Some of Britain’s greatest authors have been snubbed by the BBC as both JK Rowling’s Harry Potter and JRR Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings have been left out of the BBC’s list of books from the Queen’s 70-year reign.
The BBC’s Big Jubilee Read has been compiled following a five-month search that has involved librarians from towns and villages across the UK – along with readers in 54 countries.
It aims to offer 70 pieces of ‘brilliant, beautiful and thrilling writing’ produced by authors from all over the Commonwealth over the last 70 years, 14 of whom are from the UK.
Yet two of Britain’s most prestigious novelists have been omitted from the list, The Times reports.
JK Rowling’s Harry Potter, almost certainly the UK’s largest literary export over the period, has been left out alongside JRR Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings – beloved since its publication in 1954.
Both franchises were hugely popular globally, both in terms of the original books and subsequent films.
It comes as British megastar author Rowling, 56, has faced accusations of transphobia after she mocked an online article in June 2020 for using the phrase ‘people who menstruate’ instead of ‘women’.
She later defended herself against the claims in a passionate essay but has been hounded online by some members of the trans community ever since.
JK Rowling pictured at the world premiere of the movie Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore at the Royal Festival Hall in London last month
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JK Rowling pictured at the world premiere of the movie Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore at the Royal Festival Hall in London last month
JRR Tolkien pictured with a map of Middle Earth, part of The Lord of the Rings series, in 1962
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JRR Tolkien pictured with a map of Middle Earth, part of The Lord of the Rings series, in 1962
The BBC’s Big Jubilee Read has been created to commemorate the Queen’s 70 years on the throne
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The BBC’s Big Jubilee Read has been created to commemorate the Queen’s 70 years on the throne
Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone was considered for the list, but did not make the cut despite its global popularity
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Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone was considered for the list, but did not make the cut despite its global popularity
An initial long list of 153 books had to be cut down by more than half to 70 – one for each year of the monarch’s reign.
Susheila Nasta, emeritus professor of modern literature at Queen Mary and Westfield University, said there was a ‘big discussion over about JK Rowling’ before the list was completed.
She added: ‘She was on the long-list with Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.
‘A space was cleared for someone equally as good but whose work was not as well known. There were some very tricky decisions.’
But the list, to be published in full on Monday, does feature other books that have later been turned into popular television series or films.
Included are Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale, John Le Carré’s Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy and Yann Martel’s Life of Pi.
Debbie Hicks, creative director of The Reading Agency charity that joined with the BBC to create the list, said: ‘We want this list to be the start of a national conversation about great reads.
‘We were determined that this would be a reader-driven list.’
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