What is Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone?

Question

I know what Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone is....

BRIZZ: you're kidding right?

Answer 1

It's the same as The Sorcerer's Stone, only that is the original title JK Rowling used for the first book in England.

Answer 2

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone is the first volume in a planned series of seven books written by British author J. K. Rowling, and featuring Harry Potter, a young wizard. The book was first published on 26 June 1997 by Bloomsbury in London, and has also been made into a film of the same name.

Both the book and the motion picture were released in the United States with the title Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, ostensibly because the publishers were concerned that the original title would not instantly give the book an impression of magic and fantasy to the American public.

Whatever the reasons for or effects of the change, demand for the Harry Potter series grew very rapidly among young readers, who seemed to be undaunted by the increasing length and complexity of the volumes.

Answer 3

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's stone is a children's book (and subsequent film), the first of the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's stone is the name the American publisher uses in America.

The assumption (wrong I'm sure!) is that American children are stupid and a) don't know what a philosopher's stone is, b) can't look it up and c) have stupid parents who can't explain or find out what it means if their child asks.

I think the publishers are being incredibly insulting, I strongly suggest that you (and your friends) write to them to complain about being patronized like that, that's certainly what I would do if I was an American anyway!

EDIT: having read the other answers I would like to add this;

The 7th book is not published (or even named or written yet) in England or anywhere else! (- I think he's pulling your leg!)

A sorcerer and a philosopher are not remotely similar concepts, one is a magician and the other is a thinker.

A philosopher's stone is a specific concept, this mythological artifact is said to posses the secret of eternal life and, some say, alchemy.

Answer 4

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone is the UK name for Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. I can't remember the exact reason why, but the decided that the book should have different titles for the UK and the US versions.

Answer 5

harry potter and the philosophers stone was the title used for the harry potter 1 distributed in britain... harry potter and sorcerer's stone was for the rest of the world... but over all, it has the same contents so it doesnt really matter...

Answer 6

Its the first in the Harry Potter series. She used the would "Philosopher" in the original that was released in Britan because there it means roughly what sorcerer means in American english. Its basically the same thing, but since we use different sayings she made it friendlier for the population reading it.

Answer 7

It is the British title. JKR's American publishers didn't think that Americans would know what a Philosopher's Stone was -- so they had her change it to a Sorcerer's Stone.

Answer 8

The Philosopher's Stone is what Rowling called it. I know, confusing and yes, STUPID. I'm not sure who changed it to Sorcerer's Stone.

Answer 9

its the exact same thing, except that the philosopher is the original title. the sorcerer's stone is the american title

Answer 10

It is the original title of the 1st book and the original title of the movie when it was released over in England.