Home
World
Canada
- BC
- Calgary
- Edmonton
- Saskatchewan
- Manitoba
- Thunder Bay
- Sudbury
- Windsor
- Toronto
- Ottawa
- Montreal
- NB
- PEI
- NS
- NL
- North
Politics
Health
Arts & Entertainment
- Music
- Film
- Television
- Books
- Media
- Art & Design
- Theatre
Technology & Science
Money
Consumer Life
Diversions
Weather
Your Voice

Publishers unveil final Harry Potter cover

Last Updated: Wednesday, March 28, 2007 | 10:03 AM ET

CBC Arts

Harry Potter fans are getting a taste of the last instalment of the iconic book series Wednesday with the release of the final title's cover art.

Buzz continues to build as the cover art for the final Harry Potter title was unveiled Wednesday. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows will be released July 21.
(Raincoast Books)

Raincoast Books, the Vancouver-based Canadian publisher of the hit J.K. Rowling series, released its cover images for both the children's and adult edition of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Wednesday morning.

Illustrator Jason Cockcroft, who also created the cover art for the previous two Harry Potter titles, created the image of Harry and his friends Ron and Hermione for Deathly Hallows.

"Harry is waiting in Privet Drive. The Order of the Phoenix is coming to escort him safely away without Voldemort and his supporters knowing — if they can," reads the text on the back cover.

"But what will Harry do then? How can he fulfil the momentous and seemingly impossible task that Professor Dumbledore has left him?"

Photographer Michael Wildsmith provided the image of a locket marked with the letter "S" for the adult edition. He is behind the cover photos for all seven of the adult Harry Potter editions.

These covers will be used on all English-language editions of Deathly Hallows worldwide, with the exception of the U.S., which is published with cover art selected by American publisher Scholastic.

As the July 21 publishing date approaches, buzz amongst fans of the boy wizard tale grows. Rowling's upcoming book has topped many bestseller lists for months, thanks to pre-orders from online book retailers.

Hundreds of events planned

Around the globe, a host of celebrations and a massive promotional campaign are being prepared to mark the final chapter in the coming-of-age tale of young Harry and his evil wizard nemesis, Voldemort.

Photographer Michael Wildsmith is behind the covers of the adult editions of the Harry Potter books, which feature different cover art from the main children's editions.
(Raincoast Books)

Especially important will be events surrounding the opening weekend, Raincoast's marketing vice-president Jamie Broadhurst told CBC Arts Online in a recent interview.

"Unlike any other book, the fans of Harry Potter want the book right away, as quickly as possible," he said.

"The last time, in 2005, [there were] something in the order of 300 events and parties on the opening weekend across Canada. This time, we're expecting probably about 400-plus."

Over the past decade, the first six Harry Potter books have sold more than 325 million copies worldwide and been translated into more than 60 different languages.

Rowling's magical Harry Potter universe has also spawned everything from devoted fan sites online to video games to academically inclined conventions attended by adults who dissect all aspects of the books.

This story is now closed to commenting.

Internal Links

Canadian Harry Potter plans still under wraps for now
Rowling marked the spot where Harry Potter series ended
Final Harry Potter hits shelves in July

More Books Headlines

Residential school story wins $25K kids' book award: Shin-chi's Canoe, a picture book about a little boy leaving home for a residential school, has won the $25,000 TD Canadian Children's Literature Award.
National Gallery looks at bookstore spinoff: The National Gallery of Canada is looking for an outside company to operate its bookstore.
Roth, Banville up for bad sex writing award: Pulitzer Prize winner Philip Roth has earned a nomination for the Bad Sex in Fiction award for a scene in The Humbling involving the seduction of a lesbian by an aging stage actor.
'70s-set New York novel wins U.S. fiction crown: Colum McCann's novel Let the Great World Spin, a portait of interconnected relationships on one summer day in 1970s New York, has won the prestigious fiction prize at the 60th annual U.S. National Book Awards gala.
Bush aide Karl Rove publishing memoir in March: A memoir by Karl Rove, the White House aide who was architect of former president George W. Bush's war on terror, now has a title and a release date.

More Arts Headlines

Pope builds friendships with artists: Pope Benedict XVI met in Rome with more than 250 artists from around the world to foster dialogue between the Roman Catholic Church and the arts.
Driver dies in Miley Cyrus tour bus accident: The driver of a bus on Miley Cyrus's concert tour died on Friday when the bus struck an embankment and overturned in Virginia.
Jackson's fatal drug bought in Vegas: Michael Jackson's personal physician bought the powerful anesthetic propofol in Las Vegas and had it shipped to Los Angeles, according to search warrant records released over objections from the L.A. police.
Travolta family back in the spotlight: John Travolta, his wife Kelly Preston and their daughter Ella Bleu raised $37,500 US for charity at the Friday sneak preview of the Disney comedy Old Dogs in their hometown, Ocala, Fla.
Oprah describes tough decision to end show: An emotional Oprah Winfrey pledged to fans that she would "knock your socks off" with the 25th and final season of her eponymous talk show, set to end in 2011.

Arts Features

Top CBCNews.ca Headlines

Headlines

McCain argues against Afghanistan exit date: U.S. Senator John McCain says military exit dates and exit strategies in Afghanistan should not even be discussed until NATO gets the upper hand in its fight against Taliban militants.
Rocket hits luxury hotel in Afghan capital: At least two people were hurt when a rocket struck a wall of the heavily guarded Serena Hotel in Kabul, the Interior Ministry says.
Disgraced N.S. bishop's replacement named: The Roman Catholic Church has appointed a replacement for Bishop Raymond Lahey, of the Diocese of Antigonish, N.S., who is facing child pornography charges.
Vancouver Island evacuation order lifted: An evacuation order has been lifted for hundreds of south Vancouver Island residents forced from their homes by flooding.
42 dead after China mine blast: At least 42 miners are dead and dozens still trapped underground after a coal mine explosion in northern China early Saturday.