Facts about Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
- 05
J.K. Rowling originally conceived the idea for Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone during a delayed train journey between Manchester and London in 1990.
- 04
Nearly 500,000 copies of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone sold in its first year, establishing the franchise as a cultural phenomenon before any film was released.
- 03
Philosopher's Stone required 309 pages in its original British hardcover edition, making it significantly shorter than most subsequent books in the seven-book series.
- 02
Daniel Radcliffe was cast as Harry Potter at age 11, making him roughly the same age as his character when filming began on September 23, 1998.
- 01
The Philosopher's Stone was published on June 26, 1997, in the United Kingdom under the title Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, becoming a bestseller before the film adaptation arrived.