blog devoted to CNN International Business anchor, Richard Quest, who looks like a cross between Roger Daltry and a Muppet. You have to see him to believe him...

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Richard's Gone Potty Over Harry Potter

Richard visits a bookstore to report on Pottermania that's taken hold of the world during his "Over There" segment on today's CNN American Morning program.


JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: Harry Potter fans barely able to contain themselves this day, as they count down to the magic moment, 12:01 a.m. tomorrow. That's when "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" will finally be available to the general public.
It's a perfect time to go "Over There" to the birthplace of Harry Potter mania and check with our man, Richard Quest, wizards among Muggles at a London bookstore.

Good morning, my friend. How are you?

RICHARD QUEST, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm in a bookstore, Jack. We've got to keep it down a bit. It's the sort of place where you -- look, I've got a little secret for you! There it is! There it is, an entire box of "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix." And I promise you, it says here, "Not for display or sale until the 21st of June." That is midnight tonight London time.

It is more that my job is worth, and certainly more than yours, for me to open that box and reveal any of the secrets within.

But, 13 million copies of that book have since been printed, distributed around the world, and from New Zealand through Asia right away across Europe, and at midnight tonight that goes on sale. It will make J.K. Rowling one of the wealthiest women on earth worth nearly half-a-billion dollars in all.

CAFFERTY: Just off this one book? Or is that the total take from all of the Harry Potter books? How big a deal is this?

CAFFERTY: This deal is huge. No, that's the total take from all of the books. Anything gets sold some 200 million copies of the editions or copies of the book over the previous four editions. Remember, they are the "Philosopher's Stone," "The Chamber of Secrets," "The Prisoner of Azkaban," and, of course, "The Goblet of Fire." I bet you couldn't have done that so quickly.

If you take all of those together and you put it in the worldwide context, these books have been translated into 55 languages, and they are available just about everywhere on the globe. And that is why the Harry Potter phenomenon is so significant. That is why this is the biggest publishing event in history.

CAFFERTY: Richard?

QUEST: And to put it in full context for you...

CAFFERTY: Richard?

QUEST: ... the full context, context, Jack, this has got nearly more...

CAFFERTY: Richard?

QUEST: ... words than the Bible.

CAFFERTY: Richard, why are you shouting?

ANDY SERWER, "FORTUNE" MAGAZINE: He's in a bookstore. You can't...

CAFFERTY: I thought you were in a bookstore?

SERWER: You can't do that.

CAFFERTY: You're supposed to be quiet.

QUEST: Because it's the one and only chance I'll ever get the chance to shout in a bookstore!


posted by Team at 4:13 PM