J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter manuscript was accepted for publication in 1996.
Rowling submitted the manuscript of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone to literary agents after developing the story during the early 1990s. Christopher Little eventually represented her, and Bloomsbury acquired the book in 1996.
The novel was then published in the United Kingdom on 26 June 1997. This distinction matters: 1996 was the year of the publishing deal, while 1997 was the year readers could buy the first book.
The manuscript’s acceptance followed a difficult period in Rowling’s life, including the death of her mother and a move to Portugal and then Scotland. The book’s eventual success made the publishing agreement one of the most consequential debuts in modern children’s literature.