Culture news Harry Potter is invading France to celebrate its 26th anniversary and there are plenty of free gifts for fans to win
Trip to London, free books… Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone is celebrating its 26th anniversary in France and it’s the opportunity to win lots of gifts. Here is everything you need to know about the Harry Potter Book Night organized by Gallimard.
Harry Potter, 26 years of magic in France
In 1998 a book appeared in France that would profoundly impact an entire generation: Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. A year after the release in England, the adventures of the young wizard are revealed to the French public, through Gallimard Jeunesse and the translator Jean-François Ménard. The start of a great adventure which will be published by the publisher in more than 10 editions. As you know, the saga was not only successful in France. Between 1997 (English release date) and 2021, no less than 120 million copies ofHarry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone which were sold. The other volumes are not left out since they have each sold more than 60 million units.
By taking charge of the distribution in France of the saga (first non-English edition at the time), Gallimard found a real goose that laid the golden eggs. Especially since despite the years that have passed, Harry Potter books continue to sell. In 2019, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone was even the best-selling children’s book in France, more than 20 years after its release. Christine Baker from Gallimard Jeunesse was even amused by the endless success of the saga with the Figaro : “Harry doesn’t need anyone, no magic wand or marketing!” Suffice to say that there are reasons to celebrate the release of the first volume of the saga. And this year again, Gallimard is having a blast.
Celebrate the wizarding world with Harry Potter Night of Books
For the tenth year, Gallimard is organizing its Harry Potter Book Night. It will take place from February 1 to 4 and is for the first time independent from the British publisher Bloomsbury (which will organize another event during the fall). This is an event dedicated to the Harry Potter universe organized in several partner bookstores. For fans, it’s an opportunity to participate in all kinds of games and activities around the wizarding world. This time, the theme is: magical places. Through readings, competitions, activities and other activities, you will be able to retrace the steps of the emblematic places of the world of Harry Potter. Kit to recreate, drawing a marauder’s map, going through a maze… The possibilities are numerous and explained in an activity kit for partner event organizers to find here. On this site, you will also find the more than 350 bookstores participating in the event across France and Belgium.
In addition to the different activities, there is above all a competition with a trip to London as a prize. The Great Harry Potter Book Night Tournament will take the form of an official quiz sent to all bookstores that have requested it. In each of them, two winners will win the illustrated book A Year of Magic. Gallimard will, for its part, select 20 particularly deserving bookstores (decorations, animations, costumes, etc.). The winners of these bookstores will then be invited to Paris on June 15 to participate in the Grand Finale (a quiz of 28 questions). Each member of the best team, as you will have understood, will win a trip to London for two people with, of course, two entries for the Harry Potter Studio Tour. Grab your chopsticks, the game is worth it!