Who wrote the Harry Potter novel Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone?

J.K. Rowling wrote Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.

The novel was Rowling’s first published book and appeared in the United Kingdom in 1997. It tells how Harry, an orphan living with relatives, learns that he is a wizard and begins his first year at Hogwarts. The story combines school fiction, fantasy, mystery, and coming-of-age elements.

Bloomsbury accepted the manuscript after Rowling had written much of it during a difficult period in her life. The book quickly gained attention through awards, reviews, and strong sales. In the United States, it was retitled Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.

The author’s initials were used on the cover because the publisher thought a gender-neutral presentation might attract a broad readership. Rowling later became one of the best-known authors in the world, but the Harry Potter series remained the work most closely associated with her name.