J.K. Rowling’s first Harry Potter novel appeared in Britain in 1997.
Bloomsbury published Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone in the United Kingdom on 26 June 1997. The book introduced Harry, Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger, Hogwarts, and the wider conflict with Lord Voldemort.
The novel began a seven-book sequence that concluded with Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows in 2007. Its early success grew through word of mouth, awards, strong bookseller support, and international publication, making the series a defining publishing phenomenon.
The year is sometimes confused with the American publication date. Scholastic released the book in the United States in 1998, using the title Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. The British first edition therefore predates the U.S. edition by one year.