The Tales of Beedle the Bard

Author: J.K. Rowling

Genre: Fantasty/Young Adult

Originally Published: 4th December 2008

Format: Hardcover (109 pages)

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Synopsis: The Tales of Beedle the Bard, a Wizarding classic, first came to Muggle readers’ attention in the book known as Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Now, thanks to Hermione Granger’s new translation from the ancient runes, we present this stunning edition with an introduction, notes, and illustrations by J. K. Rowling, and extensive commentary by Albus Dumbledore. Never before have Muggles been privy to these richly imaginative tales: “The Wizard and the Hopping Pot,” “The Fountain of Fair Fortune,” “The Warlock’s Hairy Heart,” “Babbitty Rabbitty and Her Cackling Stump,” and of course, “The Tale of the Three Brothers.” But not only are they the equal of fairy tales we now know and love, reading them gives new insight into the world of Harry Potter.

My Rating: ★★★★

If I were to start by saying that I love Harry Potter, that would be an understatement. I have spent over 15 years of my life absolutely and completely in love with everything to do with Harry Potter and the world that J.K. Rowling created. I grew up as one of the Potter generation and it will forever hold an incredibly special place in my heart.

The Tales of Beedle the Bard was a lovely read and I would definitely recommend it to anybody who enjoys the Harry Potter books. It contains five short stories, one of which is The Tale of the Three Brothers from The Deathly Hallows. Each of the stories has a special message in it and it is easy to imagine small witches and wizards being told these stories by their parents, just as us Muggles are told the tales of Goldilocks.

My favourite of the stories is still The Tale of the Three Brothers, not because it was featured in the main novels, but because the message within it is my favourite. The book has lovely little illustrations in it and was a very quick but delightful read.

What did I love most about the book?

My favourite thing about this collection was the way in which J.K. Rowling presented the stories. We read through this collection as if we are reading Dumbledore’s own copy, complete with his commentary on each of the stories. Due to the commentary and footnotes, we also get to learn more about the wizarding world, which is a treat to any Potter fan.

Memorable Quotes

“No man or woman alive, magical or not, has ever escaped some form of injury, whether physical, mental, or emotional. To hurt is as human as to breathe.”

“Clever as I am, I remain just as big a fool as anyone else.”

“The heroes and heroines who triumph in his stories are not those with the most powerful magic, but rather those who demonstrate the most kindness, common sense and ingenuity.”

Final Thoughts

If you love Harry Potter, you will most definitely love this little collection. It once again brings the magic to life and is a lovely touch and addition to the world J.K. Rowling created.

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