Bloomsbury published J.K. Rowling’s first Harry Potter novel in the United Kingdom on 26 June 1997. The book was titled Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone in its original British edition.
The publication began one of the most successful literary franchises in history. Bloomsbury initially released a relatively modest first printing, but demand grew rapidly through word of mouth, strong reviews, and children’s-book awards. The novel introduced Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger, and the magical school Hogwarts.
Readers sometimes confuse the publication date with the American release. Scholastic published the book in the United States in 1998 under the title Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. The title changed because the publisher believed “sorcerer” would be more familiar to American readers, but the story remained substantially the same.