When the U.K. newspaper the Sunday Times outed J.K. Rowling as the author of detective novel The Cuckoo's Calling earlier this year, computer scientists were among the first people called in. Although the novel was published under the pen name Robert Galbraith, two computational scholars––including Duquesne University's Patrick Juola––were tasked with confirming or denying whether the novel belonged to the Harry Potter author, or one of three other possible writers. That Juola succeeded (his conclusions were later confirmed by Rowling herself) speaks volume about the the potential that algorithms and computer science can have, even with application to a field as notoriously subjective as literature. Which raises an interesting question: Can we use software to help us think about literature? Reverse Engineering J.K. Rowling To explore that question, we should first look at how the Juola cracked Rowling's writing style. To begin the process, Juola loaded 1,000–word samples of The Cuckoo's Calling in to his self–designed Java Graphical Authorship Attribution Program (JGAAP), along with several other texts, including The Casual Vacancy, Rowling's first post–Harry Potter novel. A freely available Java–based, modular program for textual analysis, categorization, and authorship attribution, JGAAP analyzed the texts on four different variables: word–length distribution, the use of common words like "the" and "of," recurring–word pairings, and the distribution of "character... Continue reading at 'Fast Company'
[ Fast Company | 2013-09-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
J K Rowling's The Casual Vacancy (Sphere) remains the bestselling book in the UK, topping the... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2013-08-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The birthday of Harry Potter falls on July 31 (which also happens to be the birthday of J.K Rowling). In the Potter universe, the days are usually eventful ones. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor
[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2013-08-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Google has added images of the Diagon Alley set from the 'Harry Potter' movies to its Street View function, allowing users to virtually walk through the magical shopping center. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor
[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2013-07-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Having a hard time finding something on the internet? You're probably doing it wrong -- at least that seems to be Microsoft's supposition. The company has recently revised its Bing autosuggest categories to help users find the correct search parameters for the content they're looking for. The... Continue reading at Engadget
[ Engadget | 2013-07-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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A rare first edition of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone with annotations and drawings by JK Rowling sells for a record £150,000. Continue reading at BBC News
[ BBC News | 2013-05-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Universal Studios in Hollywood will raze the 41-year-old Gibson Amphitheatre to make way for its coming Harry Potter attraction, the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Universal Studios in Hollywood will raze the 41-year-old Gibson Amphitheatre to make way for its coming Harry Potter attraction,... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times
[ Los Angeles Times | 2013-04-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Little, Brown will be releasing J K Rowling's The Casual Vacancy in paperback format... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2013-03-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Kazu Kibuishi, writer and illustrator of the 'Amulet' graphic novel series, created seven new covers for paperback editions of the 'Harry Potter' novels, to be released on the 15th anniversary of the series. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor
[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2013-02-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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'Harry Potter' cast members are reportedly filming a short movie that will be screened at the franchise's theme parks. What will the new film show? Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor
[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2012-12-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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J K Rowling's The Casual Vacancy (Little, Brown) is to be adapted into a television series... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2012-12-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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It used to be easy to give your loved ones books for the holidays. You went to a bookstore, browsed the shelves , and picked out something thoughtful: Jodi Picoult’s latest for your mom, Harry Potter for your niece, maybe a Bill O’Reilly rant for that uncle who never shuts up at Thanksgiving. ... Continue reading at Slate
[ Slate | 2012-11-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The publication of J K Rowling's The Casual Vacancy and ebook sales growth helped Hachette... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2012-11-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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J.K. Rowling, E.L. James, and Ken Follett all had books on multiple lists around the world as Septembercame to a close. The Casual Vacancy, J.K. Rowling’s first book for adults, landed at #1 in France and the U.K. when it was released late last month. Two spots behind Vacancy in France is... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2012-10-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
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J K Rowling's The Casual Vacancy (Little, Brown) has retained pole position in the bestseller... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2012-10-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
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After months of hype, the first adult novel from J.K. Rowling debuted with the third biggest print opening of 2012. At outlets tracked by Nielsen BookScan, The Casual Vacancy sold 156,679 copies in its first week—enough to place it behind only No Easy Day by Mark Owen (254,046 copies) and Fifty... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2012-10-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
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J K Rowling's The Casual Vacancy (Little, Brown) has topped the US charts in its first week... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2012-10-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Some readers were upset by the font size of early releases of the ebook version of 'The Casual Vacancy,' in addition to concerns about its price. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor
[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2012-10-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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J K Rowling's The Casual Vacancy (Little, Brown) has officially become the fastest-selling... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2012-10-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Bestselling author JK Rowling spoke for the first time in public last night about her new novel The Casual Vacancy, which signals the coming of age of the Harry Potter generation. Continue reading at Stuff
[ Stuff | 2012-09-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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J K Rowling's The Casual Vacancy has become "the fastest-selling book in the UK in three... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2012-09-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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