June date for Potter 5

A date has finally been set for the publication of the long-awaited fifth Harry Potter book. Harry's legions of fans will be able to get their hands on Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix on June 21 - a Saturday, to enable his school-age followers to buy the book and start reading without having to skip school.

Weighing in at 38 chapters and 255,000 words long - a third longer than the last tome in the series - it will also mean a weekend of speed lifting and reading for critics vying to be the first to review JK Rowling's latest. The book is to be simultaneously published in the UK, USA, Canada, Australia and in English in many other countries around the world.

Nigel Newton, chief executive of Rowling's UK publisher, Bloomsbury, described the Order of the Phoenix as "a brilliant and utterly compelling new adventure" and promised fresh revelations about the boy wizard's past, as a teasing extract released today from the book demonstrates:

"Dumbledore lowered his hands and surveyed Harry through his half-moon glasses.
"'It is time,' he said, 'for me to tell you what I should have told you five years ago, Harry.
"'Please sit down. I am going to tell you everything.'"

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire became the fastest-selling book in history on its first day of publication, and the Order of the Phoenix is expected to beat that record.

A "teaser card" carrying clues to the plot of the book sold for £28,000 at a charity fundraiser in December. Furthermore, appetites have been whetted and a new readership for the books created by the phenomenal success of the two feature films based on the first two books.