Case Closed: 'Robert Galbraith' Leak Found -- First editions of "The Cuckoo's Calling" fetch big money

Shelf Awareness

London law firm Russells Solicitors issued a public apology for leaking J.K. Rowling's identity as the real author of Robert Galbraith's The Cuckoo's Calling, the Bookseller reported. In a statement, the law firm apologized "unreservedly for the disclosure caused by one of our partners, Chris Gossage, in revealing to his wife's best friend, Judith Callegari, during a private conversation that the true identity of Robert Galbraith was in fact J.K. Rowling.

"Whilst accepting his own culpability, the disclosure was made in confidence to someone he trusted implicitly. On becoming aware of the circumstances, we immediately notified J.K. Rowling's agent. We can confirm that this leak was not part of any marketing plan and that neither J.K. Rowling, her agent nor publishers were in any way involved."

Rowling noted that "a tiny number of people knew my pseudonym and it has not been pleasant to wonder for days how a woman whom I had never heard of prior to Sunday night could have found out something that many of my oldest friends did not know. To say that I am disappointed is an understatement. I had assumed that I could expect total confidentiality from Russells, a reputable professional firm and I feel very angry that my trust turned out to be misplaced."

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AbeBooks reported that the most expensive copy of The Cuckoo's Calling sold this week was a Robert Galbraith-signed first edition for $4,453. Two unsigned first editions sold for $907 each. Three other first editions have also sold for prices in excess of $500 this week. One more signed copy is still available on the site for more than $6,100. AbeBooks had not sold a single copy of this book before the weekend.


While over at Publishers Lunch:

Gailbraithgate: Rowling's Attorney's Wife's Best Friend Did It

It was a rare defeat for the cynics, as JK Rowling's London law firm admitted that one of their partners was responsible for the unmasking of the famous author as the creator of Robert Galbraith's THE CUCKOO'S CALLING. The firm said in statement: "We, Russells Solicitors, apologise unreservedly for the disclosure caused by one of our partners, Chris Gossage, in revealing to his wife’s best friend, Judith Callegari, during a private conversation that the true identity of Robert Galbraith was in fact JK Rowling."

But their apology isn't really unreserved, since it goes on to pretend that there are reasonable circumstances in which a paid legal advisor can elect to casually share a client's well-protected secret: "Whilst accepting his own culpability, the disclosure was made in confidence to someone he trusted implicitly. On becoming aware of the circumstances, we immediately notified JK Rowling's agent.  We can confirm that this leak was not part of any marketing plan and that neither JK Rowling, her agent nor publishers were in any way involved." Gossage has been the head of the firm's corporate department.

In her own statement, Rowling underscored: "To say that I am disappointed is an understatement. I had assumed that I could expect total confidentiality from Russells, a reputable professional firm and I feel very angry that my trust turned out to be misplaced." She also remarked, "A tiny number of people knew my pseudonym and it has not been pleasant to wonder for days how a woman whom I had never heard of prior to Sunday night could have found out something that many of my oldest friends did not know."