What was J.K. Rowling’s first published Harry Potter novel?

J.K. Rowling’s first published Harry Potter novel was Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.

Bloomsbury published the book in the United Kingdom on 26 June 1997. It introduced Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and the central conflict with Lord Voldemort.

The title was changed to Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone for the first American edition, published by Scholastic in 1998. The alteration reflected the publisher’s belief that some American readers might not understand “philosopher” in its alchemical sense. The story itself remained substantially the same.

The book became a major international success and launched a seven-novel series. Its success also helped establish Rowling as one of the most commercially successful contemporary authors, while the film adaptation followed in 2001.