The man who discovered Harry Potter - BBC News

[@beccas5170]

Imagine being the first child to read Harry Potter.

[@redfooddye8609]

Yeah she lucky

[@HanfM]

Becca S omgomg

[@insertusername4079]

She sure was lucky

[@catherinerobilliard7662]

"I gave the manuscript to my daughter Alice the night I got it and she wouldn't stop reading, so I had to tear it off her the next morning!"

[@VideosOfRandomContext]

Omg I got chills

[@Ice.muffin]

Could you imagine how many other splendid things will never see the light of day because of some publisher's inability to see its true 'potential'?

[@Flip_91FTW]

pissicutza09 I think it's easier now to self publish and get your ideas and projects out there, though.

[@alexandrelot2798]

@@Flip_91FTW i think it depends. In matter of sharing culture and internet, for sure, you can post and publish e-books and whatever it comes to mind. But when it comes in editorial publishing, it has a totally different aproach, because it is a industry. They have to see long term relations to a literature product with actual customers, even if its a e-book at Amazon or at some streaming of literature.

[@user-yf1to2fx9r]

Same could be said about your mother for not aborting you

[@chelsey8737]

Or because it didnt match their own preferences

[@clammyhippo]

Darn publishers having an opinion and trying to profit so they can still be a business

[@katrinav5239]

Thank you for my childhood Mr Cunningham

[@chelsey8737]

For me, the last year and a half

[@ernestlusha5728]

Chelsey Abbott Never too late to start Harry Potter

[@raiyanchowdhury7898]

Katrina V and

[@catherinerobilliard7662]

Harry Potter books didn't give me a wonderful childhood but they did give me an amazing middle age. Thank you Mr Cunningham, and Alice.

[@amritatalukdar4112]

Who's Alice?

[@catherinerobilliard7662]

​@@amritatalukdar4112 "I gave the manuscript to my daughter Alice the night I got it and she wouldn't stop reading, so I had to tear it off her the next morning!"

[@amritatalukdar4112]

@@catherinerobilliard7662 Ah ok. Thanks. Must have missed that...

[@catherinerobilliard7662]

@Interest, Opinions & Everything in Between an excellent age to first read Harry Potter. Every generation has a great new writer, my grandparents had Arthur Conan Doyle , my parents had J R R Tolkien, and at 40 I finally had J K Rowling. I was beginning to dispair.

[@UnknownGunslinger]

He experienced every publisher's dream! To be the first to read a phenomenal book that will move people's hearts, and leave a mark in history.

[@ashishsharma-og4nl]

Blah blah blah... bullshit

[@ashishsharma-og4nl]

Bullshit

[@Fkgomez]

@@ashishsharma-og4nl get out of here with that negativity 🤮

[@somerand0mdude7242]

@@ashishsharma-og4nl if u think it is bullshit then stop commenting

[@fantasyalover4782]

@@ashishsharma-og4nl bitter much? i know that you're also believe that Harry Potter was really a phenomenon, and you just try to deny it. it's really known to more than hundred millions of people.

[@required7928]

This man reminds me of winnie the pooh

[@craighalpin1917]

Oh dear... Perhaps ill go see piglet

[@jasleenkalra9009]

He does!!

[@valeriacortez7003]

Omg yes I can't unsee it 😂😂

[@raiyanchowdhury7898]

Zeg ik Niet 0

[@emilyb4812]

once you see it you can't unsee it

[@originaozz]

Letting his daughter read was the best decision! She understands the magic.

[@joeydebus1329]

I see what you did there 😉

[@deathmaiden]

i’m 31 but i’m literally jealous of this little Alice girl who got to read Harry Potter before any of us!!

[@Paul_Wetor]

And what better test of whether children would like it, or if it was too long? He had the best market research "team" possible: somebody with zero expectations and no pre-conceptions.

[@WordUnheard]

I hope he was rewarded financially, a great amount that he rightfully deserves.

[@japaniamanga3191]

Don't worry about that, because the way it works is that the authors receives maybe 10% or less per sales, while the publisher receives maybe 50% , 70% or something like that... so if Jo became milionnaire, he must be pretty wealthy as well! ;)

[@MarkSmithhhh]

@@japaniamanga3191 she became a billionaire....jes doing just fine

[@markreeter6227]

The real credit for the phenomenon that is HP goes to those first purchasers of the first novel, who fell in love with it then told their friends, who told their friends, etc., etc, and got the proverbial ball rolling (no pun intended).

[@larrymoonlight2786]

What

[@baileyread5873]

No, this is not correct. If it weren’t for the publisher then how would anybody have had the chance to purchase the book in the first place? This man accepted the book because he saw its potential when many other publishers had denied it from being published. Also how is ‘getting the proverbial ball rolling’ a pun? Do you know what a pun is?

[@uhrrrrrangels]

Nope

[@holkangel]

@@baileyread5873 Rolling-Rowling mayhaps? :)

[@fantasyalover4782]

@@baileyread5873 I think he/she meant is how you pronounce JK's last name as sounded like bowling

[@JustSomeLunaticW.OAMustache]

Imagine if he rejected it. Imagine if Rowling gave up. Awww.

[@ComedyLoverGirl]

Imagine how many potential Rowlings there are out there, whose careers ended with that rejection.

[@S33YouInH3ll]

It happens every day.

[@akshan2310]

Dumbledore would still be straight.

[@tdofeldt5742]

well now she's crazy because of the attention but it didn't mess up the harry potter franchise while written at least...

[@JustSomeLunaticW.OAMustache]

There is help, get help later on she'll reveal her true self. *Im not Rowling, im a clone created by the government.* Srsly, I just pretend she's not the one making a fuss these days

[@AmeyaBenare]

Imagine how many such great or even greater books are hidden gems because no publisher could see the potential in them. Thank God Rowling decide to not give up

[@sesetio338]

It's a hard world out there.

[@Will-qv6es]

Why don't more child publishers do stuff like that? Give the books to their children, if they have to rip the manuscript from their hands to take it back, then buy it. Makes things simple 😂

[@birgio1363]

It's a good idea but children are different and prefer different styles of writing and well as different genres

[@reginaldriggins6642]

@S. And that is why it is always wise to give stories a chance.

[@jaymahealinski]

im not even being dramatic when i say that those books saved my life. they are one of the most important part of my childhood.

[@zunoyo1028]

You are being dramatic

[@jaymahealinski]

@@zunoyo1028 well, you know nothing about my life so...

[@kace7993]

@@zunoyo1028 books can be an escape from someone bad real life, most people are captivated into the story and wish they lived in that reality and they love reading to distract them. most people stay incase more books get published or it’s just a case of that the book has genuinely made there life better purely because of how good it is or they’re addicted to the characters and story lines. you know nothing about this persons life don’t assume

[@seanferguson4177]

@@zunoyo1028 no they’re not stfu

[@Celestials1aurora]

I understand you.

[@alexandras.6638]

What he said about what first attracted his attention was the friendship. This is probably my favorite thing in the whole story - the relationship between the characters, their bond. It is special. And Mr Cunningham seems to be a very passionate and cheerful person, it must be fascinating to be around him :)

[@missstirring6063]

I haven't read the books, but I'm still tearing up because I'm so proud of her that she made it in life and her dreams came true!

[@indedgames4359]

Read them ther great.she also writes Detectiv Novels now ther alao Fantastic

[@Raiya_ru17]

@@indedgames4359so true. I’ve been a avid book reader back in the days and I repeatedly read this HP books during school summers since there are no phones or game consoles back then lol. Rowling’s imagination is wild, like how she get to imagine this comprehensive wizarding world is beyond me. I was even astounded how she was able to think ahead or got to connect the last 2 books with her earlier works, especially the Horcruxes and Deathly Hallows. They are so complex and just popped out of nowhere, yet she brilliantly connected those new unheard of stuff in the existing timeline and events. Really crazy brain and imagination, she really is one the great authors of this era, despite her recent controversies. Because I am not a reading nerd like before lol, I am now looking forward to playing Hogwarts Legacy on switch, maybe next year.

[@jarondmello385]

No one: J. K. Rowling : Those 22 publishers were in a intense relationship

[@adarshhaibati6227]

😂😂😂 LMAO

[@shredark7192]

try something new please

[@jarondmello385]

@@shredark7192 Once the meme dies I will...

[@kettenderliebe1662]

Still loving this memes about her saying stuff like this 😂😂

[@kasimotinka123]

I have heard and read that Bloomsbury was the 13th, not the 23rd publisher. But it probably doesn't matter. They were all hopping mad afterwards.

[@amorluna6665]

Bless You for seeing how amazing Harry Potter truly is it's not just a story to us it is so much more it shows us the power of love ,friendship, loyalty everything we need and it's beautiful thank you for Giving us our inspiration and motivation thank you for giving us our childhood

[@overlord606]

Amor Luna Your childhood is a lie Harry Potter books are stolen ideas from Earthsea books by Ursula K. Le Guin.

[@user-qo5eo3ou5t]

Thats actually me talking about taekook

[@raiyanchowdhury7898]

Amor Luna 0

[@fantasyalover4782]

@@overlord606 y'all people are really judgemental, what if she just got inspired by that, there's even some people who's trying to "prove" that she copied Star Wars LoTR etc. when basically all of the fantasy/sci-fi book had the same concept of the story.

[@Carpenterdane]

These books came out just as my granddaughter was getting into reading. I love the fact that her books got children reading again. What a legacy she has left.

[@MissAspka]

What I’d love to see is the scenes inside the offices of the publishers who turned HP down - after they saw it turn into a phenomenon. I’d get popcorn.

[@tippersmami]

i live in the wizarding world every day. thank you.

[@emilyanne1562]

Without Mr Cunningham...we would have never have read JK Rowlings world, and get sucked into the magic.... THANK YOU MR CUNNINGHAM

[@angeloddrev]

I visited the Levesden sets when they first opened, and the introduction explained that every publisher gets a stack of books all the time. And when books are turned down it's because they weren't really read, and the same was happening with Harry Potter. Even with the actual publishers, the book was at the bottom of the pile, but somehow it kept rising to the top. Eventually it got read, and I'm sure that's why it wasn't published before because nobody actually took the time to read. The same happened to Cathryn Cookson.

[@bradclooney69]

@@angeloddrevHe used to let me stroke his big hairy bollocks

[@Khloe_dancer_model]

To be the very FIRST person to read a writers world..omg

[@catherinerobilliard7662]

"I gave the manuscript to my daughter Alice the night I got it and she wouldn't stop reading, so I had to tear it off her the next morning!"

[@NAFUSO1]

I suppose he was technically something like the 40th to read it if 22 publishers and unnumbered agents passed. He was the first to connect with book.

[@dannyjorde2677]

What the fuck matters being the first, you dumbshit?

[@MrGwarpy]

Entire Harry Potter Series: 10 years Winds of Winter: Just shy of 8 years and counting...

[@iongeorge7279]

10 years? BRUH it has been 20 years since the philosopher's stone was released.

[@dhruvlodhi6740]

@@iongeorge7279 you didn't get properly what he said

[@zunoyo1028]

I hope they don't butcher it

[@wiII0204]

@@iongeorge7279 The series took 10 years to write, the winds of winter alone has taken about the same amount of time

[@thelouisfanclub]

a man of taste, judgment, so pure

[@X_a_ic]

I like this dude. He seems like a fun guy

[@jamesjudge3685]

I’m 30 years old and I thank my 6th grade english teacher all the time for making The Sorcerers Stone required reading. One of the best parts of my childhood/teen years!

[@Dousch]

I was shocked when this ended less than 5 minutes in. I could watch this man talk for 5 hours.

[@willlexie]

Thank you, Mr. Barry Cunningham. I'll make sure my future children will tell Harry Potter story to my future grandchildren

[@Kikakowia]

I love that the books are now about as famous in the real world as Harry himself is in the wizarding world.

[@gracey2727]

Imagine how valuable that manuscript must be.

[@frankm.2850]

I think its important that Cunningham points out the friendship. It's incredibly difficult I think for adults to write convincing natural friendships between children because relationship mechanics are so much different between two eleven-year-olds than two forty-year-olds. Another great example of this is the series Stranger Things. While I'm sure it wasn't the conscious reason for most of its original young fan-base (I know it wasn't for me) I think that understanding of childhood friendship was what helped the series connect so deeply with kids.

[@MarkSmithhhh]

He did the best thing he could, GIVE IT TO A KID...thats the target audience and see how they react...any kid that read that book was hooked immediately...his daughter probably read it in a day

[@1stdaughterofcain]

Barry's officially a skinny legend.

[@nairahamdy9992]

This man contributed in the making of an entire culture.

[@_simon.s_]

Finally, a Bloomsbury HP novel! I guess only a few people own that version, including me.

[@Thisworldisagoner]

I bought a Bloomsbury original last December from a second hand bookstore.

[@chl_o.e_r]

Same

[@joshhunt4146]

Simon S. surely everyone who was alive in 1997 owns that version. Haha

[@jordanbentham7680]

The 1st published are worth so so much money now. To the right buyer of course. Mine that i got as a kid was written in by my mum. A happy birthday message in the front cover. No value now thanks mum

[@vintaneja]

Simon S. I do! Original Potter Book Petition?

[@Skittenmeow]

KZbin algorithm May 2019

[@roxierootsxx]

Joanne is a true Hero, not only with a warm heart but also because she stands up for the truth! 💚

[@jachowl4467]

I am blown away that the first book was turned away so much before it was picked up.

[@aimusicvidz]

this was lovely to watch. Thank you for making our childhood so magical.

[@itsaashish]

Thank you, Barry, for your correct decision. This decision shaped the imagination of an entire generation. Much gratitude.

[@tomasroma2333]

The Harry Potter books are very good but I can understand why publishers may have initially rejected it. They had a very different style to child books at the time and they are riddled with plot holes and conveniences. Especially book 1! However, the whole environment and how the characters interact makes you barley notice them.

[@urigeheadmot1196]

What plot hole ?

[@MaggieTheCat01]

Pity the agents and publishers who turned her down. I bet they’re still kicking themselves to this day.

[@clairemarchant6579]

I thought it was an intern or someone who proof read the manuscripts before putting them through to editors, because editors don't read every book that's sent in. So maybe put a little note saying how it's also thanks to that woman for seeing it's potential and passing it on.

[@catherinerobilliard7662]

More than 500 million copies sold as of 2018

[@TheFourWindBadger]

Imagine how the companies and agents that turned down the harry potter books at the beginning, how frustrated they must have been when the money started to pour in!

[@ClaiomSolis]

I was part of the whole mania and it was awesome. Standing in line for the book and finishing it and immediately wanting the other one

[@gwyn4857]

Imagine the publishers who turned the books down and where they are now 😂😂😬

[@kevinreily2529]

Many bestselling writers tell the same sort of tale. Leon Uris told me, at a book event, that 17 publishers turned down his first novel. Steven King constantly admits that he received hundreds of rejection slips for his magazine articles. Once you have the ability to write, and a healthy imagination, the hard part is getting publishers interested. Most people would give up, that's why they never made it. Some people here, are just jealous because they may have wanted to write a book, but were just too damn lazy to muster the mental tenacity to do it, and ignore the rejection. True that.

[@ryanbueta]

Thank you Mr Cunningham you helped made and create a wonderful childhood for millions of young wizards across the world

[@meteorneor11]

0:51 What is THAT doing back there?

[@oscarfun100]

+Qwerty Metastin You mean Hitler?

[@meteorneor11]

Gábor Vág yes

[@oscarfun100]

It's Look Who's Back by Timur Vermes.

[@meteorneor11]

Well that's fucked up

[@oscarfun100]

Qwerty Metastin Well, people do write books about him. As being a pretty important character in the history of humanity. And I think that's actually a funny book about him, a satire.

[@cartersessal4551]

Thank you Barry Cunningham for giving HP a chance. For giving the boy who lived really the chance of living in our hearts :)

[@Luke_05]

Why did so many publishers and agents turn her down? Didn’t they read the first couple of chapters?

[@lakshmis696]

This man is Not a muggle for sure!

[@mrchopsticks3]

Just imagine how many "Harry Potter's" didn't get published because publishers don't know a gem when they see one.

[@prarthana3299]

Words cannot describe the Harry Potter series. It's honestly the best thing ever written.

[@garland3688]

Does anyone have any rare audio or video interviews of J.K. Rowling from 1997-2003?? Please post if so.

[@harshitshukla]

At 1:01 it's as if you could spell the pages.

[@vishruthaiyer]

You made our childhood Thank you Sir..

[@itsalpreacher3954]

Uploaded 4 years ago *All* *the* *comments* *are* *from* *3* *days* *ago*

[@holkangel]

#changeinyoutubealgorithm

[@Vexmybeloved_]

He seems like such a genuine and sweet guy what a legend

[@ladydominion8632]

But that A Court of Thorns and Roses book at 0:33

[@jamesentertainment9030]

I wonder how those 20 publishers who turned it down feel now

[@annahoran5097]

Barry Cunningham is the greatest man that has ever lived

[@VinyZikss]

Sorry? The greatest man? Sure, because of him one of the best books ever was published. But the greatest man to ever live? Wtf bro. He is no Tesla, Newton, Aristotle....

[@annahoran5097]

@@VinyZikss yeah I agree, its just that when I saw this I was a bit too excited and this just popped into my head lol

[@88rixadzin88]

How much do you read until you know something is good: 2/3 chapters. What really gripped me was the friendship. The 3 first chapters had nothing to do with friendship. 1st was Vernon, 2nd was that Harry was beeing bullied most of his life and 3rd was about a bunch of letters. Nothing here is about friendship. Later, oh yes it was as well as so much more, and I am really greatful that it was picked up, but those parts of the video was just kinda funny too me.

[@HalfEatenMedia]

Harry Potter is a one time success. I don’t think there will be another book that’ll ever reach the success it got in this day of age. Back then bookstores were relatively still popular. Most have gone out of business at this point.

[@Jake0666]

I’m kinda mad that I wasn’t able to grow up at the time when the huge midnight releases came out. There still is something cool abt reading/ watching the movies after all the hype tho

[@nolakilar916]

The people who turned Harry Potter books down are MUGGLES!!!!!

[@devashriyadav5972]

Mudbloods

[@X_a_ic]

Devashri Yadav Oi! Your not allowed to say the M-Word! I mean I think you muggle so its fine

[@michellestella7477]

*Thank you!!*

[@anastasiaa7775]

Oh gosh it made me tear up a little bit. Harry Potter is such a huge part of my life. And will always be

[@jacobandersen6075]

4 years later, and it seems that KZbin has finally found some more of its Harry Potter fans, all at the same time apparently.

[@FuegodeInfierno]

Im still waiting for the editors who rejected the book to be interviewed as well 🤡

[@solitarianihilista1454]

They're probably not editors any more.

[@LittleGirl21100]

Humble at its finest

[@aragontwinkll1107]

Hes the one that "Published"

[@ronweasley4096]

What do you mean by “published”?

[@aragontwinkll1107]

Muggle...

[@ronweasley4096]

aragon twinkll okey I got it now xD

[@SuperPeapot]

He also edited the Tunnels saga, which is amazing but for some reason is not as popular, sadly :c

[@tharunkumar6879]

I was introduced to Harry Potter thanks to the films. After the movies, I read the books and liked the books.

[@coastertron]

Just imagine how those 22 publishers feel now...

[@oldkingspook]

It's a bit fascinating to me how many soon-to-be best selling authors have been rejected. How did they find the courage to keep trying?

[@kevinmaestroful]

Girl at 3:22 looks like Emma Watson

[@leadahappylife6289]

I guess Jo named Mrs Longbottom as Alice to honour her

[@Rania-vh7wg]

YOU MY GOOD SIR ARE A BLESSING

[@darkstar496]

God bless these movies and books! Life wouldn’t be the same without Harry Potter.

[@feels.like.coffee]

It's important to remember that JK Rowling didn't just suddenly got lucky on her 22nd attempt at finding a publisher. Chances are, she wrote and re-wrote and improved on her first book all while finding a publisher. And the first 22 probably turned her down because the version they read really just weren't good enough. It's as much about luck as it is about hard work.

[@kayaeki]

Idk why put this in my recommended now but thank you for making my life magical now

[@vincentgurus2601]

Thank u Barry! We love you

[@petergermain8443]

3:22 Hermione!

[@monikan2309]

Thank you so damn much . I can't even imagine my life without harry potter .

[@kongma7881]

Thank you🌷

[@CzechMirco]

I want interview with some of the 22 previous publishers' employees, who rejected the book, and I want their reasons why they did so.

[@samsams8203]

How could you turn it down. Most precious things in the world

[@SA-nr6yo]

Friendship for sure

[@ilikeviddygames6300]

Imagine being the publishers that turned it down they would be kicking themselves!

[@HarveyHaendel]

THANK YOU DUDE

[@VigneshRangaraj00]

He said "the most significant purchase made in publishing in the last 50 years". Shoulda been last 1000 years.

[@Gambit771]

Shakespeare, Wilde, Wordsworth, Bronte or Austin disagree.

[@resablue]

I bought the first 3 audio books, boxed sets in Costco for $9.99 each. Then it exploded and the prices for the next books went crazy.

[@davidwiland453]

I'm 12 now, but I started reading Harry Potter books when I was 11. I started in November 2018 and had been hooked since. I am on the 5th book now and so far it's great.

[@mexicanpowerranger5110]

I started at 11 May 2017 finishing the series in Setember. I am currently 13

[@tapasmajumdar9982]

Rowling should write a book about what happened in 19 years

[@lancevance6346]

I can't imagine kids lining up like that for books today . It's always some generic iteration of a videogame or iphone.

[@chops6416]

Just like those companies who turned down The Beatles.

[@mandalorianmarauder4749]

Thanks for giving our childhoods a great purpose in life, good sir!

[@kirbymarchbarcena]

Kids started to read upon the publishing of this book and got more interested in other literary works.

[@thatonegirlinthebackofthec4933]

Thank you so so much💛