Bloomsbury released the first Harry Potter novel in the United Kingdom.
Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone was published by Bloomsbury on 26 June 1997. The book introduced Harry, Hermione Granger, Ron Weasley, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and the central conflict with Lord Voldemort. Its publication began a seven-volume series that became one of the most commercially successful literary franchises in history.
Bloomsbury was Rowling’s British publisher, while Scholastic acquired the United States rights. The American edition appeared under the title Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, a change made because the publisher believed “sorcerer” would be more familiar to US readers. This title difference can make the first book seem like two separate novels, but the stories are the same. Bloomsbury continued publishing the UK editions of the main series.