Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone is the debut novel by British author J. K. Rowling and the first in the seven-book Harry Potter series. The story follows Harry Potter, an orphan raised by his cruel aunt, uncle, and cousin, the Dursleys, who forces him to live in a cupboard under the stairs. On his eleventh birthday, Harry discovers he is a wizard when a giant named Rubeus Hagrid delivers his acceptance letter to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Harry learns that his parents were murdered by the dark wizard Lord Voldemort, who also tried to kill Harry but mysteriously vanished after failing. At Hogwarts, Harry is sorted into Gryffindor House and befriends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger. Together, they uncover a plot to steal the Philosopher's Stone, an alchemical object that grants immortality and unlimited wealth, hidden within the school. Harry must confront the forces seeking the stone, including a professor possessed by Voldemort, and ultimately faces the dark wizard himself in an encounter that tests his courage and loyalty.

The book was first published in the United Kingdom on 26 June 1997 by Bloomsbury Publishing, with an initial print run of only 500 copies, 300 of which went to libraries. The American rights sold for US$105,000, a record for a children's book by an unknown author, to Scholastic Corporation, which published the book on 1 September 1998 under the title Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, fearing American readers would not associate the word 'philosopher' with magic. Rowling has since expressed regret over the title change. The first edition, illustrated by Thomas Taylor, contained 223 pages; the American edition had 320 pages. The novel has sold over 120 million copies worldwide, making it the fourth best-selling book of all time and the best-selling in the series. It has been translated into 85 languages.

The book won most of the major British book awards judged by children, including the Nestlé Smarties Book Prize in 1997. It received a commendation for the Carnegie Medal in 1997 and was shortlisted for the Guardian Children's Award in 1998. Rowling was named Author of the Year at the British Book Awards in February 2000. The book reached the top of the New York Times best-seller list in August 1999 and stayed near the top throughout 1999 and 2000. Critics praised Rowling's imagination, humor, and clever plot construction, though a few felt the final chapters were rushed. The series has had an enormous cultural impact, inspiring theme parks, merchandise, and academic study, and continues to be discovered by new generations of readers. [edit]