J.K. Rowling gets top French award
By IANSTuesday, February 3, 2009
LONDON - J.K. Rowling, author of the best-selling ‘Harry Potter’ series, has been conferred with the Legion of Honour, France’s highest civilian award.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy bestowed Rowling with the honorary title of ‘knight’ at a ceremony in the Elysee Palace Tuesday, reports mirror.co.uk.
‘This has a personal meaning,’ said Rowling.
Rowling’s great-grandfather, who was French, received it in 1924 for courage in the First World War.
She also thanked readers for not holding a grudge because she gave evil Voldemort a French name, said guardian.co.uk.
‘I needed a name which evoked power and exoticism,’ she said, adding that ‘Voldemort himself is 100 percent English’.
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