RAB revealed?
Following the release of the sixth Harry Potter book, rumors have been abuzz concerning the identity of RAB, the mysterious character who left a note in the cave in the novel's closing chapters. So far, JK has remained relatively tight-lipped on the subject, although she said Regulus Black, Sirius' brother, was a "fine guess" in the MN/TLC interview last summer. Subsequently, (highlight)-->"Arcturus"<-- was suggested by fans as the late Death Eater's middle name after the name of a certain star.
Now, the Portuguese HP translator, Isabel Nunes, has reportedly confirmed this in an interview with a Portuguese fan site. Apparently, before Book 6 hit shelves, she contacted Jo about the character's gender, and was told the full name as well as the gender. Her reason for shedding light on the topic at this point is to "keep awake" the excitement for the seventh book. In the past, Nunes also clarified that Blaise Zabini is a man and Professor Sinistra is a woman.
EDIT: Some readers have written in letting us know that the interview where Nunes said this was conducted last November - you can see it here, page 15. Also, according to commenter Ismara, "A translator doesn't have to sign a contract of confidentiality... Translators can share that type of information as long as it's public. If JKR told her the middle name and the gender, it's public information." Jo hasn't confirmed or denied this - let's hope she doesn't so as to leave room for more conjecture - but take that for what you will!
Now, the Portuguese HP translator, Isabel Nunes, has reportedly confirmed this in an interview with a Portuguese fan site. Apparently, before Book 6 hit shelves, she contacted Jo about the character's gender, and was told the full name as well as the gender. Her reason for shedding light on the topic at this point is to "keep awake" the excitement for the seventh book. In the past, Nunes also clarified that Blaise Zabini is a man and Professor Sinistra is a woman.
EDIT: Some readers have written in letting us know that the interview where Nunes said this was conducted last November - you can see it here, page 15. Also, according to commenter Ismara, "A translator doesn't have to sign a contract of confidentiality... Translators can share that type of information as long as it's public. If JKR told her the middle name and the gender, it's public information." Jo hasn't confirmed or denied this - let's hope she doesn't so as to leave room for more conjecture - but take that for what you will!
Posted by Ciaran on Oct 9th |
305 Comments
Visitor Comments
COOL!!!!
Sounds like a rumor to me. But if true, it's a shame that Jo trusted them with that information, only to have them blab to everyone.
I agree it sounds like a rumour. we'll jsut have to wait and see...
RAB is probably Regulas Arcturus Black, but I don't think Jo would actually tll us. And If she did, it would be after she at least released the title, for god's sake!
yeah I know that other languages are said to give it away (the black family tree) but I don't think portugese would need that information from what I know of the language. I would sort of like to know though...
It probably is a rumor. But it is likely that she would tell us, since it's widely believed.
I smell an update for Jo's "Rumors" section.
ohow! top 10?
I second that Ella. Jo definitely has to say something about this or soon we'll all go crazed.
no i don't think she would say anythink like this on her homepage.....
Keep awake the excitement? :/
Hmm...I do wonder when/if Jo will say anything. Honestly, I have the feeling this is probably right, although who knows with Jo. But she may just ignore it for now. Top 10...best yet!
Interesting.....top 15?
lol keep awake the excitment...yea coz theres none of that around....lol. i take this with a pinch of salt until either jo confirms or i read book 7! We al;l know tis more than likely RFegulus and its been known since HBp that translations backed up this theory...this guy just wants his name known...c'mon jo say summiy regarding RAB!! plz!!
What do Blaise Zabini and Prof. Sinistra have to do with RAB? Neither fits. I don't believe this because it seems so out there. I'm still working on the Regulus assumption.
Is this translator even allowed to go around giving out information!?
That makes sense
i really cannot wait until book 7!!!! :D
The drama!
hmm...it does make sense but i'm not sure...? i'm SO sexcited about book 7
I think it is a shame that this person has betrayed the trust that JKR has in them by leaking this info. JKR needs to update her site now either way and thats a shame because she should be able to release any hints/clues when she feels its time.
i forgot to say that....this translator has breached a certain element of trust between themselves and jo... if i were jo i wouldnt trust them again...ooohhh and would she reveal such info BEFORE THE BOOKS RELEASE when she knows the possibility of what has just happened happening...serious doubts...
how disappointing. i hope JKR doesn't say anything. how much mystery would we lose if we knew for certain it was Regulus. and what a betrayal of trust that the translator would give all this out when JKR has been so careful as to not say anything.
I really think that it is Regulus Black, but this news kind of ruines the wonder and excitment of who it is for book 7. I am sorry that Jo told her(if she did). This is perhaps a rumor, but weather it is true or false, once again, this bit of info kind of ruines the wonder for me.
I suppose maybe she needed to know the gender of RAB (as well as Sinistra and Blaise Zabini) for some sort of grammatical thing. I wonder whether Jo might've just slipped and given it away by accident? It's possible. I mean, how many secrets does she have to remember to keep? But of course, I won't believe anything until I read it from a more reliable source, like Book 7. If we make enough of a fuss, do you think she'll be forced to make a statement on her site?
cool but sounds like a rumor
First, Isabel is a woman, Ciaran, take note. She needs to know the sex of the person because in Portuguese verbs as well as personal pronouns have gender. Isabel is a fine person, and since everyone has already stated that they believe RAB to be exactly whom she says he is, what is she giving away? Diana Patterson (Who has met Isabel and owns all her translations and will defend her very able work)
I think it is Regulus, but I hope it isn't. Hmm... We'll just have to wait until book 7 comes out! *squee*
what makes me mad is that this rumor wont be confermed till bok 7 comes out. keep excitment alive my butt. anyone whos just a fan of the books would be excited for the final one. never mind the rest of us that are obcessed we'll be excited over the smallest bit of news.
well guys, we all know not to get our hopes too high till Jo says it! but this is cool news! :-)....lol i remember when they first thought of his middle name ( i don't wanna put a spoiler just in case :-D)....it was pandemonium as book 6 was just released....that was a good time....*sigh*
This is interesting! I can't wait for the book 7.
awesomee!
hmmm... interesting. I definetly think its regulus but i seriously doubt this person would confirm it like tht. I think this IS probebely a rumor and no one should really rely upon it. Hope news about the title of 7 and the definet release date comes out soon :-) cant wait til book 7 ;-)
i wouldnt have thought he'd say this, unless he was hoping to get fired but many people have already noticed how the initials change in other languages to coincide with Regulus's name so it's still pretty likely it's him!
If its true, its not necessarily a bad thing that he told the information. Consider that Jo, in her seemingly infinite wisdom, did tell him this, it is obviously information that plays into her hands. I don't think she would tell any one person information that all of the potterworlld couldn't know. There is more to this story, and seeing this headline on Mugglenet is probably making Jo chuckle once again in fiendish glee.
Um, i just looked at the portuguese site that was referenced and kind of translated what i think is being 'rumoured' here and it's not true. i so far can't find anything about isabel nunes but it does report an interview with emerson and melissa and jkr. and nothing is found out. so....
i wondered who RAB was; i still wonder about that. well guess we wont find out untill the 7th&final book is out!
I agree with everyone said Jo will probably update her "Rumor" section soon. We all wonder who RAB is and probably will until the last book is released. :'( So sad.
it is a rumour.....this news isn't that new...harry potter fan zone had it first....and they say it is a rumour..... >>The rumour (and that is all it is at this stage) came about when Isabel Nunes, the Portuguese translator of the series, asked Jo what gender R.A.B. was......>but we must stress the fact that this is solely a rumour at this time. ...
I'm not going to believe anything unless it's straight from Jo. I suspect RAB is Regulus but not the same RAB who took the locket. I have a feeling that Jo might want all of us to think it is Regulus in order to lead us away from the truth. I'm sure we'll all in for a surprise when book 7 is released...at least I hope so.
I believe that it is another rumour and this topic will be solved only when jkr tells us or the book 7 is released. As for updating the rumour section the rumour has been doing rounds from the time the book was released and if jkr did not update her rumour section till now she wont do it this time also. it will really kill the excitement of the book
This is totally ridiculus! I personally agree in the fact that we should make a good deal of rukus. This can't be true! Can it? We all know Jo to be VERY secretive! I know that in Spanish all adjectives and nouns have to have genders but would she really give the name? I don't think so.
definitely a rumor and highly doubtfull but im willing to keep an open mind...
and she would have done some contract...she's not stupid....!
i still think its regalus..spelling.. anyw ays. yea. rumor. hopefully. i kinda dont want to know who RAB is, although i already have my suspicions. i jsut want it to be a semi-surprise. and if this is true. well then..i hate him for ruining the surprise. fuh you man, fuh you.
It really would suck in the long run if we found out.
I think this is just another rumor because for one I would only believe it if Jo said it herself which she won't because she doesn't want to spoil anything for use and secondly the translator would not be able to reveal any information about the book what so ever...at least not legally. Alas, another rumor to ponder on as we await the untitled and spell-bindingly captivating 7th book. And as many of you have stated this will most likely be in Jo's rumor section on her site.
i'll be like: i knew it i knew it..... or wow i would have never thought about that......WOW
Ciaran, Isabel Nunes is a woman!!
I think it's probably true, though I didn't want this theory to be confirmed (especially not this way). It would have been much more exciting to keep on speculating about it until the last book comes out. I hope JKR gives no comment on that one but gives us the title instead. PLEASE!!!!
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