Story highlights First Potter book was published on June 26,1997 in the UK
Study found books increased empathy in children
(CNN) Believe it or not, the world almost missed out on Harry Potter.
Author J.K. Rowling has told the story of how she received "loads" of rejections before "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" (known in the U.S. as "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone") was finally published on June 26, 1997.
Rowling once told fans that she couldn't even get books published under the pseudonym of Robert Galbraith, which she used for some thrillers she wrote.
.@babymegs_ Loads! First publisher to turn down Harry also sent @RGalbraith his rudest rejection. They don't even want me in a beard. — J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) March 23, 2015
But, as wizards everywhere now know, Rowling and her imagination eventually broke through in a major way.
In celebration of the 20th anniversary the first Potter adventure, let's take a look at how Rowling's magical writing changed the world.
LilSebastian4Prez on June 26th, 2017 at 10:53 UTC »
I read these books as they were released with the final one coming out when I was seventeen. They were a huge part of my childhood and although they definitely have their flaws I will never stop loving them. The influence they've had over the last twenty years has been huge and I'm so glad I got to experience the excitement and anticipation of waiting for the next instalment to come and go on such an epic journey with those characters.
jokeinateacozy on June 26th, 2017 at 10:52 UTC »
Still remember my mum ordering the first book from one of those book order forms you'd get in elementary school :')
sotolf2 on June 26th, 2017 at 10:38 UTC »
Wow, way to make me feel old, I remember reading the books as they came out :)