Edinburgh conjures up JK honour

Published on Friday 27 June 2008 22:05

JK ROWLING is to be honoured at Edinburgh's most prestigious civic award ceremony since Sean Connery was given the freedom of the capital in 1991, The Scotsman has learned.

The multimillionaire creator of Harry Potter, who famously wrote the first book in a city centre caf, has agreed to accept a new award to honour those "whose outstanding achievements have brought honour to Edinburgh".

The city council's Edinburgh Award will also see Ms Rowling immortalised in a new Hollywood-style walk of fame in the quadrangle outside the City Chambers, where she will leave her handprints.

Scotland's leading literary figures are expected to turn out in force at a gala dinner.

A senior source at the city council said: "It should be a fantastic occasion. We're trying to ensure as many other Edinburgh people who have won major awards over the year will be there so they can share in the occasion."

Sir Sean was awarded the Freedom of Edinburgh before a 1,000-strong audience at the Usher Hall in 1991.

The new award is expected to boost Harry Potter's links to Edinburgh, which are already promoted around the world by VisitScotland.

A spokesman said: "The Harry Potter books were started and finished in Edinburgh and naturally the city attracts a lot of interest from fans around the world."

Ms Rowling was one of several Edinburgh-based writers to front the capital's bid to become the first World City of Literature, which promotes Edinburgh as an inspirational city for writers.

She created the first novel about the schoolboy wizard, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, in a caf in Nicolson Street, while struggling to make ends meet as a single mother.

Harry Potter is now a global brand worth an estimated 7 billion and the last four Harry Potter books have consecutively set records as the fastest-selling books in history.

The series, totalling 4,195 pages, has been translated, in whole or in part, into 65 languages.

Plans for the Edinburgh award were unveiled two years ago by the then Lord Provost Lesley Hinds, when the city council decided to stage an annual ceremony to reflect the contribution of a leading figure from the fields of science, technology, education, arts, business or charity.

Ian Rankin was the first to receive the award last year.

FACT BOX

FRANCE: Such was the clamour to read the fifth book that it became the first English language edition to top the bookseller lists there.

ITALY: Impatient fans organised "Operation Feather", deluging the publisher Salani with feathers (reminiscent of Hogwarts' owls) to demand fast-track publication for the translation of the final book.

AUSTRALIA: A man had to be rescued from a freezing lake after jumping in to retrieve his receipt for a pre-ordered book.

JAPAN: Such is the devotion to the Potter phenomenon that the last film had its world premiere there.