<P> Since the release of the first novel , Harry Potter and the Philosopher 's Stone , on 26 June 1997 , the books have found immense popularity , critical acclaim , and commercial success worldwide . They have attracted a wide adult audience as well as younger readers , and are often considered cornerstones of modern young adult literature . The series has also had its share of criticism , including concern about the increasingly dark tone as the series progressed , as well as the often gruesome and graphic violence it depicts . As of February 2018 , the books have sold more than 500 million copies worldwide , making them the best - selling book series in history , and have been translated into eighty languages . The last four books consecutively set records as the fastest - selling books in history , with the final instalment selling roughly eleven million copies in the United States within twenty - four hours of its release . </P>
<P> Since the release of the first novel , Harry Potter and the Philosopher 's Stone , on 26 June 1997 , the books have found immense popularity , critical acclaim , and commercial success worldwide . They have attracted a wide adult audience as well as younger readers , and are often considered cornerstones of modern young adult literature . The series has also had its share of criticism , including concern about the increasingly dark tone as the series progressed , as well as the often gruesome and graphic violence it depicts . As of February 2018 , the books have sold more than 500 million copies worldwide , making them the best - selling book series in history , and have been translated into eighty languages . The last four books consecutively set records as the fastest - selling books in history , with the final instalment selling roughly eleven million copies in the United States within twenty - four hours of its release . </P>
when was the first harry potter book released in the us
when was the first harry potter book released in the us
26 June 1997
26 June 1997