[HPforGrownups] Re: book differences - Wormtail's name

[rosie]

No: HPFGUIDX 40230

Cornflower wrote:

"I only wish Steve would add a Canadian Category to this list, as it 
seems we have another version (Raincoast), which is closer to the 
British. (Thank Goodness, or I'd never have learned the 
word 'haring' or the fact that pudding is really all dessert and not 
just gloppy dessert in England...details which have made my life 
just that touch more meaningful...)"

I am British but I remember how much I used to like reading books with American words in when I was younger and trying to understand what they meant. I have just been listening to the American talking books version (Listening Library) and... it just doesn't sound right... come on, "Curse of the Boogers"? Owl Mail? I also have to say that whoever reads them is nothing on Stephen Fry. Get the Stephen Fry tapes, they're really really good.

I mean, looking that that Lexicon differences list... was it *really* necessary to change "Mummy" to "Mommy"? or "Happy Christmas" to "Merry Christmas"? It sounds as weird to me as reading an American book where all the characters, including the NY taxi driver - sorry cab driver - speak in obscure British public school (sorry, private school) and Lancastrian slang.... 

Incidentally, were any Americans (as a nation) insulted that the American publishers thought no one would buy it if it had the word "Philosopher" on the cover, hence the change to Sorcerer's Stone?
-----------------------

snazzzybird wrote:

"I may not have the 
wording exactly right; don't have the book in front of me - but 
Crouch definitely refers to Pettigrew as "Wormtail".  That wasn't 
his "Death-Eater Name", it was his "Marauder Name".  Why wouldn't 
Crouch call him "Peter" or "Pettigrew"?  Wouldn't he know his real 
name?  Well, possibly Voldemort always called him "Wormtail".  But 
even if so - *why*?"

Do we know what his "DE Name" was? As far as I remember, Voldemort called Pettigrew "Wormtail" all the way through GoF. I always thought it was just because it makes Wormtail sound inferior, like a worm, and it was one of Voldemort's way of keeping him in his place; he could hardly call him "Petey boy" and even "Pettigrew" sounds... wrong. However, I think your interpretation (that JKR wants to keep Pettigrew innocent, Sirius guilty) is more probably correct :)

Rosie








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