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| JK Rowling is expecting her third child next
year |
The sixth Harry Potter book will hit the shops on 16 July next year, it
has been announced.
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince will be
published simultaneously
in the UK, the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.
Author JK Rowling revealed on Tuesday she had completed the novel after
originally saying she would announce details on Christmas Day.
The new book is sure to spark a frenzy among fans of the teenage
wizard.
The release date for Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince was
revealed by Rowling's UK publisher Bloomsbury.
Their shares surged 7% to a new all-time high of ￡2.94 after Rowling
revealed she had completed the novel.
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince takes up the story of Harry
Potter's sixth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry as Lord
Voldemort grows stronger.
Rowling has already revealed that the Half-Blood Prince is neither
Harry nor Voldemort.
And she added that the opening chapter of the book
has been brewing
in her mind for 13 years.
In a statement, Nigel Newton, chief executive of Bloomsbury in the UK
and Barbara Marcus, president of Scholastic Children's Books in the US,
said: "JK Rowling has written a brilliant story that will dazzle her fans
in a marvellous book that takes the series to yet greater heights.
"Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince delivers all the excitement and
wonder of her bestselling Harry Potter novels."
(Agencies) | 
Updated: 2004-12-22 09:25