Harry Potter Published
J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone was published
June 26, 1997
A Rejected Manuscript That Changed Publishing
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone was published by Bloomsbury in the United Kingdom on June 26, 1997. J.K. Rowling had written the novel as a single mother living on welfare in Edinburgh, Scotland, completing it in cafes while her infant daughter slept. The manuscript was rejected by 12 publishing houses before Bloomsbury accepted it, reportedly on the advice of the chairman's eight-year-old daughter, who demanded to read the rest after being given the first chapter. The initial print run was just 500 copies, 300 of which went to libraries. Almost nobody expected Harry Potter to become a global phenomenon.
A Series That Swept the World
The book quickly gained attention through word of mouth, and by the time later books in the series were published, the Harry Potter phenomenon had become one of the biggest stories in the history of publishing. The seven-book series sold more than 500 million copies in over 80 languages, making it the best-selling book series in history. Later books in the series broke records for fastest-selling books ever, with millions of copies sold in the first 24 hours. Midnight book release parties were held at bookstores around the world. Children who had struggled with reading found themselves devouring 700-page novels. Teachers and librarians credited the series with sparking a generation's love of reading.
A World Beyond the Books
Harry Potter expanded far beyond books into films, theme parks, a stage play, video games, and a vast range of merchandise. The film series became one of the highest-grossing franchises in cinema history. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios became one of the most popular theme park attractions ever built. J.K. Rowling went from welfare recipient to one of the wealthiest people in the United Kingdom within a decade. The story of Harry Potter — an orphan who discovers he is special and finds friendship and belonging at a school for wizards — resonated across cultures, languages, and generations in a way that few stories in history have managed. Use our age calculator to see how old the first book is today.