Hachette New Zealand and Little, Brown Book
Group announces the publication of an illustrated edition of J.K. Rowling’s 2008 Harvard Commencement speech, Very Good
Lives: The Fringe Benefits of Failure and the Importance of Imagination
(hardback; $24.99). The book will be illustrated by Joel
Holland and will be published worldwide in the English language on 14th
April 2015.
About the book:
In 2008, J.K. Rowling delivered a deeply affecting
commencement speech at Harvard University. Now published for the first time in
book form, Very Good Lives offers J.K. Rowling’s words of wisdom for
anyone at a turning point in life, asking the profound and provocative
questions: How can we embrace failure? And how can we use our imagination to
better both ourselves and others?
Drawing from stories of her own post-graduate
years, the world-famous author addresses some of life’s most important issues
with acuity and emotional force.
Sales of Very Good Lives will benefit
Lumos, a charity organisation founded by J.K. Rowling, which works to transform
the lives of disadvantaged children, and university-wide
financial aid at Harvard University.
Harvard President Drew Gilpin Faust said, “I
have heard and read many commencement speeches, none more moving and memorable
than J.K. Rowling’s. Years after her visit to Harvard, people still talk
about it—and still find inspiration in her singular evocation of the idea that
living a meaningful life so often means daring to risk failure. What a
powerful example she embodies, and what a remarkable gift her speech was, and
is, for all of us privileged to hear it then—and to read it now.”
About the author:
J.K. Rowling is the author of the
bestselling Harry Potter series of seven books, published between 1997 and
2007, which have sold over 450 million copies worldwide, are distributed in
more than 200 territories, are translated into 77 languages, and have been
turned into eight blockbuster films. She has also written two small volumes,
which appear as the titles of Harry’s schoolbooks within the novels:
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them and Quidditch Through the Ages
were published by Bloomsbury Children’s Books in March 2001 in aid of Comic
Relief. In December 2008, The Tales of Beedle the Bard was published in
aid of the Children’s High Level Group (now known as Lumos) and quickly became
the fastest-selling book of the year. Her first novel for adult readers, The
Casual Vacancy, was published in September 2012 and her first two crime
novels, written under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith, were published in 2013
and 2014 respectively.
As well as an OBE for services to
children’s literature, J.K. Rowling is the recipient of numerous awards and
honorary degrees, including the Prince of Asturias Award for Concord, France’s
Légion d’Honneur, and the Hans Christian Andersen Award. She supports a wide
number of charitable causes through her charitable trust Volant, as well as
being the founder and President of the children’s charity, Lumos, which works
to end the institutionalisation
of children globally and ensure all children grow up in a safe and caring
environment.
· J.K. Rowling’s
Harvard commencement speech can be viewed online:
- 10% of J.K. Rowling’s proceeds from the sales of the book will be
donated to university-wide financial aid at Harvard University and 90% of
J.K. Rowling’s proceeds from the sales will be donated to Lumos.
Little, Brown Book Group (UK) and Little, Brown & Company (US) are
also making a donation to Lumos.
- Click here for more information about Lumos.
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