Latest news with #RobertGalbraith
The Standard
11-07-2025
- Business
- The Standard
Trump tariff on Brazilian goods could jack up US burger price
A McDouble burger is pictured at a McDonald's restaurant in the Fillmore District of San Francisco, California January 30, 2013. REUTERS/Robert Galbraith/File Photo
Telegraph
27-06-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
JK Rowling has exposed how desperate the gender extremists have become
Long used to riding roughshod over anyone who dared to challenge them, gender extremists are now beginning to lose the battle. Could that be the reason their arguments seem to be becoming even more ridiculous? Consider the latest example. A bookstore in San Francisco – a city known for its adherence to transgender ideology and extreme wokeism – has declared that it will no longer sell any of JK Rowling's books because of, wait for it, her role in supposedly 'removing transgender rights'. Announcing this brave and stunning move on Instagram, Booksmith explained that the final straw was a legal fund recently established by Rowling for the purpose of defending and protecting women's 'sex-based rights in the workplace, in public life, and in protected female spaces.' Yes, that's right – protecting women's rights apparently now amounts to bigotry and prejudice towards the transgender community. The fact that this fund is necessary only because women on both sides of the Atlantic have been bullied and hounded out of their jobs and off college courses, and prevented from applying for promotions if they are deemed 'anti-trans', seems irrelevant to these people. The bookstore is a commercial enterprise that seems quite happy to forego certain profit by refusing to stock such hugely popular titles as the Harry Potter series and Robert Galbraith Strike novels; virtue-signalling is clearly considered much more important. But when it comes to identity politics and gender nonsense, publishing is one of the worst-affected institutions. During a tour in the US to promote my book on feminism, one bookstore cancelled my event at the last minute because a trans activist customer had complained. This was despite the fact that it had sold out. The revenue from JK Rowling's books probably funds a good chunk of the publishing industry worldwide, yet these for-profit enterprises would rather have huge display tables groaning under the weight of books by trans activists that barely sell at all. A new report on this kamikaze phenomenon was launched just this week in the UK by Sex Matters. Written by Matilda Gosling, it highlights the fact that several female authors have had contracts broken, manuscripts rejected, and even been pushed out of the industry, because of accusations of transphobia. Rowling herself, with her stratospheric success and wealth, need not worry about pointless gestures such as the one by Booksmith – but the careers of other authors have been left in tatters. This is exactly why Rowling's women's legal fund is so necessary. The fund is the first of its kind: many women, and some men, have found themselves in a terrible situation for merely stating scientifically correct facts on sex and gender, and expressing a view with which the vast majority of people agree. It would be interesting to know whether this particular bookstore will be ploughing through its thousands of titles to check that all of its staff agree politically with the premise of each and every author and the contents of each and every book. It looks very much as though this so-called civil rights movement is actually a witch hunt against women – for the crime of daring to assert our rights rather than rolling over and capitulating to misogynistic bullies. As it dawns on the extremists that they are going down with a sinking ship because they overreached on their demands and bullied and cajoled refuseniks, their rising desperation only makes them look more ludicrous. Some time ago, when yet another trans activist announced on X that he was burning Rowling's books, she had the perfect riposte: 'I get the same royalties whether you read them or burn them. Enjoy your marshmallows!'
Indian Express
02-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
From George Eliot to JK Rowling: The secret male alter egos of famous women writers
(Written by Somya Panwar) 'I would venture to guess that Anon, who wrote so many poems without signing them, was often a woman,' Virginia Woolf once remarked, drawing light the plight of female authors in the literary world. She suggested that anonymity was less an act of deceit and more a strategy to navigate gender bias and gain literary recognition. Throughout history, female authors have often shielded their intellectual presence by adopting male pseudonyms, enabling them to coexist within a patriarchal structure. By breaking through these barriers, they ensured their voices were heard without facing immediate repercussions—and some even secured their rightful place in literary history. Here are five famous women writers who challenged gendered authorship norms and reshaped power dynamics in literary circles by writing under male pseudonyms: Mary Ann Evans, better known by her pen name George Eliot, was one of the most celebrated writers of the Victorian era. Renowned for her transformative contributions to literature, she masterfully depicted rural life and social complexities in her works. Her debut novel, Adam Bede, was critically acclaimed and went through eight printings. Today, her works remain essential reading in universities, offering a true reflection of 19th-century societal constraints. Eliot's exceptional body of work includes The Mill on the Floss (1860), Silas Marner (1861), her masterpiece Middlemarch (1871–72)—a profound exploration of idealism, marriage, and political reform—and Daniel Deronda (1876). 'And, of course, men know best about everything, except what women know better,' said the woman who disguised her identity under the name George Eliot. Joanne Rowling, famously known as JK Rowling, was once advised by her publisher to adopt a gender-neutral pen name to broaden her appeal among young male readers. Today, she stands as a global literary phenomenon. Her Harry Potter series marked a turning point in her career, with translations in over 85 languages and more than 600 million copies sold—making it the best-selling book series in history. The last four books also set records as the fastest-selling books of all time. Later, Rowling adopted another male pseudonym, Robert Galbraith, to launch her crime fiction series Cormoran Strike. Writing under a new name allowed her creative freedom, free from the expectations tied to her Harry Potter fame. Her debut novel under this alias, The Cuckoo's Calling (2013), gained traction only after her identity was revealed. Despite the exposure, she continues to write as Robert Galbraith, maintaining a distinct persona for this genre. Her use of pseudonyms underscores the lengths women must go to receive unbiased feedback in the literary world. Alice Mary Norton legally changed her name to Andre Norton in 1934 to survive in the male-dominated world of science fiction and fantasy. A pioneer in her field, she became the first woman to receive the Gandalf Grand Master Award from the World Science Fiction Society in 1977 and was twice nominated for the Hugo Award (1964). Over her 70-year career, Norton published more than 130 novels, also writing under the pen names Andrew North and Allen Weston. Her early work as a librarian saw the publication of eight novels, including her espionage trilogy—The Sword Is Drawn (1944), Sword in Sheath (1949), and At Sword's Point (1954)—written during World War II. Norton's legacy extends beyond her influential writing; she shattered stereotypes about women's intellectual capabilities in male-dominated genres, inspiring countless female authors who followed. The Pulitzer Prize-winning author of To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee, achieved monumental success with her masterpiece. She later served as a consultant for the 1962 film adaptation, starring Gregory Peck, which earned eight Academy Award nominations—with Peck winning Best Actor. Like many female authors of her time, Lee faced significant challenges in a male-dominated industry. The success of To Kill a Mockingbird did not come overnight; it followed years of rejection and perseverance. Before her novel skyrocketed to fame, Lee worked as a reservation clerk for Eastern Airlines and British Overseas Airways while struggling to establish herself as a writer. Alice Sheldon, the woman behind the pseudonym James Tiptree Jr., was a multifaceted talent known for her masculine prose. She also wrote under the name Raccoona Sheldon. Her unconventional career—spanning army intelligence during World War II, farming, and a PhD in experimental psychology—shaped her unique perspective. Despite her feminist leanings, she noted that her work was often assumed to be written by a man, as male authors were seen as the default authorities on universal themes. Even after her death, Alice Sheldon remains an inspirational figure for women challenging traditional roles in publishing. Her work deserves recognition beyond the label of a 'feminist writer who used a male pen name'—she was a literary trailblazer in her own right. (The writer is an intern with the Indian Express)
Scotsman
29-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
JK Rowling: New Cormoran Strike novel under Robert Galbraith announced - including release date, plot details
The eighth novel in the Cormoran Strike series, written by JK Rowling under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith, will be published later this year. Sign up to our Arts and Culture newsletter, get the latest news and reviews from our specialist arts writers Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The release date of JK Rowling's new novel in the Cormoran Strike series has been revealed, with the lead characters set to investigate the discovery of a corpse in Freemasons' Hall. Penned under the byline of Robert Galbraith, the eighth book in the Strike series, entitled The Hallmarked Man, will be published on September 2. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Author JK Rowling | Getty Images In the latest novel, detectives Cormoran Strike and Robin Ellacott will be on the case after a dismembered corpse is discovered in the vault of a silver shop. A synopsis of the initial plot details revealed by publisher Sphere Books said: 'The police initially believe it [the body] to be that of a convicted armed robber – but not everyone agrees with that theory. 'One of them is Decima Mullins, who calls on the help of private detective Cormoran Strike as she is certain the body in the silver vault was that of her boyfriend – the father of her newborn baby – who suddenly and mysteriously disappeared. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'The more Strike and his business partner Robin delve into the case, the more labyrinthine it gets. The silver shop is no ordinary one: it is located beside Freemasons' Hall and specialises in Masonic silverware. And in addition to the armed robber and Decima's boyfriend, it becomes clear that there are other missing men who could fit the profile of the body in the vault. 'As the case becomes ever more complicated and dangerous, Strike faces another quandary. Robin seems increasingly committed to her boyfriend, policeman Ryan Murphy, but the impulse to declare his own feelings for her is becoming stronger than ever.' Galbraith is the pseudonym for Ms Rowling - the author of the hugely-popular Harry Potter Series. Tom Burke and Holliday Grainger star as Cormoran Strike and Robin Ellacott respectively in the Strike TV series Seven books have previously been published in the Strike series, including The Cuckoo's Calling and The Silkworm. The series has been adapted for television, produced by Brontë Film & TV, starring Tom Burke and Holliday Grainger in the leading roles. The series is broadcast by the BBC in the UK.
Scotsman
29-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
JK Rowling: New Cormoran Strike novel under Robert Galbraith announced - including release date, plot details
The eighth novel in the Cormoran Strike series, written by JK Rowling under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith, will be published later this year. Sign up to our Arts and Culture newsletter, get the latest news and reviews from our specialist arts writers Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The release date of JK Rowling's new novel in the Cormoran Strike series has been revealed, with the lead characters set to investigate the discovery of a corpse in Freemasons' Hall. Penned under the byline of Robert Galbraith, the eighth book in the Strike series, entitled The Hallmarked Man, will be published on September 2. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Author JK Rowling | Getty Images In the latest novel, detectives Cormoran Strike and Robin Ellacott will be on the case after a dismembered corpse is discovered in the vault of a silver shop. A synopsis of the initial plot details revealed by publisher Sphere Books said: 'The police initially believe it [the body] to be that of a convicted armed robber – but not everyone agrees with that theory. 'One of them is Decima Mullins, who calls on the help of private detective Cormoran Strike as she is certain the body in the silver vault was that of her boyfriend – the father of her newborn baby – who suddenly and mysteriously disappeared. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'The more Strike and his business partner Robin delve into the case, the more labyrinthine it gets. The silver shop is no ordinary one: it is located beside Freemasons' Hall and specialises in Masonic silverware. And in addition to the armed robber and Decima's boyfriend, it becomes clear that there are other missing men who could fit the profile of the body in the vault. 'As the case becomes ever more complicated and dangerous, Strike faces another quandary. Robin seems increasingly committed to her boyfriend, policeman Ryan Murphy, but the impulse to declare his own feelings for her is becoming stronger than ever.' Galbraith is the pseudonym for Ms Rowling - the author of the hugely-popular Harry Potter Series. Tom Burke and Holliday Grainger star as Cormoran Strike and Robin Ellacott respectively in the Strike TV series Seven books have previously been published in the Strike series, including The Cuckoo's Calling and The Silkworm. The series has been adapted for television, produced by Brontë Film & TV, starring Tom Burke and Holliday Grainger in the leading roles. The series is broadcast by the BBC in the UK.
