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

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

Bloomsbury published the book 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 combines school adventure, fantasy, mystery, and the discovery of Harry’s connection to Lord Voldemort.

The same novel was published as Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone in the United States. The change was made because the American publisher believed “sorcerer” would be more immediately understandable to US readers. These are different titles for the same book, not separate stories.

The first edition helped establish Rowling as a major children’s author and launched a seven-volume series. Its success led to six sequels, film adaptations, translations, audiobooks, and a worldwide publishing phenomenon.