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Find out more about Jo Rowling's Awards
Joanne (Jo) Rowling has won a gazillion awards for the Harry Potter novels. Do you think she should win the Nobel Prize in Literature? Vote in my poll below. (And find out about some of the other awards she has won.)
Update: The Swedish Academy for the Nobel Prize in Literature invites people to nominate candidates. Since I am unlikely to get an invitation, our only hope to get Rowling nominated is to create enough publicity so the people that do at least consider her...
Table of Contents
Timeline Part I
Here is the timeline related to the Harry Potter publications and awards. This list is quite a bit longer than I expected... Maybe I'll take out the part about the asteroid!I've decided to break it into three parts. Part I includes the dates related to Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone.
Sources:
Wikipedia
JKRowling.net
The Harry Potter Lexicon
- 1990 While on a crowded train the idea for Harry Potter comes to Rowling.
- 1995 She completes Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. Christopher Little Literary Agents agrees to represent her. Twelve publishers turn her down.
- August 1996 Bloomsbury agrees to publish. The editor Barry Cunningham advises Rowling to get a day job since children's authors don't make much money.
- 1997 Scholastic Inc. pays $105,000 to publish in the US.
- June 1997 Bloomsbury publishes Philosopher's Stone with an initial print-run of one thousand copies.
- November 1997 Philosopher's Stone wins the Nestlé Smarties Book Prize.
- February 1998 Philosopher's Stone wins the Children's Book of the Year Award at the prestigious British Book Awards.
- June 1998 Philosopher's Stone wins the Children's Book Award.
The Nestlé Smarties Book Prize
One of the first awards given to Rowling was the Nestle Smarties Book Prize. (Yes, it is the candy company and it does refer to the Smarties candy.)
You can find out more about the prize at the Booktrusted website or at the Wikipedia article included here.
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Wikipedia Article
The 'Nestlé Childrens Book Prize, also known as the Nestlé Smarties Book Prize', was an annual award given to children's books written in the previous year by a UK citizen or resident. The prize was administered by Booktrust, an independent charity which promotes books and reading, and sponsored by Nestlé, manufacturer of Smarties. It was one of the most respected and prestigious prizes for children's literature.
The prize was discontinued in 2008 by what was described as a "mutual" decision from Booktrust and Nestlé, with "no hostility". Explaining their reasons for this decision, Booktrust stated it had "been reviewing the organisation's priorities and how prizes and awards fit in with its strategic objectives", while Nestlé was "increasingly moving its community support towards the company strategy of nutrition, health and wellness." Additionally, they said that it was a "natural time to conclude" and that were "confident that increased importance has been placed on children's books."
The shortlist for the award was chosen by a panel of adult judges, and schoolchildren across the UK would then vote on the first, second and third place winners.
Timeline Part II
The second timeline relates to the books up to Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.- July 1998 Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets is published by Bloomsbury and goes straight into the no.1 slot in BookTrack bestseller list.
- October 1998 Scholastic publishes Philosopher's Stone in the US under the title of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone.
- December 1998 Chamber of Secrets wins the Nestlé Smarties Gold Award. Rowling becomes the first author to win it two years in a row.
- April 1999 Rowling wins The Booksellers Association Author of the Year Award.
- June 1999 Chamber of Secrets wins one of the inaugural Scottish Arts Council Children's Book Awards.
- 8th July 1999 Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban is published by Bloomsbury. It becomes the fastest selling book, with 64,000 being sold in the first 3 days.
- December 1999 Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban wins the Nestlé Smarties Gold Award. Rowling receives a special certificate to celebrate her winning of it three years in a row.
- January 2000 Prisoner of Azkaban wins the Whitbread Children's Book of the Year award.
- May 2000 Rowling wins the The Booksellers Association Author of the Year Award for the second year in a row.
- June 2000 Queen Elizabeth II makes Rowling an officer of the Order of the British Empire.
- 8th July 2000 Publication date of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. The book breaks all records to become the fastest selling book ever.
- July 2000, the University of Exeter (of which Rowling is a graduate) awards her an honorary DLitt degree.
- 2000 Wins Author of the Year from the Galaxy British Book Awards
- May 2001 Goblet of Fire wins Scottish Arts Council Book Award.
- June 2001 Goblet of Fire awarded the 2001 Children's Book Award.
British Book Awards
The Galaxy British Book Awards are referred to as the "Oscars of the book trade." Find out more at their website or here:
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Wikipedia Article
The British Book Awards are given annually and promoted by the UK publishing industry trade journal Publishing News. They are also known as the Nibbies because of the golden nib-shaped trophy given to winners.
Timeline Part III
Here is the rest of the timeline. (It is missing a few dates. Watch for updates.)- 21st June 2003 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix published in the UK and US.
- July 2003 James Downey starts a campaign to nominate Jo for a Nobel Prize. Responses can be read here.
- April 2006 The asteroid (43844) Rowling named in her honour.
- June 2006 The British public name Rowling "the greatest living British writer" in a poll by The Book Magazine.
- July 2006 Rowling receives a Doctor of Laws (LLD) honorary degree from University of Aberdeen for her "significant contribution to many charitable causes" and "her many contributions to society".
- 1 February 2007 Rowling writes on a bust in her hotel room at the Balmoral Hotel in Edinburgh that she had completed the seventh book in that room on 11 January 2007.
- July 21, 2007 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is released and becomes the fastest-selling book of all time.
The Nobel Prize in Literature
Should Rowling win the Nobel Prize? Here is some information about the prize from Wikipedia.
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Wikipedia Article
The Nobel Prize in Literature (Swedish: Nobelpriset i litteratur) is awarded annually, since 1901, to an author from any country who has, in the words from the will of Alfred Nobel, produced "the most outstanding work of an idealistic tendency" (original Swedish: den som inom litteraturen har producerat det utmärktaste i idealisk riktning). The "work" in this case refers to an author's work as a whole, though individual works are sometimes also cited. The Swedish Academy decides who, if anyone, will receive the prize in any given year and announces the name of the chosen laureate in early October.
Nobel's choice of emphasis on "idealistic" or "ideal" (in English translation) in his criteria for the Nobel Prize in Literature has led to recurrent controversy. (In the original Swedish, the word idealisk can be translated as either "idealistic" or "ideal".) In the early twentieth century, the Nobel Committee interpreted the intent of the will strictly and did not award certain world-renowned authors of the time such as Leo Tolstoy, Henrik Ibsen and Henry James. More recently, the wording has been interpreted more liberally, and the Prize is awarded both for lasting literary merit and for evidence of consistent idealism on some significant level, most recently a kind of idealism championing human rights on a broad scale, and hence more political, some would argue.
"The highlight of the Nobel Prize Award Ceremony in Stockholm is when each Nobel Laureate steps forward to receive the prize from the hands of His Majesty the King of Sweden. ... Under the eyes of a watching world, the Nobel Laureate receives three things: a diploma, a medal and a document confirming the prize amount" ("What the Nobel Laureates Receive"). In 2007 the Nobel Prize in Literature was awarded to Doris Lessing, an English citizen of the United Kingdom, cited as "that epicist of the female experience, who with scepticism, fire and visionary power has subjected a divided civilisation to scrutiny"; she receives a prize amount of 10,000,000 SEK (slightly more than ?1 million, or US$1.4 million).
The Swedish Academy has attracted significant criticism in recent years. Some contend that many well-known writers have not been awarded the prize or even been nominated, whereas others contend that others, who are already well known, do not deserve it. There have also been controversies involving alleged political interests relating to the nomination process and ultimate selection of some of the recent literary Laureates.
Jo Rowling: Future Nobel Prize Winner?
The Swedish Academy pays no attention to polls. But it's still fun to take them...
You Can Help!
1) Tell your friends about this site. Blog about it.
2) Raise the issue with your English Professors. Tell them why Jo should win.
3) Post a comment in the next module with your best reasons why she should win.
4) Make a blog entry stating why she should win.
5) Write a letter to the editor, etc.
6) (My opinion) DO NOT write the Swedish Academy nominating her.
They invite people to make nominations. I believe a million unsolicited letters would only annoy them. The key is to create enough publicity so the people that do get an invitation will consider her.
Inventas vitam juvat excoluisse per artes
Why Should Rowling Win?
The medal for the Nobel Prize in Literature says:
Inventas vitam juvat excoluisse per artes
which loosely translated is:
"And they who bettered life on earth by their newly found mastery."
Knowing this, why do you think Rowling should win the Nobel Prize?
Note: Mr. Hedman reserves the right to remove inane comments.
New Note: I thought it was obvious... I am NOT Jo Rowling, nor have I met or corresponded with her in any way.
JK is the best!! She's awesome and I don't believe people say she's not a good writer! SHE'S THE BEST EVER!!
She wrote the most popular story for kids of all time!! I just found a list and she is now the 2nd richest woman in the world for doing this!! Check it out at http://www.weshow.com/top10/en/
Posted July 09, 2008
SHE SHOULD GET NOBEL PRIZE MODERN CHILDREN LITERACY, ACTUALLY NOT ONLY CHILDREN BUT PEOPLE OF ALL AGES WHO KNOW THE DELIGHTS OF HARRY POTTER STORIES WILL WISH HER TO GET THE PRIZE
Posted June 18, 2008
oh ya!!! any author that can get millions of kids to read their series are worthy of the nobel peace prize!!! if she doesn't get it who will?!?!?!
Posted May 19, 2008
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samanthablack01
I thoroughly enjoyed J. Rowling's Harry Potter books. She deserves a Nobel Prize in Literature for a captivating action-fantasy book series! Posted April 25, 2008 |
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Karendelac
An easy 5 stars. Posted April 17, 2008 |
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spirituality
Loved the whole Harry Potter series, but before she gets nominated for the Noble Prize - lets see what else she can come up with. Posted April 02, 2008 |
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RinchenChodron
I love Joanne (Jo) Rowling's Harry Potter Series - very Buddhist actually. Posted January 19, 2008 |
J.k Rowling's books are amazing, i couldn't put them down. She Deserves the award.
Posted December 11, 2007
JK. inspired me to become an author. I am working hard to be an author. I had my first story published when I was 11 in AN ANTHOLOGY OF SHORT STORIES BY YOUNG AMERICANS,and now I'm working on another. I want her email address so I can ask her opinon on my story and tips on getting my story published
Posted November 14, 2007
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Debs
Great lens...very moving dedication at the end. Posted October 13, 2007 |
Rowling News
Here is the latest news about Jo Rowling from HPANA.
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byOther Harry Potter Lenses
Here are some of the other lenses I've made about Harry Potter.-
Severus Snape: The Good, the Bad and the Bizarre
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Professor Snape is one of the most enigmatic characters in the Harry Potter series. Here are links to the best essays, editorials and theories about the character we love to hate. New Feature: You can now vote for your favorite theories a...
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Harry Potter Fan Art
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Here are some samples and links to some of the best Harry Potter Fan-Art. This sketch of a young Harry Potter, based on Daniel Radcliffe, was made by Lisa. Scroll down to see more of Lisa's work as well as other artists. Please let me know, in...
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What to Read after Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
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Don't Despair! There are other great novels as well as some interesting non-fiction. Click links or scroll down to learn more. Update: Near the bottom, I've added a link to my new lens about JKRowling. Be sure and vote whether you th...
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Harry Potter Music
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The Order of the Phoenix Soundtrack is now available!!! Listen to samples here. (And vote for your favorites.) Get the full soundtrack in stores now or scroll down to get it from Amazon. Nicholas Hooper composed the music. Find out more about him...
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Harry Potter Gifts
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What do you buy the Harry Potter fan who has everything? Here are some ideas.
Disclaimer
All copyrights and trademarks for the Harry Potter characters, names, and all other related stuff are owned by J. K. Rowling and the very nice people at Warner Bros.
Dedication
In her memory I make a monthly donation to Room to Read from the proceeds from my Harry Potter lenses.
