Kate Langenburg/A&E Groove
The Harry Potter series has been one of the most talked about and read series of our recent times. It not only appeals to a younger audience, but has also been known to attract an older age bracket as well. Author J.K. Rowling went from rags to riches when the first book was released, and the success of her novels has brought her much fame. But now, she is being accused of plagiarizing the familiar children’s novels.
J.K. Rowling poses with one of her Harry Potter books.
To get you up to speed, there is similar book entitled The Adventure of Willy the Wizard, which was written by Adrian Jacobs back in 1987. The author of this book is claiming that Rowling took many ideas and large chunks of the book and then included it as a part of her Harry Potter series.
The sections of the book that Jacobs is claiming were plagiarized are wizard contests and wizards traveling on trains. It is true that these things are also present in Harry Potter, but could Rowling really have taken them from Jacob’s book? It seems a little fishy.
According to Reuters, Rowling made the following statements about the accusations:
“I am saddened that yet another claim has been made that I have taken material from another source to write Harry,” Rowling, 44, said in a statement.
“The fact is I had never heard of the author or the book before the first accusation by those connected to the author’s estate in 2004; I have certainly never read the book.”
“The claims that are made are not only unfounded but absurd and I am disappointed that I, and my UK publisher Bloomsbury, are put in a position to have to defend ourselves.”
“We will be applying to the court immediately for a ruling that the claim is without merit and should therefore be dismissed without delay.”
Whatever the outcome of this case, there is no denying that the Harry Potter series has brought much joy to its readers. Fans of the books have been standing up for the author since the claims were made.
http://www.hulu.com/watch/105627/troll <- Notice some similarities? I think you'll get a kick out of the cast as well (Like Sonny Bono). God it's a bad movie
She probably read these books and that is where she got the idea from. She probably didn’t mean to do it, but we really don’t know. The books are good anyway and I like to read them I will have to rea the other book to compare and contrast!