What alternate title did the U.S. edition of J.K. Rowling’s first Harry Potter book use?

The U.S. edition of J.K. Rowling’s first Harry Potter book was titled Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.

The original British title is Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. Scholastic changed “Philosopher” to “Sorcerer” for the American market because editors believed some readers might not understand the term “philosopher’s stone” or might not see it as an exciting magical object.

The plot, characters, and fictional object are otherwise the same in the two editions. The story follows Harry’s first year at Hogwarts and his discovery of the stone’s connection to Nicolas Flamel and the search for a way to restore Voldemort.

The title difference remains one of the best-known variations between English-language editions of the series. It can also affect film titles: the first movie used Sorcerer’s Stone in the United States and Philosopher’s Stone in many other countries.