Pottermore Publishing has partnered with a Ukrainian publishing house to offer all seven Potter free e-books to readers affected by the current conflict in the country.
Like many people around the world, the Pottermore Publishing team felt compelled to do something after the invasion of Ukraine began earlier this year. digital editions of Harry Potter were not previously available in Ukrainian. However, working with Ukrainian publisher A-ba-ba-ha-la-ma-ha, Pottermore has released PDFs of the first three books in the series. These are now available via a special landing page for “the families whose lives have been so drastically affected by the conflict”. The intention is to add the remaining four books in the series to the landing page as soon as possible.
When the invasion of Ukraine began, our team was appalled at the impact it would have on so many children and families and, like everyone else, wanted to do something – no matter how small – to to help. And so we worked to find a way to make the Harry Potter books available to read online, free of charge, for all the families whose lives have been so drastically affected by the conflict.
This was not without difficulties, as we had not yet published digital editions in Ukrainian. However, thanks to the ingenuity of our teams and the kindness and support of the local print publisher, A-ba-ba-ha-la-ma-ha, we were able to make these stories available to Ukrainian speakers. free. We provide the books through this website so that they are accessible from most web-connected devices, wherever they are.
Pottermore realizes that PDF readers are not always “provide a perfect reading experience” but wanted to do something to help make the books available online quickly and for free to as many people as possible. The team is now working with Lumos and other aid organizations working with Ukrainians to publicize the availability of the books.
Providing free Ukrainian e-books isn’t the only action Wizarding World has taken to show its support for Ukraine amid the conflict. In April, Harry Potter books have been removed from two of Russia’s largest e-book libraries and a number of alumni have signed up for fundraisers and charity appeals.
Overall, Pottermore hopes to make the series freely available to Ukrainian readers “bringing a little light into the lives of so many people who are going through the darkest times”, and we think it’s something magical.