Harry Potter Book Six Coming July 16

"Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" by J.K. Rowling, the sixth in the best-selling series, has been scheduled for release on July 16, 2005 in the United States, Britain, Canada and Australia, it was announced today by Scholastic and Bloomsbury, her publishers. On her website, JKRowling.com, J.K. Rowling announced yesterday that she had delivered the manuscript to her publishers.

In making the joint announcement, Barbara Marcus, President of Scholastic Children's Books in the United States, and Nigel Newton, Chief Executive of Bloomsbury Publishing in Britain, said, "We are delighted to announce the publication date. J.K. Rowling has written a brilliant story that will dazzle her fans in a marvelous book that takes the series to yet greater heights. 'Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince' delivers all the excitement and wonder of her best-selling previous Harry Potter novels."

In the fifth and most recent book, "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix," the last chapter, titled "The Second War Begins," started:

'In a brief statement Friday night, Minister of Magic Cornelius Fudge confirmed that He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named has returned to this country and is active once more.

"It is with great regret that I must confirm that the wizard styling himself Lord - well, you know who I mean - is alive among us again," said Fudge.'

"Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" takes up the story of Harry Potter's sixth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry at this point in the midst of the storm of this battle of good and evil.

The author has already said that the Half-Blood Prince is neither Harry nor Voldemort. And most importantly, the opening chapter of "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" has been brewing in J.K. Rowling's mind for 13 years.

"Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix," J.K. Rowling's fifth Harry Potter book, was released on June 21, 2003, and was the fastest-selling book in history on the first weekend of its publication. All five Harry Potter books, "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone," "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets," "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban," "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire," as well as "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix," have been number one bestsellers in the United States, Britain, and around the world.

Scholastic will publish "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" in hardcover under the Arthur A. Levine imprint with interior and cover art by Mary Grand Pre, who has illustrated the previous five books. The price will be $29.99.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, based on the fourth book, is due out in theaters on November 18, 2005, and Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, based on the fifth book, is eyeing a June, 2007 release date.