J. K. Rowling

J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince will be published on July 16, 2005, in Canada, the United Kingdom, the United States, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, by J.K. Rowling, is the sixth in the bestselling Harry Potter series.

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

"In a brief statement on Friday night, Minister for Magic Cornelius Fudge confirmed that He Who Must Not Be Named has returned to this country and is once more active ... 'It is with great regret that I must confirm that the wizard styling himself Lord - well, you know who I mean - is alive and 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 as Voldemort's power and followers are increasing day by day, in the midst of this battle of good and evil.

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

All five Harry Potter books are available in various editions: Harry Potter and the Philosopher'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.

Raincoast will be simultaneously publishing the standard children's hardback edition (ISBN 0747581088) and an adult hardback edition (ISBN 074758110X). Both editions feature the same text but with different cover artwork.