The Canon Database

The book that started it all and introduced the Wizarding World – Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s (Philosopher’s) Stone.

• Release Date: June 26, 1997
• Content Type: Book
• Description: “Harry Potter’s life is miserable. His parents are dead and he’s stuck with his heartless relatives, who force him to live in a tiny closet under the stairs. But his fortune changes when he receives a letter that tells him the truth about himself: he’s a wizard. A mysterious visitor rescues him from his relatives and takes him to his new home, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. After a lifetime of bottling up his magical powers, Harry finally feels like a normal kid. But even within the Wizarding community, he is special. He is the boy who lived: the only person to have ever survived a killing curse inflicted by the evil Lord Voldemort, who launched a brutal takeover of the Wizarding world, only to vanish after failing to kill Harry. Though Harry’s first year at Hogwarts is the best of his life, not everything is perfect. There is a dangerous secret object hidden within the castle walls, and Harry believes it’s his responsibility to prevent it from falling into evil hands. But doing so will bring him into contact with forces more terrifying than he ever could have imagined.” (Scholastic)
• Reviews: Winner of numerous Book of the Year awards in 2018. With over 9 million reviews, the Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone holds an average rating of 4.47 (out of 5) on Goodreads.
• Charts: An international sensation, credited with kickstarting a new generation of readers. The book has sold more than 120 million copies worldwide, making it the third-highest sell book of all time. It held the top spot on the New York Times Best Seller list for nearly two years. The Sorcerer’s Stone led to the creation of separate children’s and adult lists at the New York Times.
• Purchase: Single Edition | Paperback Set | Illustrated Hardcover Edition