Jim Kay spent more time on the Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire Illustrated Edition than he did on any of the books that preceded it, so the wait for the fourth installment was extra long. Here’s what to know about the Goblet of Fire Illustrated Edition, out now!
The cover of the Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire Illustrated Edition is epic!th We see Harry during the Triwizard Tournament fighting the Hungarian Horntail. Order the book here. It clocks in at 464 pages — that’s over 100 pages longer than Prisoner of Azkaban Illustrated.
Despite being the second longest book in the series, the new edition of the book doesn’t feel significantly larger than the Prisoner of Azkaban Illustrated Edition. That’s partly because Goblet of Fire’s font is smaller, and partly because there are less illustrations per page.
In fact, a few chapters of Goblet of Fire go by without a single illustration. It’s a bit disappointing, but illustrator Jim Kay is only one man.
The front-cover illustration bleeds over to the back of the book where you can see Hogwarts Professors watching the action, and what looks like smoke coming off the dragon’s tail.
Several looks inside the book were first released in May, and they’re gorgeous. The Goblet of Fire Illustrated Edition was officially released October 8, 2019 — Order the book now!
A Deluxe Edition of the book, with a cloth cover, foiled slipcase, gilt edges, and an extra sketch of Hogwarts, was also released in the United Kingdom. Pre-orders received a tote bag:
“This new fully illustrated edition of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire brings more breathtaking scenes and unforgettable characters to life – including Cedric Diggory, Fleur Delacour and Mad Eye Moody,” said Bloomsbury. “With paint, pencil and pixels, Kay conjures the wizarding world as we have never seen it before. Fizzing with magic and brimming with humour, this full-colour edition will captivate fans and new readers alike.”
Early on in its development, Kay said that Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire Illustrated Edition would not be released in 2018, as many expected, due to the amount of work involved in illustrating the second-longest book in Rowling’s series.
Kay had added that the wait for the Goblet of Fire Illustrated Edition was going to be worth it. “I’m REALLY enjoying having more time on the Goblet of Fire than previous books,” he wrote in 2017, “so hopefully there will be more to see in the fourth Potter book when it hits the shops in 2019, and I’m having great fun planning it. I want to hide lots of Easter eggs in Goblet, a luxury usually because it takes a lot of planning.”
In a separate post he said that the longer time frame allows “for some well needed breathing room to really plan this and not rush the illustrations. Lots of images and ideas I plan don’t make the books usually because of time, so I’m very pleased to have some extra time.”
If you’re eager to get your hands on more Harry Potter Illustrated Editions, consider the new Beedle the Bard Illustrated Edition (released in 2018) or the Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them Illustrated Edition (released in 2017).
The new Illustrated Editions are must-have’s for Harry Potter fans, as they present the series in an entirely new light. They’re also a great way to introduce new generations of readers to J.K. Rowling’s work.
Goblet of Fire was originally published in July 2000 and was the first book in the series with midnight release parties around the world.
Meanwhile, Kay is already at work on the Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix Illustrated Edition, with a release date expected in 2021.
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