"Only Harry Potter Sold More on the First Day"... UK Prince Harry's Autobiography Sells 400,000 Copies

Record-Breaking Best-Selling Nonfiction Title
Waiting Hours at Bookstore Counters to Purchase

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] Prince Harry of the United Kingdom's autobiography, "Spare," sold 400,000 copies on its first day of release on the 10th (local time) in the UK, setting a record for the highest sales in the non-fiction category. It is expected to be the best-selling book on its first day since Harry Potter.

According to major foreign media such as CNN, "Spare" sold 400,000 copies on its first day, including paper books, audiobooks, and e-books. Larry Finlay, director of Transworld Penguin Random House, the publisher of "Spare," said in a statement released that day, "We expected this book to sell like wildfire, but the record exceeded even our most optimistic forecasts," adding, "As far as we know, the only books that have sold more on the first day are those featuring another Harry (Harry Potter)."

In the UK, some bookstores in central London started selling at midnight, and some people waited in line late at night to buy the book. Local media such as Sky News reported that at a bookstore in London, people and reporters waited outside for hours before the store opened and then rushed to the autobiography display.

Some bookstores offered pre-orders at half the list price of ?28 (about 42,000 won), selling the book for ?14. Online bookstores such as Amazon also offered half-price discounts, further boosting sales. Despite significant leaks of the content due to early sales in Spain before the official release date, demand surged there as well.

According to Bloomberg News, "Spare" has already become a bestseller in the United States based on pre-orders alone, with pre-order numbers reportedly similar to Michelle Obama's autobiography.

The huge popularity of "Spare" is attributed to Prince Harry's direct attacks on the royal family, including his father and brother, as well as the extensive disclosure of his personal affairs, which sparked widespread controversy.

In particular, the title of the autobiography, "Spare," has caused significant controversy. Prince Harry claimed in the autobiography that he was born as a "spare part" in case his older brother, Prince William, the heir apparent, needed an organ transplant or in other emergency situations, which is why he titled the book "Spare."

Additionally, Prince Harry revealed in part of the autobiography that he piloted an Apache helicopter during his deployment in Afghanistan and killed 25 Taliban fighters, describing it as if he was removing pieces from a chessboard, which sparked considerable backlash. Some veterans raised security concerns, warning that the Taliban might retaliate.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.