Harry Potter (Book 5) UK版: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix [Adult Edition] [ハードカバー]

   ホグワーツ魔法魔術学校5年目の新学期を目の前にして、15歳のハリー・ポッターは思春期のまっただ中にいる。なにかというとかんしゃくを起こしたり、やつれそうなほどの恋わずらいをしたり、強烈な反抗心でいっぱいになったり。鼻持ちならないダーズリー一家と過ごす夏は、相変わらず腹の立つことばかりで退屈きわまりなく、しかもこの休み中は、マグルでない級友たちと連絡をとる機会がほとんどなかった。ハリーはとりわけ、魔法界からなんの知らせもないことにいらついていた。復活したばかりの邪悪なヴォルデモート卿がいつ襲ってくるかと、気が気ではなかった。ホグワーツに戻れば安心できるのに…でも、本当にそうだろうか？

   J・K・ローリング著「ハリー・ポッター」シリーズの5作目は、前の年に経験した一連のできごとのあとすっかり自信を失った若い魔法使いハリーにとって、大きな試練となる1年間を描いている。ハリーが3大魔法学校対抗試合でヴォルデモートと痛ましくも勇敢に対決した事件は、どういうわけか、夏のあいだに広まったうわさ話（たいていの場合、うわさ話の大もとは魔法界の新聞「日刊予言者新聞」だ）では、彼をあざ笑い、過小評価するネタになっていた。魔法学校校長のダンブルドア教授までが、ヴォルデモートがよみがえったという恐ろしい真実を公式に認めようとしない魔法省の取り調べを受けることになった。ここで登場するのが、忌まわしいことこのうえない新キャラクター、ドロレス・アンブリッジだ。ヒキガエルを思わせる容姿に、間の抜けた作り笑い（「ヘム、ヘム（hem, hem）」と笑う）が特徴のアンブリッジは、魔法省の上級次官で、空きになっていた闇の魔術に対する防衛術の教授職に就任したのだ。そして、たちまちのうちに魔法学校のうるさいお目付け役となった。ハリーの学校生活は困難になるばかり。5年生は普通魔法使いレベル試験の準備のために、ものすごい科目数をこなさなければならず、グリフィンドールのクィディッチ・チームでは手痛いメンバー変更があり、長い廊下と閉じたドアが出てくる鮮明な夢に悩まされ、稲妻型の傷の痛みはどんどんひどくなり…ハリーがいかに立ち直れるかが、いま厳しく試されているのだ。

 『Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix』は、シリーズ前4作のどれより、大人への成長物語という意味あいが強い。これまで尊敬していた大人たちも過ちを犯すことを知り、はっきりしているように見えた善悪の境目が突如としてあいまいになるなかで、ハリーは苦しみながら大人になっていく。純粋無垢な少年、『賢者の石』（原題『Harry Potter and Sorcerer's Stone』）のときのような神童はもういない。そこにいるのは、ときにむっつり不機嫌な顔をして、しばしば悩み惑い（とくに女の子について）、いつも自分に疑問を投げかけてばかりいる若者だ。またもや死に直面し、信じられないような予言まで聞かされたハリーは、ホグワーツでの5年目を終えたとき、心身ともに疲れはて、すっかり暗い気分になっているのだ。いっぽうで、読者は本作でたっぷりエネルギーをもらい、このすばらしい魔法物語シリーズの次回作が出るまでの長い時間を、またじりじりしながら待つことになるだろう。（Emilie Coulter, Amazon.co.uk）
―― このレビューは、同タイトルのHardcoverのレビューから転載されています。

Dumbledore lowered his hands and surveyed Harry through his half-moon glasses. "It is time," he said, for me to tell you what I should have told you five years ago, Harry. Please sit down. I am going to tell you everything."

 ―― 豪華版ならではの特徴

   この布装の豪華版は、フルカラー印刷の見返し、箔押しされた背表紙タイトルというぜいたくな装丁に加え、表面にラミネート加工をほどこしたフルカラー印刷の特製ケース入り。このケースのタイトルも箔押しになっている。何より注目に値するのが、イラストレーター、メアリー・グランプレによる豪華版限定オリジナル・イラスト（標準版のイラストとは別）を使ったカバージャケット。取りはずしができ、額縁に入れて飾るのにもぴったり。ほかではけっして見つからない特別保存版。 --このテキストは、 ハードカバー 版に関連付けられています。

As his fifth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry approaches, 15-year-old Harry Potter is in full-blown adolescence, complete with regular outbursts of rage, a nearly debilitating crush, and the blooming of a powerful sense of rebellion. It's been yet another infuriating and boring summer with the despicable Dursleys, this time with minimal contact from our hero's non-Muggle friends from school. Harry is feeling especially edgy at the lack of news from the magic world, wondering when the freshly revived evil Lord Voldemort will strike. Returning to Hogwarts will be a relief... or will it?

The fifth book in J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series follows the darkest year yet for our young wizard, who finds himself knocked down a peg or three after the events of last year. Somehow, over the summer, gossip (usually traced back to the magic world's newspaper, the Daily Prophet) has turned Harry's tragic and heroic encounter with Voldemort at the Triwizard Tournament into an excuse to ridicule and discount the teen. Even Professor Dumbledore, headmaster of the school, has come under scrutiny by the Ministry of Magic, which refuses to officially acknowledge the terrifying truth that Voldemort is back. Enter a particularly loathsome new character: the toadlike and simpering ("hem, hem") Dolores Umbridge, senior undersecretary to the Minister of Magic, who takes over the vacant position of Defense Against Dark Arts teacher--and in no time manages to become the High Inquisitor of Hogwarts, as well. Life isn't getting any easier for Harry Potter. With an overwhelming course load as the fifth years prepare for their Ordinary Wizarding Levels examinations (O.W.Ls), devastating changes in the Gryffindor Quidditch team lineup, vivid dreams about long hallways and closed doors, and increasing pain in his lightning-shaped scar, Harry's resilience is sorely tested.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, more than any of the four previous novels in the series, is a coming-of-age story. Harry faces the thorny transition into adulthood, when adult heroes are revealed to be fallible, and matters that seemed black-and-white suddenly come out in shades of gray. Gone is the wide-eyed innocent, the whiz kid of Sorcerer's Stone. Here we have an adolescent who's sometimes sullen, often confused (especially about girls), and always self-questioning. Confronting death again, as well as a startling prophecy, Harry ends his year at Hogwarts exhausted and pensive. Readers, on the other hand, will be energized as they enter yet again the long waiting period for the next title in the marvelous, magical series. (Ages 9 and older) --Emilie Coulter
--このテキストは、 CD 版に関連付けられています。

As his fifth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry approaches in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, 15-year-old Harry Potter is in full-blown adolescence, complete with regular outbursts of rage, a nearly debilitating crush, and the blooming of a powerful sense of rebellion. It's been yet another infuriating and boring summer with the despicable Dursleys, this time with minimal contact from our hero's non-Muggle friends from school. Harry is feeling especially edgy at the lack of news from the magic world, wondering when the freshly revived evil Lord Voldemort will strike. Returning to Hogwarts will be a relief or will it?

Book five in JK Rowling's Harry Potter series follows the darkest year yet for our young wizard, who finds himself knocked down a peg or three after the events of last year. Over the summer, gossip (usually traced back to the magic world's newspaper, the Daily Prophet) has turned Harry's tragic and heroic encounter with Voldemort at the Triwizard Tournament into an excuse to ridicule and discount the teenager. Even Professor Dumbledore, headmaster of the school, has come under scrutiny from the Ministry of Magic, which refuses to officially acknowledge the terrifying truth: that Voldemort is back. Enter a particularly loathsome new character: the toad-like and simpering ("hem, hem") Dolores Umbridge, senior undersecretary to the minister of Magic, who takes over the vacant position of defence against dark arts teacher--and in no time manages to become the high inquisitor of Hogwarts. Life isn't getting any easier for Harry Potter. With an overwhelming course load as the fifth years prepare for their examinations, devastating changes in the Gryffindor Quidditch team line-up, vivid dreams about long hallways and closed doors, and increasing pain in his lightning-shaped scar, Harry's resilience is sorely tested.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, more than any of the four previous novels in the series, is a coming-of-age story. Harry faces the thorny transition into adulthood, when adult heroes are revealed to be fallible, and matters that seemed black and white suddenly come out in shades of gray. Gone is the wide-eyed innocent, the whiz kid of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. Here we have an adolescent who's sometimes sullen, often confused (especially about girls), and always self-questioning. Confronting death again, as well as a startling prophecy, Harry ends his year at Hogwarts exhausted and pensive. Readers, on the other hand, will be energised as they enter yet again the long waiting period for the next title in the marvellous magical series. --Emilie Coulter

I say to you all, once again--in the light of
Lord Voldemort's return, we are only as strong
as we are united, as weak as we are divided.
Lord Voldemort's gift for spreading discord and
enmity is very great. We can fight it only by showing
an equally strong bond of friendship and trust.

So spoke Albus Dumbledore at the end of Harry Potter's fourth year at Hogwarts. But as Harry enters his fifth year at wizard school, it seems those bonds have never been more sorely tested. Lord Voldemort's rise has opened a rift in the wizarding world between those who believe the truth about his return, and those who prefer to believe it's all madness and lies--just more trouble from Harry Potter.

Add to this a host of other worries for Harry…
• A Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher with a personality like poisoned honey
• A venomous, disgruntled house-elf
• Ron as keeper of the Gryffindor Quidditch team
• And of course, what every student dreads: end-of-term Ordinary Wizarding Level exams

…and you'd know what Harry faces during the day. But at night it's even worse, because then he dreams of a single door in a silent corridor. And this door is somehow more terrifying than every other nightmare combined.

In the richest installment yet of J. K. Rowling's seven-part story, Harry Potter confronts the unreliability of the very government of the magical world, and the impotence of the authorities at Hogwarts.

Despite this (or perhaps because of it) Harry finds depth and strength in his friends, beyond what even he knew; boundless loyalty and unbearable sacrifice.

Though thick runs the plot (as well as the spine), readers will race through these pages, and leave Hogwarts, like Harry, wishing only for the next train back.
--このテキストは、 CD 版に関連付けられています。

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, by J.K. Rowling, the fifth in the bestselling series has been scheduled for release on Saturday, June 21, 2003.

"We are thrilled to announce the publication date. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is absolutely superb and will delight all J.K. Rowling's fans. She has written a brilliant and utterly compelling new adventure, which begins with the words:

"The hottest day of the summer so far was drawing to a close and a drowsy silence lay over the large, square houses of Privet Drive.... The only person left outside was a teenage boy who was lying flat on his back in a flowerbed outside number four.

"Later in the novel, J.K. Rowling writes:

"Dumbledore lowered his hands and surveyed Harry through his half-moon glasses. 'It is time,' he said 'for me to tell you what I should have told you five years ago, Harry. Please sit down. I am going to tell you everything.'

-Barbara Marcus, President of Scholastic Children's Books in the United States, and Nigel Newton, Chief Executive of Bloomsbury Publishing in Britain

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is over 255,000 words compared with over 191,000 words in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. The new book is 38 chapters long, one more than Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.
--このテキストは、 ハードカバー 版に関連付けられています。

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone was J.K. Rowling's first novel, followed by Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, as well as three books written for charity and inspired by the Harry Potter novels: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, Quidditch Through the Ages and The Tales of Beedle the Bard. The Harry Potter novels have now sold over 400 million copies worldwide and been translated into 70 languages. J.K. Rowling has generated huge popular appeal for her books across the generations in an unprecedented fashion: she was the first children's author to be voted the BA Author of the Year, and also to win the British Book Awards Author of the Year. J.K. Rowling lives with her family in Edinburgh.