Harry Potter et al

Less than a week to go before the new Harry Potter is released. The tension is in the air, and already some newspapers are running columns allowing people to pitch their theories about what's going to happen to who. I overheard a few customers on Saturday, 7/9, saying, "Nothing like this has ever happened before."

Actually, it has. There have been several authors who have electrified the world with their creations, and left everyone panting for the next installment.

Arthur Conan Doyle was the wonder of the Victorian reading world. His creation of Sherlock Holmes had people literally clamoring for more. Holmes, the brilliant son of an obscure landed gentleman struck a chord in the minds of readers, and Doyle found himself the darling of the world. Originally serialized in "The Strand" magazine, sales of the magazine tripled every time an issue had a new Holmes story. Ironically, Doyle didn't think much of Sherlock Holmes, and decided to kill off his hero in The Final Problem, falling prey to Professor Moriarty.

The reaction by the public was tumultuous, and, unsurprisingly, sales of The Strand plummeted. Doyle (who preferred writing historical novels) was literally bribed into bringing back Sherlock Holmes to print. Payments equivalent to one million dollars for each story were made to the author.

Another big hit to readers was, ironically enough, Pinocchio! Originally serialized in an Italian children's magazine, the little wooden boy was the creation of Carlo Collodi, who wrote to get out from under a pile of gambling debts. Collodi himself was a bit dubious about the story and reportedly described it as "a little nonsense". Unsurprisingly, when his debts were paid off, Collodi thought nothing of having the little puppet murdered at the hands of a devious fox and cat in Chapter 15. This was supposed to be the end of the story. To Collodi it made sense--the puppet had run off, disgraced his father, and fallen in with a band of thugs; this was the fate of children who disappointed their parents. No harm, no foul, right?

Wrong! The public was outraged, and the cries from the children who read that their hero was hanging from a tree dead were deafening. Realizing his mistake, Collodi created the lovely blue fairy who resurrected Pinocchio and guided him through his adventures, to eventually becoming a real boy.

Another big draw for readers was Buster Brown. Long before the shoes, Buster Brown was a newspaper cartoon about a mischievous boy who, along with his dog, Tige, gets into trouble. Tige was sort of Buster's comic foil. He talked as well, offered snide commentary about his master's antics, but the simpleminded adults never saw him do it. Invariably Buster got in trouble, and the last panel had him promising never to do it again.

Buster Brown was phenomenally popular, with a large amount of merchandising bearing his name. The shoes alone were introduced in 1904. Buster even graduated to silent films in the late 1920's, with child actor Arthur Trimble in the lead role, and his name has passed into the language as a form of polite epithet used on children who are in trouble.

So, while we wait in line for the latest Harry Potter adventure, let's remember that Harry is one of many literary prodigies. His fame, and that of his creator, J.K. Rowling, is but one more piece of evidence that good literature can take on a life of its own. And affect our lives, too! ;)

***

With the recent demise of Altamont Books, it has fallen to Book Oasis to handle new book orders. I have begun to order new books, and will have a quantity of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince in the shop on 7/16. Those who wish to place their orders may do so now.

I'm also investigating the possibility of doing orders of new books on a limited basis--testing the waters, really. Before making the investment, it's important to see whether you--my customers--would feel comfortable coming to me for New books. New books represent an entirely different market, and the capital outlay is quite large; therefore, I think it's best to proceed with caution.

So, if you have a new book want, feel free to give me a call. I'd be happy to order your book.


Larry Burdick on 07.11.05 @ 12:19 PM PST [link]