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The man who first published Harry Potter

In 1996 after many rejections struggling author JK Rowling finds a publisher for her first Harry Potter novel. We hear from the man who spotted the boy wizard's potential.

In 1996, after many rejections, author JK Rowling at last finds a publisher for her first Harry Potter novel. Louise Hidalgo hears from editor, Barry Cunningham, who spotted the boy wizard's potential and helped create a phenomenon that would revolutionise childrens' book publishing, selling more than 450 million copies.

Picture: author JK Rowling holds the sixth and penultimate Harry Potter book, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. (Credit: AP)
Audio recording Β© J.K. Rowling

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9 minutes

Last on

Tue 11 Feb 2020 13:50GMT

Broadcasts

  • Tue 11 Feb 2020 08:50GMT
  • Tue 11 Feb 2020 13:50GMT

Podcast