jk rowling.jpg
(Associated Press)
It is not as accurate to say that J.K. Rowling is debut mystery author Robert Galbraith. It is more to the point to say that Robert Galbraith is really
of the "Harry Potter" books, the best-selling book series in history.
As word got out that "The Cuckoo's Calling" -- an April title from
-- was not written by a former Royal Military Police officer named Galbraith after all, but by the author of the "Harry Potter" series, Rowling did not leave anyone wondering for long.
On her website, Rowling explained why she published her new book under another name:
But as that mystery has been solved, another has risen from the massive coverage Rowling's new book is receiving:
Why did J.K. Rowling choose a male name?
She's not abandoning it, either. As she said, "Robert fully intends to keep writing the series, although he will probably continue to turn down personal appearances."
Prior to "Harry Potter" taking on its iconic status, Rowling was urged to use initials (J.K.) rather than her first name (Joanna) in order to avoid her gender impacting sales of the book to young male readers. After Rowling made so many strides as a woman writing fantasy, Bustle writer Emma Cueto wonders
what Rowling and her publisher were hoping to achieve when money was not a motivating factor:
- "Presumably Rowling and her publishers decided to go that route because they assumed that a crime novel by a male author would sell better (though since
, author of "Story of O" was considered by French writer Jean Paulhan to be female not because of the feminine choice of name, but because of a passage where the protagonist realizes her lover's slippers are worn and he needs a new pair.
Michiko Kakutani channels this analysis at the New York Times:
- "...There are aspects of the novel that might have made some readers wonder about Robert Galbraith's background -- at least from the jacket-flap description of him as a civilian security expert who previously worked with the Royal Military Police and its special investigations branch. After all,
Charlotte Lyton at CNN rounded up
women writers from the 1800s through the present day who obscured their gender with their pseudonyms
:
- "'City of Dark Magic' came across as a rather intriguing debut novel from novice author Magnus Flyte when it was published in 2012. But it was soon revealed that the brains behind the book were Meg Howrey, an actress and author, and Christina Lynch, a journalist and TV producer....[And] Charlotte, Anne and Emily Bronte collectively produced some of the world's best loved novels during the 19th century...under male names beginning with the same first letter as their own,
But gender aside, Jennifer Vineyard of Vulture picked out
the tried-and-true Rowling hallmarks to behold in "The Cuckoo's Calling"
:
- "Chocolate, chocolate, everywhere. Chocolate, as you might recall, is a remedy for a Dementor attack. It's also used in 'The Cuckoo's Calling' -- to ward off bad vibes. Chocolate biscuits, chocolate bars, and some chocolate hidden in a desk all serve a purpose. During a particularly nasty hangover, Cormoran munches a family-size bar of Dairy Milk to prevent dehydration and hypoglycemia, and to recover from the news of his ex-fiancee's new engagement.
And at Slate, Katy Waldam reminds readers of what is important:
"The Cuckoo's Calling" is worth the attention that Rowling's name has brought it.
- "
Rowling fans: Do you plan to read "The Cuckoo's Calling" now? And what do you think of Rowling's plan to keep Robert Galbraith alive by using his name for next year's "Cuckoo" sequel? Let us know!