[HPFGU-OTChatter] Ordering UK version to be sent to US - advice?

[Tim Regan]

Hi All,

Ali answered Michelle:
>>> just to be totally obvious, there are differences between the US & UK
versions, but as Steve says, the differences are much less in the later
books than the older ones <<<

Generally that's true. I think the publishers have realised that there is an
appetite from their American readers for the books' Britishisms. But for me
the most significant difference comes in "Harry Potter and the Half Blood
Prince". A bunch of us pored over it the day before Accio 2005 opened in
Reading. Here are the two passages. 

First the UK:

'Come over to the right side, Draco, and we can hide you more completely
than you can possibly imagine. What is more, I can send members of the Order
to your mother tonight to hide her likewise. Your father is safe at the
moment in Azkaban...when the time comes, we can protect him too... come over
to the right side, Draco...you are not a killer...'

Now the USA:

'Come over to the right side, Draco, and we can hide you more completely
than you can possibly imagine. What is more, I can send members of the Order
to your mother tonight to hide her likewise. Nobody would be surprised that
you had died in your attempt to kill me -- forgive me, but Lord Voldemort
probably expects it. Nor would the Death Eaters be surprised that we had
captured and killed your mother -- it is what they would do themselves,
after all. Your father is safe at the moment in Azkaban...when the time
comes, we can protect him too. Come over to the right side, Draco...you are
not a killer...'

The significance (IMHO) is the clause "nor would the Death Eaters be
surprised that we had captured and killed your mother". I'm clinging to the
idea that none of the Order have been seen to kill (except dear old Snape),
and that this is an important part of their credo (i.e. the chance of
redemption). The American version rather suggests that killing on both sides
is commonplace.

Cheers,

Dumbledad.

PS Is there a rule about being too on-topic for OTChatter? Just in case I'll
insert some random news. My daughter Meg was 14 on Saturday, boy I'm feeling
old. We had 11 girls round for a sleepover and it ain't a big house!


	
	
		
___________________________________________________________ 
All new Yahoo! Mail "The new Interface is stunning in its simplicity and ease of use." - PC Magazine 
http://uk.docs.yahoo.com/nowyoucan.html