What was J.K. Rowling’s first published Harry Potter novel, released in Britain in 1997?

J.K. Rowling’s first published Harry Potter novel was Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, released in Britain in 1997.

Bloomsbury published the book in the United Kingdom on 26 June 1997. It introduces Harry Potter, an orphan who discovers that he is a wizard and begins studying at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The story also establishes major characters including Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger, Albus Dumbledore, and Lord Voldemort.

The novel has a different title in the United States: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. Scholastic changed the title because its editors thought “sorcerer” would be more immediately understandable to American readers. The plot is otherwise substantially the same, so the British and American titles can cause confusion in trivia questions.

The book became a major international success and launched a seven-novel series. Its later film adaptation, released in 2001, used the American title in the United States and the British title in many other markets.