Fans still infatuated with all things Potter

Harry is back. And all grown up. After the incredible success of Jack Thorne’s theatrical addition to the Potterverse (with J.K Rowling co-writing the story), Harry Potter And The Cursed Child, the play’s rehearsal script, has now landed in book form.

Despite the huge appetite for all things Harry, booksellers around Australia (and the world) were skeptical about whether readers would embrace a play script. Had we reached a peak level of Potter fanaticism?

They needn’t have worried. Upon its release last week, sales in Australia alone were of Hagrid-sized proportions. It had the highest-selling opening three days since – you guessed it – another Harry Potter publication, 2007’s ‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Shallows’, shifting 170,000 units by August 4.

It is clear from these numbers that Harry, even in the form of a middle-aged man, saddled with adult responsibilities, with a wife and a trio of children to boot, still attracts massive interest from readers. Not even the potentially snooty associations of a script book could put people off everyone’s favourite boy (now man) wizard.

Muggles might write him off, but for fans, Harry is still ‘write on’.  Chris Prindiville

‘Harry Potter And The Cursed Child’ Parts One and Two Script Book are available in hardback through Hachette Australia, RRP $45.00.