم, بالرغم من ذلك يجدوا صعوبة في في حل مشاكلهم مثلنا بالظبط
فالقصص تساعد الاباء السحرة في شرح لاطفالهم ان السحر يسبب مشاكل بالظبط كما يمكنه ان يعالج.
اختلاف اخر هام هو ان الساحرات في قصص بيدل "البطلات" فعّالات اكثر في البحث عن حظهم عن بطلات قصصنا, فهم يطوعون مصيرهم بايديهم بدلا من النوم لمئات السنين او انتظار من يعيد لها فردة الحذاء المفقودة.
ولتشابهه توجهات بيدل في قصصه التي تهدف للمساواة بين السحرة والغير سحرة و نبذ السحر الاسود, مع دمبلدور"الناظر السابق لمدرسة هوجورتس لتعليم فنون السحر"..قررنا بعد اخذ موافقة ماكونجال الناظرة الحالية ان نضيف الملاحظات التي كتبها دمبلدور عن قصص بيدل في هذه النسخة بجانب الترجمة الجديدة للقصص عن طريق هيرميوني جرينجر.. نأمل ان تفيدكم افكار دمبلدور والتي تحوي تتبع في تاريخ السحرة, خبراته الشخصية و معلوماته التنويرية عن كل قصة.
تعليق اخير عن ملاحظات دمبلدور, ان هذه الملاحظات تمت حوالي 18 شهر قبل الحادث المؤسف في اعلي برج الفلك بهوجوارتس..هؤلاء العالمين بتاريخ اخر حروب السحرة ( كل من قرأ السبع اجزاء عن حياة هاري بوتر بالاخص) سيعلموا ان دمبلدور اخفي جزء مما يعرفه بحق حول القصة الاخيرة بهذه القصص , ربما لانه اراد حماية القراء المستقبلين من الاغراءات التي وقع هو بنفسه فريسة لها, وعليه دفع الثمن غاليا.
جي كي رولينج
2008
سأكتفي بأجزاء من تلك المقدمة بأول الكتاب والتي كتبتها الساحرة المتخفية في عالمنا هذا ككاتبة تدعي "جوانا رولينج" عن هذا الكتاب
لست ادري لماذا اشعر انها فعلا ليست من وحي خيالها..لم تخترع هذا العالم بل عايشته..ربما كانت حفيدة "باثيلدا باجشوت" اشهر مؤرخي عالم السحرة الحديث
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الكتاب ليس مجرد حكايات للاطفال سيطة, كما وضحت المؤلفة في المقدمة ,فكل حكاية بها عبرة وموعظة "مورال" رائع
بل والغريب تشعر بأن القصص أحيانا بها طابع قاسي جدا لتوصيل الرسالة, شئ من الرعب المقبض بالأخص في قصة قلب الساحر المشعر...ومع ذلك تلك أكثر ما أثر بي من القصص
الحب لا يضعفك..لكن عدم الحب هو ما قد يقتلك
وغيرها من النصائح الرائعة بالقصص
ليس السحر هو الحل دائما..ليس التفوق في امر يجعلك ضاغيه علي غيرك..واذا ما تفوقت في امر حاول ان تساعد به غيرك ..العدل واهميته بحياتنا
اما حكاية الاخوة الثلاثة "التي تم ذكرها في احداث الكتاب الاخير من كتب هاري بوتر , من خلال الكتاب الذي حصلت عليه هيرموني جرينجر من وصية دمبلدور" فهي الاقوي في رسالتها..والتي ظهرت في المقدمة
لا يكن سعيك لحل اي امورك بالقوة وحسب..فهذا دائما سلاح ذو حدين.
القصص بسيطة ,ساحرة وشيقة , وعميقة عمق حقيقي
لا اود ان احرقها لكم في الريفيو بل ادعوكم فعلا لتجربة هذا الكتاب الساحر...بقصصه وقدرة المؤلفة اليارعة بربط جزء من التاريخ الحقيقي مع عالمها السحري الافتراضي..موهبتها في رسم شخصيات وافكار لا تهدف للامتاع وحسب بل والتفكير
راجع ريفيو كتاب الوحوش العجيبة وكيف تجدها
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نقطة أخيرة
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شعرت بالاطراء الشديد للكلمة في نهاية الكتاب التي تشكرني "و كل من اشتري الكتاب" في مساهمتنا في مشروع لتنميه الاطفال الغير قادرين
Children’s High Level Group
Health , Education , Welfare
وكيف يشكروننا ومن المفروض ان يكون نحن من يشكرهم , ويشكر المؤلفة لهذا الكتاب الممتع والخير الذي تقوم به من اجل كتابة كتاب بسيط ممتع وهادف كهذا وتخصيص عائداته للعمل الخيري..وهي ليست اول مرة.
كم اتمني ان اجد كاتبا من كتابنا الذين يملئون الدنيا صراخا وجعجعة فارغة حول العدالة الاجتماعية يخصصون ولو جزء من اثمان روايتهم الخيالية لعمل الخير.
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وشكرا جدا الصديق احمد --غالبا احد المترجمين- الذي اهتم بتوضيح تلك النسخة لي وان كنت اتمني ان كنت اجدها مطبوعة
الكتاب مترجم عربيا متاح من هنا
انا لااود غالبا اضافة نسخ الكترونية بالريفيو , خاصا ان هذا الكتاب ربحه يذهب للعمل الخيري ولكن هذه الترجمة فعلا عمل متميز ومتقن
شكرا احمد والمترجمين
A Tweet for our beloved Beedle, The Queen Rowling
Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to participate into the charity work with only buying this great,fun,clever and most entertaining books.
محمد العربي
من 25 ابريل 2013
الي 30 ابريل 2013
Happy Harry Potter Day "2nd May"
April 13, 2020
2020 - I listened to the new audiobook that's narrated by a lot of the actors from the movies and it was INCREDIBLE. There were even sound effects and everything and it was a lovely listening experience. I still love these stories so much and my only complaint is that I wish there were more of them!
2016 - If you know me, then you may know that I've tried to read fairytales from the Grimm Brothers, Hans Christian Anderson, and from the collection of Arabian Nights and have been unable to finish any of them because I honestly didn't like the stories and thought they were overly preachy and odd.
This, however, will be the book of fairytales that I read to my future children. I fucking loved it. The stories were a mix of wonder and darkness, of hope and love, and the extra notes from both Dumbledore and Jo were the perfect addition to this wonderful little book. I only wish there were more stories! What a gem!
2016 - If you know me, then you may know that I've tried to read fairytales from the Grimm Brothers, Hans Christian Anderson, and from the collection of Arabian Nights and have been unable to finish any of them because I honestly didn't like the stories and thought they were overly preachy and odd.
This, however, will be the book of fairytales that I read to my future children. I fucking loved it. The stories were a mix of wonder and darkness, of hope and love, and the extra notes from both Dumbledore and Jo were the perfect addition to this wonderful little book. I only wish there were more stories! What a gem!
February 18, 2022
Written and published to support Lumos, J.K. Rowling's charity that works to transform the lives of disadvantaged children - this book is much more than an afterthought, but a lovely little bit of expansion of the Harry Potter universe.
Five classic 'magical' tales, that akin to fairy tales have a dark-ish lilt, have a lesson and feature memorable characters. In addition Dumbledore's additional notes are a a deep well of information for context about how these stories were interpreted over the years. A little gem of a book. 8 out of 12.
2019 read
Five classic 'magical' tales, that akin to fairy tales have a dark-ish lilt, have a lesson and feature memorable characters. In addition Dumbledore's additional notes are a a deep well of information for context about how these stories were interpreted over the years. A little gem of a book. 8 out of 12.
2019 read
October 10, 2018
Gah! The Tales are awesome and the illustrations are spectacular =) Well, what did you expect with those two! Just gonna leave some pics down below ↓
The one below is a big pull out pic in the book! OMG!
There are tons more but don't y'all think I added enough pics? I do, I'm tired now! Enjoy!
Happy Reading!
Mel ♥
The one below is a big pull out pic in the book! OMG!
There are tons more but don't y'all think I added enough pics? I do, I'm tired now! Enjoy!
Happy Reading!
Mel ♥
April 7, 2017
Aw the feels...
June 17, 2017
This didn’t work at all for me. It felt too gimmicky. It felt like it was trying too hard to be part of wizarding universe rather than actually being part of it. Dumbledore’s notes were here in an attempt to guide the reader though in actual fact they just made the experience much worse. They felt more patronising than anything really.
That being said, it’s a fun attempt to create a foundation for Rowling’s already vast and complex fantasy world. But I don’t think it needs it. If you look at Tolkien and The Silmarillion, that book actually added something to middle earth. It builds upon the groundwork and explores the full history of the writing. It gives you so much more detail. Granted, this is an altogether different creature, but I don’t think it adds much to the wizarding world. There are glimpses of this book through the full Harry Potter series, and we hear about its nature, but I don’t think seeing it here changes much.
If anything, my perceptions of the book are lessoned because it just didn’t live up to expectations. It’s supposed to be this legendary book containing dark stories perhaps a bit similar to Grimm’s fairy tales in the real world. Generations and generations of wizards have read it and it is always raved about by the characters. It’s supposed to be something fantastic, and it’s not. It’s a book of very, very, basic stories that do not have the ability to stand on their own feet. It cannot be read in isolation from the main work and it is terribly short lacking any sense of substance or literary merit.
All in all, it’s a book written for the strongest of Harry Potter fans. I love the series too, but because of this it doesn’t mean this book is automatically going to receive my admiration. It’s a good idea, though it is very poorly executed.
That being said, it’s a fun attempt to create a foundation for Rowling’s already vast and complex fantasy world. But I don’t think it needs it. If you look at Tolkien and The Silmarillion, that book actually added something to middle earth. It builds upon the groundwork and explores the full history of the writing. It gives you so much more detail. Granted, this is an altogether different creature, but I don’t think it adds much to the wizarding world. There are glimpses of this book through the full Harry Potter series, and we hear about its nature, but I don’t think seeing it here changes much.
If anything, my perceptions of the book are lessoned because it just didn’t live up to expectations. It’s supposed to be this legendary book containing dark stories perhaps a bit similar to Grimm’s fairy tales in the real world. Generations and generations of wizards have read it and it is always raved about by the characters. It’s supposed to be something fantastic, and it’s not. It’s a book of very, very, basic stories that do not have the ability to stand on their own feet. It cannot be read in isolation from the main work and it is terribly short lacking any sense of substance or literary merit.
All in all, it’s a book written for the strongest of Harry Potter fans. I love the series too, but because of this it doesn’t mean this book is automatically going to receive my admiration. It’s a good idea, though it is very poorly executed.
December 24, 2008
I felt very warm and fuzzy reading new JKR. How can I not love an alleged children's writer who mentions murder, mutilation, cannibalism, adultery, and bestiality all within the span of 110 (ultra-short) pages? The stories are on the meh side, but Dumbledore's commentaries showed a smart, literary eye that reminded me briefly of Pale Fire. I'm all, "Hey, JK, you did your thang." Be that as it may, I'm a bit offended by the Dumbledore's anti-anti-Muggle bias. I see nothing wrong with witches and wizards not wanting to associate with Muggles. I hate Muggles, they are the worst! And I have Muggle heritage myself (but don't tell anyone I said that, EEW EEW EEW!) so you know I can't be magicist. Sometimes I look in the mirror and I think, "Go back to where you came from, Mudblood!" So I did -- but the staff at New York Presbyterian wouldn't take me back.
April 26, 2016
I actually started this a few nights ago and would read one story each night but completely forgot to add it to my currently reading shelf! I absolutely loved these stories, as well as Dumbledore's commentary. I learned some new things, and connected a few others. They were such a phenomenal addition to the books, especially Deathly Hallows. I will forever love The Tale of the Three Brothers, and it will always be a classic tale for me. I can't believe how much effort J.K. Rowling put into every single aspect of her series, just to make it that much more wonderful. I love how she wove magic into five completely different stories of her own making. This takes so much time, effort, and devotion and I will forever be grateful for all the love that she puts into her books. I will continue to reread these lovely tales whenever I need a little magic in my life. Hopefully in the future I will also read these to my children along with the Harry Potter series. Every addition to this amazing series brings me so much joy and I can't say enough good things. I highly recommend giving these a read! You won't be disappointed! She gave it her all and I could never give this less than 5 stars!
April 26, 2020
The Tales of Beedle the Bard are fairy tales told to young witches and wizards.
Each of them different but captivating and magical. I too read these when I was a kid. I read them over and over and to this day I wish JKR (or should I say Beedle? 😉) had written more. There was a time when I read one the of the stories every night before bed 😂.
Dumbledore's notes are a fantastic addition to the stories. My favourite is the Fountain of Fair Fortune followed by the Tale of the Three Brothers.
Each of them different but captivating and magical. I too read these when I was a kid. I read them over and over and to this day I wish JKR (or should I say Beedle? 😉) had written more. There was a time when I read one the of the stories every night before bed 😂.
Dumbledore's notes are a fantastic addition to the stories. My favourite is the Fountain of Fair Fortune followed by the Tale of the Three Brothers.
August 18, 2020
This little book is an extension (along with many others now!) to the Harry Potter saga. It includes five tales, in the style of the Aesop's Fables and the Folk and Fairy Tales of the Brothers Grimm.
While le tales themselves (to my knowledge, all of J.K. Rowling's invention, although in part inspired by The Canterbury Tales) are very nicely composed, what is exceptionally smart about this book is the mise en abyme. It goes something like this: these tales were written by a wizard, by the name of Beedle, some centuries ago; they have been used as bedtime stories by generations of witches and wizards ever since; this volume is a translation from the original text, carried out by none other than Hermione Granger (Harry Potter's friend); also, the book includes a commentary for each of the tales, written by Albus Dumbledore (Hogwarts School's headmaster) himself; the footnotes only are by J.K. Rowling. And, last but not least, these tales (especially the last one) are mentioned in the previous book of the Harry Potter series and reveal the origin of the Deathly Hallows.
This device gives a fantastic sense of complexity and reality to these tales. But what is perhaps more touching are the moral commentaries, which address the topics of charity and cooperation, friendship and love, human foolishness, and death.
The copy I own is a lovely, ancient-looking, limited edition facsimile, with silver-coloured pieces on the cover of the original handwritten and illustrated text that was initially sold at the flabbergasting price of £2 million to Amazon, through a charity auction.
While le tales themselves (to my knowledge, all of J.K. Rowling's invention, although in part inspired by The Canterbury Tales) are very nicely composed, what is exceptionally smart about this book is the mise en abyme. It goes something like this: these tales were written by a wizard, by the name of Beedle, some centuries ago; they have been used as bedtime stories by generations of witches and wizards ever since; this volume is a translation from the original text, carried out by none other than Hermione Granger (Harry Potter's friend); also, the book includes a commentary for each of the tales, written by Albus Dumbledore (Hogwarts School's headmaster) himself; the footnotes only are by J.K. Rowling. And, last but not least, these tales (especially the last one) are mentioned in the previous book of the Harry Potter series and reveal the origin of the Deathly Hallows.
This device gives a fantastic sense of complexity and reality to these tales. But what is perhaps more touching are the moral commentaries, which address the topics of charity and cooperation, friendship and love, human foolishness, and death.
The copy I own is a lovely, ancient-looking, limited edition facsimile, with silver-coloured pieces on the cover of the original handwritten and illustrated text that was initially sold at the flabbergasting price of £2 million to Amazon, through a charity auction.
October 6, 2018
A sense of completion.
The tales are what the children of the wizards and witches have grown up reading. I loved the connection this book establishes with the main frame of the story. The tale of three brothers and death no doubt was heard and was fabulous.
What made the book immersing was the moral giving stories that fills the young magical mind with the essence of good and bad. The teachings and controversies drawn from the interpretations are no different than the muggle world.
Books are banned, content is censored! Humor laden analogy is a JKR signature.
My favorite part has to be the message scribbled by Dumbledore himself at the end of every story.
The hopping pot instills you with the ideology that you must help others if you can. The message is loud and clear - face the consequences should you go immoral.
Laced with emotions and selfless love are the stories of three women who seek redemption.
Though,Babbity Rabbity takes the cake with her wit smacked aura.
Verdict : Future schedule - reading this to my children pretending ourselves to be James and Lily Potter.
"The fairy tales of the wizarding world for the muggle readers."
The tales are what the children of the wizards and witches have grown up reading. I loved the connection this book establishes with the main frame of the story. The tale of three brothers and death no doubt was heard and was fabulous.
What made the book immersing was the moral giving stories that fills the young magical mind with the essence of good and bad. The teachings and controversies drawn from the interpretations are no different than the muggle world.
Books are banned, content is censored! Humor laden analogy is a JKR signature.
My favorite part has to be the message scribbled by Dumbledore himself at the end of every story.
The hopping pot instills you with the ideology that you must help others if you can. The message is loud and clear - face the consequences should you go immoral.
Laced with emotions and selfless love are the stories of three women who seek redemption.
Though,Babbity Rabbity takes the cake with her wit smacked aura.
Verdict : Future schedule - reading this to my children pretending ourselves to be James and Lily Potter.
December 27, 2008
Now, I happened to be at a Wal-Mart at 11:53 pm on December third, the day before this book was to be released. Upon my arrival to the inside of the store, I saw a table decorated with a single blue balloon, and a plastic tablecloth. Taped across the front of the small buffet table was a sign that said "Join us at 12:01 for Tales of Beedle the Bard!" Needless to say, I squealed aloud with delight, and my best friend blushed with embarrassment at being seen in public with a squealing Harry Potter fan. I could hardly believe that I had forgotten the realease date for the storybook Harry Potter fans everywhere were waiting for! Of course, I searched frantically for my wallet, but it was nowhere to be found, lost in the abyss that is my purse. As I began to walk away with my head hung low, Kristen, the dearest friend I've ever known, then took me by the hand and led me back to the table. She told me that she would buy me the book as an early Christmas present, but I had to promise to love it. And that very night, after I had finished the book, my promise was kept, and I loved it.
April 12, 2017
Zuerst einmal muss ich sagen, dass mir die Neuauflage aus dem Carlsenverlag rein optisch schon mal super gut gefällt. Der Inhalt des Buches besteht aus 5 Märchen, an deren Ende jeweils ein Kommentar von Albus Dumbledore folgt. Am besten hat mir natürlich das Märchen von den drei Brüdern gefallen, welches man ja auch schon aus den Filmen kennt (hat es noch jemand außer mir in Hermines Stimme gelesen?!) Für alle Potterheads einfach ein Must-read, welches auch einfach sehr hübsch aufgemacht ist und im Bücherregal nicht fehlen darf!
February 10, 2016
What a great and cute addition to the Harry Potter series! Fairy tales from the wizarding worlds which very much look like our fairy tales, but which are unique as well. I especially loved the tales about the hairy heart and the three brothers, and now I'm quite eager to watch the upcoming movie as well :) If you love fairy tales and if you love Harry Potter, I'm pretty sure you're going to love these tales as well!
August 10, 2020
“A simple and heart-warming fable, one might think - in which case, one would reveal oneself to be an innocent nincompoop.”
Overall, I enjoyed the accompanying commentary of each tale more than the tale itself. I also liked that it didn't seem to take itself too seriously. 3.5 stars
Overall, I enjoyed the accompanying commentary of each tale more than the tale itself. I also liked that it didn't seem to take itself too seriously. 3.5 stars
December 4, 2008
I'm having a hard time deciding which is my favorite tale, but I'd lean towards The Fountain of Fair Fortune, with the The Warlock's Hairy Heart coming in a close second (if only it had been executed a little better!).
Keeping in mind that these are wizarding fairy tales, with commentary by Dumbledore and translated by Hermione (oh MAN, wouldn't it be awesome to get into a crazy discussion about Hermione as a biased translator? Dumbledore's comments are obviously 100% biased) - the book is really quite cute. It shouldn't take you much more than 30 minutes to read it but I was expecting a short read(and honestly, my #1 complaint is the binding -t he book just feels awkward, and I am dreading when the spine is obviously cracked open).
Spoilers start here:
Tale #1: The Wizard and the Hopping Pot: The most obvious morality tale in the book. A young man inherits his father's cauldron and his father's requests for aid from needy (but humble & worthy!) Muggle neighbors, resists with an attitude, and is taught a lesson in charity. I found Dumbledore's notes more interesting than the tale itself.
Tale #2: The Fountain of Fair Fortune: Almost a Wizard of Oz-type story; a Muggle Knight and 3 witches quest for their greatest wish to be granted at the Fountain of Fair Fortune, but end up solving their problems on the journey. I really think JKR could have expanded this out into much more of a short story, although it does make sense in the fable/fairy tale format. Really quite cute, and the "happiest" of the bunch.
Tale #3: The Wizard's Hairy Heart: Obviously the darkest tale; a man turns to the Dark Arts and cuts himself off from enjoying life by literally taking his beating heart out of his chest so he will never be hurt. Dumbledore's notes sort of point towards the ZOMG TERRIBLE HORCRUX IS TERRIBLE idea, but never outright says, so this Tom Riddle kid TOTALLY ate this one up at the Muggle orphanage--OH WAIT, HE TOTALLY DIDN'T.
Tale #4: Babbitty Rabbitty and Her Cackling Stump: A really stupid Muggle king wants to wipe out witches and wizards, gets scammed by a con man, but his dishwasher is a real witch and not only stops the persecution but even gets a gold statue through her own cunning. I think this was my least favorite out of the 5.
Tale #5: The Tale of the Three Brothers: We know this one from Deathly Hallows, but 3 brothers run into Death, get the Elder Wand, the resurrection stone thing, and the Invisibility Cloak. Brothers 1 and 2 are totally dumb and die pretty quickly, but Brother 3 knows meeting Death is inevitable, but hides and lives into old age. Again, Dumbledore's notes are very vague, and full of, NOW, THIS WAND/STONE BUSINESS IS TOTALLY FOLKLORE (also, can I just say how much the term Deathstick amuses me to no end??) BUT INVISIBILITY CLOAKS RUUUULE.
Overall, it's sort of cool to think how these tales might have played into the upbringing of some of the characters. The Weasley kids probably heard all of these 10 million times.
Oh, AND! I forgot, my favorite part is when "Dumbledore" goes into as close as he can get into a rant about censorship concerning the content of the tales (the Malfoys across the ages are big into banning books). It's even more funny considering HP's history, and the fact that JKR was nice enough to let Dumbledore give the gentle smackdown.
Keeping in mind that these are wizarding fairy tales, with commentary by Dumbledore and translated by Hermione (oh MAN, wouldn't it be awesome to get into a crazy discussion about Hermione as a biased translator? Dumbledore's comments are obviously 100% biased) - the book is really quite cute. It shouldn't take you much more than 30 minutes to read it but I was expecting a short read(and honestly, my #1 complaint is the binding -t he book just feels awkward, and I am dreading when the spine is obviously cracked open).
Spoilers start here:
Tale #1: The Wizard and the Hopping Pot: The most obvious morality tale in the book. A young man inherits his father's cauldron and his father's requests for aid from needy (but humble & worthy!) Muggle neighbors, resists with an attitude, and is taught a lesson in charity. I found Dumbledore's notes more interesting than the tale itself.
Tale #2: The Fountain of Fair Fortune: Almost a Wizard of Oz-type story; a Muggle Knight and 3 witches quest for their greatest wish to be granted at the Fountain of Fair Fortune, but end up solving their problems on the journey. I really think JKR could have expanded this out into much more of a short story, although it does make sense in the fable/fairy tale format. Really quite cute, and the "happiest" of the bunch.
Tale #3: The Wizard's Hairy Heart: Obviously the darkest tale; a man turns to the Dark Arts and cuts himself off from enjoying life by literally taking his beating heart out of his chest so he will never be hurt. Dumbledore's notes sort of point towards the ZOMG TERRIBLE HORCRUX IS TERRIBLE idea, but never outright says, so this Tom Riddle kid TOTALLY ate this one up at the Muggle orphanage--OH WAIT, HE TOTALLY DIDN'T.
Tale #4: Babbitty Rabbitty and Her Cackling Stump: A really stupid Muggle king wants to wipe out witches and wizards, gets scammed by a con man, but his dishwasher is a real witch and not only stops the persecution but even gets a gold statue through her own cunning. I think this was my least favorite out of the 5.
Tale #5: The Tale of the Three Brothers: We know this one from Deathly Hallows, but 3 brothers run into Death, get the Elder Wand, the resurrection stone thing, and the Invisibility Cloak. Brothers 1 and 2 are totally dumb and die pretty quickly, but Brother 3 knows meeting Death is inevitable, but hides and lives into old age. Again, Dumbledore's notes are very vague, and full of, NOW, THIS WAND/STONE BUSINESS IS TOTALLY FOLKLORE (also, can I just say how much the term Deathstick amuses me to no end??) BUT INVISIBILITY CLOAKS RUUUULE.
Overall, it's sort of cool to think how these tales might have played into the upbringing of some of the characters. The Weasley kids probably heard all of these 10 million times.
Oh, AND! I forgot, my favorite part is when "Dumbledore" goes into as close as he can get into a rant about censorship concerning the content of the tales (the Malfoys across the ages are big into banning books). It's even more funny considering HP's history, and the fact that JKR was nice enough to let Dumbledore give the gentle smackdown.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 30, 2019
This is a book I have owned since 2008 and only just got around to reading. Silly really because at only 110 pages it did not take long to finish!
I thought it was very cleverly done as would be expected coming from this author. The five fairy tales are all interesting in their own right and then the critiques by Albus Dumbledore are delightful. It was interesting to note that part of the proceeds of the sale of this book went to a children's charity. That is pleasing.
I am glad I eventually got around to reading it and can now pop it back on the shelf next to the complete set of Harry Potter.
I thought it was very cleverly done as would be expected coming from this author. The five fairy tales are all interesting in their own right and then the critiques by Albus Dumbledore are delightful. It was interesting to note that part of the proceeds of the sale of this book went to a children's charity. That is pleasing.
I am glad I eventually got around to reading it and can now pop it back on the shelf next to the complete set of Harry Potter.
October 12, 2021
Ich fand „The Tales of Beedle the Bard“ von J. K. Rowling super süß und wirklich ganz interessant für echte Harry Potter-Fans.
In meinen Augen ist es aber kein Must Read.
- Ich habe das Buch gebraucht gekauft und unterstütze Rowlings transphobe Äußerungen in keinster Weise. -
In meinen Augen ist es aber kein Must Read.
- Ich habe das Buch gebraucht gekauft und unterstütze Rowlings transphobe Äußerungen in keinster Weise. -
November 19, 2016
Sa "Pripovestima barda Bidla" susreli smo se u sedmoj knjizi serijala i potom upoznali sa "Pričom o Tri brata". Ova priča je u čarobnjačkom svetu toliko jaka i važna da je iz nje proistekla najveća znana legenda - onaj čarobnjak ili veštica koji uspe da objedini sve tri relikvije smrti postaće nepobediv, a relikvije su ništa drugo do predmeti koje je Smrt dala braći na poklon nakon što su je prevarili.
Odmah moram napomenuti komentare koje ostavlja Albus Dambldor nakon svake od ovih priča, dajući im novu dimenziju i pobliže nam predstavljajući ne samo čarobnjački svet, već i način na koji funkcioniše svaka osoba, bila ona normalac ili čarobnjak. Za mene su ti komentari možda i najbolji deo knjige, uz simpatičnu opasku da nijedna veštica zapravo nije pokušala da objedini sve tri relikvije smrti.
Pored pomenute "Priče o Tri brata", tu su još četiri priče: "Čarobnjak i skakućući lonac", "Vrelo velike sreće", "Veščevo kosmato srce" i "Baka-zekonja i njen Cerekajući panj". Svaka je dragocena i poučna, a ujedno propraćena već pomenutim komentarima. Volela bih da izdvojim "Vrelo velike sreće" jer je kroz avanturu tri veštice i normalskog viteza odlično prikazana činjenica da smo mi sami tvorci svoje sreće i da nema te magije koja nam može pomoći ukoliko ne pomognemo mi sami sebi.
Više nego toplu preporuku bih dala i audio verziji ovih priča koje su svojevremeno na mene ostavile izuzetan utisak.
Odmah moram napomenuti komentare koje ostavlja Albus Dambldor nakon svake od ovih priča, dajući im novu dimenziju i pobliže nam predstavljajući ne samo čarobnjački svet, već i način na koji funkcioniše svaka osoba, bila ona normalac ili čarobnjak. Za mene su ti komentari možda i najbolji deo knjige, uz simpatičnu opasku da nijedna veštica zapravo nije pokušala da objedini sve tri relikvije smrti.
Pored pomenute "Priče o Tri brata", tu su još četiri priče: "Čarobnjak i skakućući lonac", "Vrelo velike sreće", "Veščevo kosmato srce" i "Baka-zekonja i njen Cerekajući panj". Svaka je dragocena i poučna, a ujedno propraćena već pomenutim komentarima. Volela bih da izdvojim "Vrelo velike sreće" jer je kroz avanturu tri veštice i normalskog viteza odlično prikazana činjenica da smo mi sami tvorci svoje sreće i da nema te magije koja nam može pomoći ukoliko ne pomognemo mi sami sebi.
Više nego toplu preporuku bih dala i audio verziji ovih priča koje su svojevremeno na mene ostavile izuzetan utisak.
December 14, 2008
Not much to this book. Rowling uses double spacing, huge margins and mediocre pencil art (that she drew) to stretch out what should have been some short stories published on the internet, a magazine, or saved for inclusion in a bigger book. The tales are all very concise, you can tell she tries hard to make them deep and classical, but they fall short, and most fail to draw you in or make you interested. After each story is a boring (almost arrogant) review by Dumbledore, who tries to convince you how great and meaningful they are. The longest story in the book, about the brothers involved with the Deathly Hallows, is just repeated word for word from the last book in the Harry Potter series. You will glean a few tiny tidbits of information you never knew about some of the unimportant characters from the series (such as Sir Nicholas the Ghost), but otherwise this 'book' will be forgotten. A shame since I loved the main series.
December 16, 2017
I just love fairytales that takes place in the universe the series originates from but I do wish we get a full,giant story book.
Dumbledoor left Hermione 5 stories with his commentary that we get to read.
• The Wizard and the Hopping Pot.
• The Fountain of Fair Fortune.
• The Warlock's Hairy Heart.
This is a bit creepy but also the one I enjoyed the most reading.
• Babbitty Rabbitty and her crackling Stump.
and of course
• The Tale of the Three Brothers that we all know and love.
Dumbledoor left Hermione 5 stories with his commentary that we get to read.
• The Wizard and the Hopping Pot.
• The Fountain of Fair Fortune.
• The Warlock's Hairy Heart.
This is a bit creepy but also the one I enjoyed the most reading.
• Babbitty Rabbitty and her crackling Stump.
and of course
• The Tale of the Three Brothers that we all know and love.
February 9, 2017
Strangely enough, I loved this one a lot more than all the other short stories by Rowling. Perhaps it's because they're actual stories with characters and even moral underpinnings, or perhaps this collection just hit the spot. :)
I enjoyed Albus's voice here, but in the end, I think I simply enjoyed the tales for themselves. Little dark fairy tales. :) I have nothing bad to say about little dark fairy tales. :)
I enjoyed Albus's voice here, but in the end, I think I simply enjoyed the tales for themselves. Little dark fairy tales. :) I have nothing bad to say about little dark fairy tales. :)
March 25, 2018
What a beautiful, special book. Jk never ceases to amaze me with her ability to immerse us all into her vast Wizarding World. I truly enjoyed this book so much, as a huge Potterhead myself, I felt the magic in me for this one hour it took me to finish it. Furthermore, Dumbledore's comments added more to the fantasy, to the imagination, they added a background to the five stories that were told. These five stories, so different from our own Muggle fairytales but also so alike, convey lots of important messages. I would totally recommend this book to a Harry Potter, or anyone to be honest, this books is truly a journey.
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