Most of us are well-versed in the intricacies of the English language, particularly the difference between US English and British English.
Though, apparently, these differences extend to more than just spelling ('humor' versus 'humour', for example), something J. K. Rowling evidently encountered when titling her first Harry Potter novel.
Potterheads will be very familiar with the first in the series - where young Harry is invited to enroll in Hogwarts, in a hilarious scene involving thousands of letters flooding through his uncle and aunt's fireplace. Fans of the book and movie franchise will also recall it also serves as the foundation for the fledgling wizard's years-long beef with platinum-blond problem child, Draco Malfoy.
Many fans, however, will not know that the first book - which came out in 1997 - had to be renamed in the United States, due to the fact that its publisher believed Americans would have difficulty understanding the original title.
Readers of the British book will recall that the first is titled Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, however, US readers will remember a slightly different title - Harry Potter and the Sorceror's Stone. But why the name change?
Well, according to Arthur A. Levine, Scholastic - the publishing house responsible for publishing the novel and who paid $105,000 for the US rights to it - didn't think the term 'Philosopher' would do too well or that Americans would "understand the original title." In fact, he even proposed the title be changed altogether, to Harry Potter and the School of Magic, according to Culturess. Yikes... it just doesn't have the same ring, does it?
Rowling's editor pushed her to let them change the title though, fortunately, she pushed back as she didn't like the sound of it. Instead, she apparently suggested that 'Sorceror' could be used in place of 'Philosopher.' Thus, the new title was born.
This situation was discussed in Philip W. Errington's Rowling bibliography, writing (via LADBible): "Levine noted that he needed a title that said 'magic' more overtly to American readers. So the title that I had suggested to me and which I then turned to [Rowling] was Harry Potter and the School of Magic." He then added: "[Rowling] very thoughtfully said, 'No, that doesn't feel right to me.'" She then made the 'Sorceror' suggestion.
Understandably, Rowling would have preferred the original title be kept, given that there is such a thing as a Philosopher's Stone, and talk of it has been around since the Middle Ages. Buzzfeed details that the mystical stone is an: "Alchemical substance of legend capable of turning base metals such as mercury into gold or silver. It is also able to extend one's life and called the elixir of life, useful for rejuvenation and for achieving immortality."
Well, thank goodness Rowling pushed back - I couldn't imagine a Harry Potter and the School of Magic!
