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Updated: 2002-10-14 01:00

Publishers Hail Harry Potter and Jesus Christ (2002/10/14)

出版业遭遇寒冬 耶酥基督与哈里·波特挽狂澜(2002/10/14)

Publishers Hail Harry Potter and Jesus ChristPublishers hailed Jesus Christ and Harry Potter on Tuesday as saviors of their industry in tough economic times.

The search for spiritual sustenance after last year's September 11 attacks has boosted the profits of religious publishers while children have demonstrated an insatiable appetite for the exploits of a boy wizard.

With the industry hit by the current global downturn, the number of companies attending this year's Frankfurt Book Fair has dropped four percent -- but there are still 6,375 exhibitors from 110 countries.

Spiritual advice was in demand, Dr. Hubertus Schenkel, chairman of the fair's supervisory board said, particularly in the United States. "Especially after the attacks of September 11, religious publishers around the world have been able to make gains."

"Anything to do with trying to understand the meaning of life is also doing well -- from the Bible to esotericism and psychology and including how-to guides on keeping the peace in the family," he added.

In a media age where so many children's lives are dominated by Pokemon and PlayStation, the industry lauded author J.K. Rowling (the author of Harry Potter)for re-introducing kids to the joys of reading.

"And just how much the market is waiting for Harry Potter was revealed by the reaction when author Joanne Rowling hit the headlines in September with reports of her pregnancy and that she had almost finished number five in the series," Schenkel said.

He forecast that publishing companies will in future depend even more on the pulling power of their best-selling authors.

Book Fair Director Volker Neumann, bemoaning the slight drop in companies attending, said: "We are going through difficult times -- but we are confident that after this decline, things will be better again this year."

(Agencies)

在经济形势较为严峻的今天,所有的出版商都由衷地感谢两位拯救了他们的英雄--耶酥基督和哈里·波特。

遭受了"9·11"的痛苦以后,大人们纷纷把目光转向宗教类书籍,想要从中寻求精神的寄托,而孩子们则表现出了对魔法世界冒险的无穷渴望。这些,都为出版商带来了巨大的收益。

由于全球经济正处于低迷时期,图书出版业也迎来了严冬。参加今年法兰克福图书博览会的公司数目就比去年减少了百分之四,不过届时仍将有来自110个国家的6375家公司前来参展。

博览会监事会主席休伯特斯·申克尔认为,目前人们广泛需求的是一种精神支柱,尤其是在美国。"特别是在'9·11'之后,全世界宗教类书籍的出版商都可以凭这个获利。"

Publishers Hail Harry Potter and Jesus Christ他还说,"除此以外,只要是关于理解生活真谛的书,--不论是圣经,还是神秘主义、心理学,乃至如何维持家庭和睦的书籍,销量都很好。"

今天的传媒时代,孩子的童年被掌上游戏机和游戏网站所充斥着。由此才更显得《哈里·波特》系列丛书的作者J.K.罗琳是多么功不可没,是她帮孩子找回了阅读的乐趣。

申克尔说:"如果想知道市场对《哈里·波特》的期望值有多高,只要看一看9月罗琳怀孕和她快写完丛书第五部的消息传出时,媒体铺天盖地的宣传和读者对此的关切程度就可以了解了。"

他还预言说,接下来的日子里,出版公司还将继续依靠畅销书作家来赢得市场,走出困境。

图书博览会负责人弗尔克·诺意曼则抱怨着参加此次博览会的公司数量的下降。他说:"我们目前正处在困境之中,但我们仍然抱着这样的信念:这一年在衰退过后,一切又会重新好起来的。"

(中国日报网站译)

 
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