This isn’t called this in the US, you know (Picture: Getty; Warner Bros.)

It’s a mystery that might have baffled a lot of punters – why does the first Harry Potter book have a different title in the US?

You see, pretty much everywhere it’s titled Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.

But in America, those Americans had to go and America all over the place and call it Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.

It. Just. Makes. No. Sense.


Well, now, it does, after a biography on author J.K.Rowling revealed some details behind the detail that warped our minds for over a decade – and it’s all got to do with the rights to the book about the boy who lived.



When the rights for the first book were sold way back before it was published in 1997, Scholastic Corporation bought them in the US under the original name of Philosopher’s Stone.

Do you know the reason? (Picture: Warner Brothers)

And they paid $105,000 (£79k) for the right to the rights of the OG title.

In Philip W. Errington’s biography on the author he wrote that Scholastic boss Arthur A. Levine wanted ‘a title that said “magic” more overtly to American readers.’

Apparently he felt by leaving it as Philosopher’s Stone it would feel ‘arcane’.

Before settling on Sorcerer’s Stone, though, the title Harry Potter and the School of Magic was bandied about.

Potentially no surprises there that J.K. Rowling shut that right down.

After some back and forth, Rowling proferred Sorcerer’s Stone and here we are.

She wasn’t too happy with the decisionin the end though, as she later admitted during a web chat for BBC Red Nose day that she regretted changing it.

‘They changed the first title, but with my consent,’ she wrote. ‘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 …’

The film title for the first flick was changed, however all other books and films kept with Rowling’s original title.

And there you have it.

P.S. ‘It’s leviOsa, not levioSA.’

Got a showbiz story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page - we'd love to hear from you.

MORE: The Wizarding World of Harry Potter now serves up butterbeer ice cream

MORE: Woman realises her Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone copy is worth £56,000