THE former
schoolmaster who translated Harry Potter into ancient Greek
has gained international fame since appearing in Bedfordshire
on Sunday.
Two weeks ago we reported how Andrew Wilson, former
classics master at Bedford Modern School, had been set the
most unusual homework - translating the first of JK Rowling's
multi-million selling books about the boy wizard.
Since then his feet have hardly touched the ground.
He has appeared on local radio and television and in a
Greek newspaper which, as well as a news piece, is due to
carry a detailed interview in its Sunday supplement today.
A Canadian television station has been in touch, a Russian
film crew was due at his home on Thursday and on Friday he
went to the BBC's studio at Cambridge to record an interview
for American radio station NPR which broadcasts on 585
frequencies across the USA and to overseas forces and has more
than four million listeners.
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone has already been
published in Latin and dozens of other languages and the
translation into ancient Greek, a language not used for more
than 1,500 years, took Mr Wilson a year.
It is not due to go on sale until July, along with an Irish
Gaelic version, but since our story it is already attracting a
great deal of interest on the Amazon website.
Mr Wilson said: "It has been madness since your story
appeared, I can hardly believe it. It's been very exciting for
me. I'm used to leading a quiet life in retirement.
"There have even been suggestions that I should get myself
an agent and start charging for appearances - though of course
not to BoS since it all started with you."
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