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| By Vijay Dutt, Hindustan Times, New DelhiMcClatchy-Tribune Regional News Jul. 22--LONDON -- The Potter mania seems never-ending. A suite at The Balmoral Hotel, considered the most luxurious -- and expensive of hotels in Scotland -- has become a place of pilgrimage for millions of Harry Potter fans around the world. It is in this hotel suite 552 where JK Rowling completed her successful series of novels. It has now been renamed the JK Rowling Suite in her honour after she gave permission. Hotel is charging £965 per night to stay in the room, which contains a marble bust which she signed after completing the final book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows in January 2007. According to reports, since the secret venue for her final chapter was revealed in a TV documentary, wealthy fans from across the world have stayed there, specifically requesting the suite. "As JK Rowling finished her book in this suite, we thought it would be a nice way to honour this. The room is exactly the same as when Miss Rowling finished her book there," said a source at the 168-bedroom hotel. The suite is 55 sq m in size and includes the writing desk used by Ms Rowling as well as the queen size bed she slept in. But the centre of attraction is a marble bust of the Greek god Hermes on which she scribbled in black marker: "JK Rowling finished writing Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows in this room (552) on January 11, 2007." It is kept in safety of a protective glass case. The Harry Potter book series has sold 375 million copies worldwide and has also spawned five blockbuster films with the sixth instalment, Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince, due out this November. The author is now worth an estimated £560million making her richer than the Queen. ----- To see more of the Hindustan Times or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.hindustantimes.com. Copyright (c) 2008, Hindustan Times, New Delhi Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA. |
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