JK Rowling prime candidate for 'modern-day heroes' statue

SHE has been credited with switching on a new generation to the joys of reading.

The phenomenal sales of Harry Potter novels have established Edinburgh author JK Rowling as one of the most successful writers of all time.

Now she and her work could be celebrated with a statue or public work of art in her adopted home city.

Council leaders are keen to mark the achievements of the city’s "modern-day heroes" and see a monument to the writer and her boy wizard creation as one way of doing that.

Sir Sean Connery and author Dame Muriel Spark, or her best-known creation Miss Jean Brodie, are alternative candidates for the unusual honour.

They will all be considered for recognition - alongside a celebrated geologist and heroes from the worlds of the arts and sports - as part of the city council’s public arts strategy.

Merchiston-based Ms Rowling has been honoured with several awards from the book industry.

The author, who recently announced she was expecting her third child -, the second with husband Dr Neil Murray - was also given an honorary degree by Edinburgh University earlier this year.

But it is thought to be the first time that a sculpture or monument has been considered in her honour.

City council leader Donald Anderson said JK Rowling and Harry Potter were serious options for a new public work of art.

"The statue of [economist and philosopher] Adam Smith that is being planned for the Royal Mile is obviously very welcome" he said.

"However, there are many other significant figures from the history of the city who have not had some kind of recognition through a form of public art.

"Robert Louis Stevenson is perhaps the most obvious case to be made for commemoration, but there are many others, such as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, who does not have his own statue, although there is one of Sherlock Holmes.

"I think we should be looking to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the Royal College of Surgeons next year in some way.

"There may be a case for new public art celebrating the contribution of modern-day figures to Edinburgh life, such as JK Rowling and Harry Potter’s links to Edinburgh.

"We’re going to bring a report forward which will include an audit of all the public works of art, including monuments and sculptures, that exist at the moment, and proposals for developing a programme of new works."

Council officials are to draw up a list of significant figures from the city’s history who they believe deserve recognition, along with icons who are still alive. The public is expected to be asked to choose both who should be commemorated and what form the works of art should take.

Other names already put forward include Sir Compton Mackenzie, author of Whisky Galore, the poet, writer and songwriter Hamish Henderson, who died two years ago, and the celebrated geologist James Hutton.

Sporting figures in the frame include Olympic track legend Eric Liddell, who inspired the Oscar-winning film Chariots of Fire, and celebrated Hibernian forward line the "Famous Five", including Gordon Smith, who died earlier this month.

Work is already under way to raise funds for a new statue of Adam Smith, which will stand in the Royal Mile.

Herbert Coutts, the council’s director of culture and leisure, said: "Edinburgh already has one of the most significant examples of commemorative art in the world in the Scott Monument.

"Previous generations had the vision and commitment to pursue public art and I’m confident the current generation will too."

A spokeswoman for book chain Waterstone’s welcomed the possibility of commemorating Ms Rowling’s achievements.

"I think its wonderful as she’s a huge literary figure who has single handedly re-invigorated the children’s market and encouraged so many children to take up reading again," she said. "She has delighted millions with her reading and made so many more authors start writing books for children as well."

But Tory group leader Iain Whyte suggested it was premature to be honouring the author. "I have nothing against JK Rowling or her writing but I think we have a tradition in Edinburgh of waiting until people have died before we put up a statue to them and I think perhaps it would be best if we continue that tradition," he said.