What was the name of J.K. Rowling’s debut published novel?

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

Bloomsbury published the novel in the United Kingdom on 26 June 1997. It introduced the orphaned Harry Potter, who discovers that he is a wizard and begins studying at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The book launched the seven-volume Harry Potter series.

Before publication, the manuscript faced the normal challenges of finding an agent and publisher. Bloomsbury acquired it after literary agent Christopher Little represented Rowling. The novel soon attracted major attention, won children’s-book awards, and became an international bestseller.

The book is known as Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone in the United States. That alternate title can cause confusion when identifying Rowling’s debut, but both names refer to the same novel. The Casual Vacancy was her first non-fantasy novel, while Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them began as a companion work connected to the wizarding world.