Which Harry Potter novel did J.K. Rowling publish first in 1997?

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

Bloomsbury released the British edition on 26 June 1997. The story follows Harry during his first year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, where he learns about magic, friendship and the threat posed by Lord Voldemort. It established the central cast and the series’ school-year structure.

In the United States, Scholastic published the book in 1998 as Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. “Philosopher’s Stone” is the original British title, while “Sorcerer’s Stone” is the American title; they refer to the same novel, not two different stories.

The book won the Nestlé Smarties Book Prize in the 9–11 years category and helped launch one of the most commercially successful children’s series ever published. Six sequels followed, concluding with Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows in 2007.