Wizarding World.

Harry Potter canon: PS | CS | PA | GF | FB | QA | OP | HBP | DH | FW | TBB | DP | JKR.COM | Pm Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (shown with UK cover)

 

Harry Potter
and the Philosopher's Stone

by J. K. Rowling

first British printing: July 1, 1997, Bloomsbury Books

Harry Potter
and the Sorcerer's Stone

first American printing: September 1, 1999, Scholastic, Arthur A. Levine Books
U.S. illustrations by Mary GrandPré, 1998

Dedication:
For Jessica, who loves stories,
For Anne, who loved them too;
And for Di, who heard this one first.

This is the first book of the series.
It was published in the U.S. as Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone.

resources:

word count:
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone - 76,944 words
Official Word Count Provided by Scholastic Inc TM & © 2004-1996. All rights reserved.

other media versions:

related essays:


Hanging Harry by Alice Wackfacts & trivia:

    The title refers to a stone sought after by alchemists, a stone which was reputed to turn other metals into gold and to grant immortality.

    title in the U.S.: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

comments by Rowling about the book:
Q: Do you rewrite a lot?
A: A huge amount. Only once have I sat down, written something end to end, and let it stand. That was the chapter in Philosopher's Stone when Harry learns to fly. I remember vividly - the old story we've heard a million times - my daughter fell asleep, it was a beautifully sunny day, I sat in a café, and wrote that chapter from beginning to end. And I think I changed two words. That's very unusual for me (Nr).
Q: Do you have a favorite passage from one of your books?
A: Hard to choose. I like chapter twelve of Sorcerer's Stone (The Mirror of Erised), and I am proud of the ending of Goblet of Fire (Sch2).
Why is the name different in the U.S.?
Q: Does it bother you that in America they changed the names of your books?
A: They changed the first title, but with my consent to be honest. I wish I hadn't agreed now but it was my first book, and I was so grateful that anyone was publishing me I wanted to keep them happy (CR).

awards:

Nestlé Smarties Book Prize 1997 Gold Medal 9-11 years, FCBG Children's Book Award 1997 Overall winner and Longer Novel Category winner, Birmingham Cable Children's Book Award 1997, Young Telegraph Paperback of the Year 1998, British Book Awards 1997 Children's Book of the Year, Sheffield Children's Book Award 1998, Whitaker's Platinum Book Award 2001
Harry Potter canon: PS | CS | PA | GF | FB | QA | OP | HBP | DH | FW | TBB | DP | JKR.COM | Pm

Primary editor: Steve Vander Ark. Previous editor(s): Steve Vander Ark, Michele Worley.
original artwork of Harry © 2001 Alice Wack, used by permission
Original page date 13 February 2001; Last page update July 12, 2012 SVA.