J.K. Rowling’s first Harry Potter book reached British bookstores in 1997.
Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone was published in the United Kingdom by Bloomsbury on 26 June 1997. The first print run was relatively small compared with the enormous editions that followed after the series became a worldwide phenomenon.
The novel quickly gained attention through strong reviews, word of mouth, and literary prizes. It introduced readers to Harry Potter’s discovery of the wizarding world, his education at Hogwarts, and the mystery surrounding the protection that saved him as a baby.
The book’s success led to six sequels, beginning with Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets in 1998. The film adaptation of the first story arrived in 2001, several years after the novel’s British publication. The American edition also appeared in 1998 under the title Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.