Product Launch

Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
21 December 2004



The following announcement is being made by Bloomsbury Publishing Plc:





    RELEASE EMBARGOED UNTIL 12 NOON LONDON TIME, TUESDAY 21ST DECEMBER, 2004



             J.K. ROWLING'S HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE

  TO BE PUBLISHED ON 16th JULY, 2005 IN THE UNITED KINGDOM, THE UNITED STATES,

                CANADA, AUSTRALIA, NEW ZEALAND AND SOUTH AFRICA







LONDON, ENGLAND: NEW YORK, NY, USA: 12 noon London, 21st December, 2004

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, by J.K. Rowling, the sixth in the
bestselling series, has been scheduled for publication on 16th July, 2005 in the
United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South
Africa, it was announced today by Bloomsbury and Scholastic, her British and
American publishers.  On her website, www.jkrowling.com, J.K. Rowling announced
last night that she had completed the book and delivered the manuscript to her
two English language publishers.



In making the joint announcement, Nigel Newton, Chief Executive of Bloomsbury
Publishing in the United Kingdom and Barbara Marcus, President of Scholastic
Children's Books in the United States, said:  'We are delighted to announce the
publication date.  J.K. Rowling has written a brilliant story that will dazzle
her fans in a marvellous book that takes the series to yet greater heights.
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince delivers all the excitement and wonder of
her bestselling Harry Potter novels.'



In the previous book, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, the last
chapter, titled 'The Second War Begins,' started:



'In a brief statement on Friday night, Minister for Magic Cornelius Fudge
confirmed that He Who Must Not Be Named has returned to this country and is once
more active.



'It is with great regret that I must confirm that the wizard styling himself
Lord - well, you know who I mean - is alive and among us again,' said Fudge.'



Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince takes up the story of Harry Potter's
sixth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry at this point as
Voldemort's power and followers are increasing day by day, in the midst of this
battle of good and evil.



The author has already said that the Half-Blood Prince is neither Harry nor
Voldemort.  Intriguingly, the opening chapter of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood
Prince has been brewing in J.K. Rowling's mind for 13 years.



Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, J.K. Rowling's fifth Harry Potter
book, was released on 21st June, 2003, and was the fastest-selling book in
history on the first weekend of its publication.  All five Harry Potter books,
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Harry Potter and the Chamber of
Secrets, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Harry Potter and the Goblet
of Fire, as well as Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, have all been
Number One bestsellers in the United Kingdom, the United States and around the
world.



Bloomsbury will be publishing their standard children's hardback edition (ISBN
0747581088) and in addition an adult hardback edition (ISBN 074758110X), (the
same text but with a different jacket) at the same time and both editions have a
Recommended Retail Price of £16.99.



Sale of the book in all time zones preceding the United Kingdom is embargoed
until 00:01 am BST (British Summer Time) on Saturday 16th July, 2005.





For further information please contact:

Lucy Holden       - 020 7494 6055   or [e-mail]

Katie Bond         - 020 7494 6012   or [e-mail]

See also www.bloomsbury.com/harrypotter/news



Financial Journalists please contact:

Tim Spratt/Charlie Palmer at Financial Dynamics

Tel:      [phone] or [e-mail]


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