Takealot offers pre-orders of new Harry Potter book

The new release marks the first return to the world of Hogwarts, Quidditch, witches and wizards since 2007’s Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, and tracks the fortunes of old friends Harry, Ron and Hermione as they take on the challenges of adult life a full 19 years after the events of the last book. This eighth installment of the much-loved series brings fans the preview script of the highly anticipated two-part West End play based on an original new story by JK Rowling, Jack Thorne and John Tiffany, which opens to the public on 30 July 2016, at the Palace Theatre in London, England.

According to Declan Hollywood, chief marketing officer of Takealot, the new book is set to be the biggest literary launch of the year. “With more than 500 million sales worldwide, Harry Potter is a phenomenon of unmatched size and scope. Africa, like the rest of the world, is totally Potter mad and we are excited to bring fans this much-anticipated new story at rewarding value.”

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Parts I & II is available on takealot.com for R239. The book will be released globally on Sunday, 31 July and will leave the Takealot warehouses on the same day. Customers who pre-order the book by 28 July can expect to receive their copy from Monday, 1 August, with deliveries to rural addresses taking a few days longer. Customers who pre-order the book by 28 July will be entered into a prize draw to win the complete Harry Potter collection valued at R1,500.

Five things you didn’t know

Before the launch of the new book, brush up with your Potter knowledge with five things you didn’t know about Harry Potter:

1. Harry Potter is the best-selling book series and second-highest grossing film series of all time, with more than 500 million copies sold and nearly $8 billion earned at the box office;

2. In the West End adaptation of the play, Hermione Granger’s character is portrayed by Swaziland-born actress Noma Dumezweni;

3. The show managed to set a West End record when it sold 175,000 tickets in 24 hours;

4. Michael Jackson once approached Rowling about making a musical based on the books, but she turned it down; and

5. A new movie based on one of JK Rowling’s Harry Potter companion books, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, will be released in November this year.

For quick-and-easy shopping, download the free Takealot app at takealot.com/apps.

Join the conversation on Facebook @Takealot, Twitter @TAKEALOT and Instagram @takealotcom.

*Price correct at time of going to press. Stock and price subject to change.