Harry Potter leads the way as publishing phenomenon sweeps Poland

Last year witnessed a publishing phenomenon in Poland, with top spot on the best sellers' list being occupied throughout the entire twelve months by two authors, Joanne K. Rowling and Helen Fielding. Rowling's four Harry Potter novels sold a combined 2 million in Poland, with nearly 250,000 copies of the fourth volume of the saga snapped up in a single night. In the week after the Polish premiere of the movie of the same name, the book "Bridget Jones' Diary" sold 200,000 copies. The success of the two British writers is especially remarkable in view of the current crisis on the Polish book market. Sales of a new novel rarely exceed 4,500 copies. For most publishers, sales of 100,000 is an unattainable dream. (Rzeczpospolita, p. A1) A.Z.