philosophers stone/sourcerers stone

I did find this online, and I feel it is rather insulting to Americans:

Quote :

Americans supposdly weren't going to know the reference. I knew what a philosopher was, and that the alcemists were considered them. Later on I learned the Philosopher's Stone was what the alcemists were trying to achieve.

From http://www.cosforums.com/archive/index.php?t-64869.html

If this is the reason for the name change, it is ridiculous

its bloomsburys fault

Duuuude (yeah I haven't used that word in a bit now ) I happen to be an American and I take offense to that statement about what they said about us Americans.

I think I like Philosopher better than Sorceror. It makes for a better title and it makes more sense. Unfortunately, I don't have the PS copy I have the SS but I want to PS one just cuz it's the real title.

I hate that they stereo type us Americans. We're smarter than they give us credit for. ~sighs~

Anyway, that is kind of all I have to say here.
Jesse

I think that statement is ridiculous. Im not american, but i can understand why americans would take offense at that - it is ridiculous!

Well I suppose the media thinks we Americans are unable to comprehend. It is a rather rude insult but we do get stereotyped a lot.
Jesse-if you want to read the PS I do have it in the closet lol!

Im american but I never really thought about it much...beisdes that comment I didn't really care what the title is..just having the actual book is fine by me! lol

Yup now that I have been checking out the PS book, I like it better. Love the name haha and well yeah :D

I personally don't mind the name difference...But I guess if I want to be more accurate I should be shouting "PHILOSOPHER!!! NOT SORCERER!!! MEHHHH" Okay maybe not the "meh" part, but we all know that I just loooooooooove "Meh"

What else do you like better about it, Jesse? I mean, other than the name and some terms, and the cover, is anything really different? Or is it just the smell of originalness lol.

Okay thats totally rude! I happy to be an American and i am just as smart as people my age from other countries i totally know what a philospher is!

In a Barnes and Noble interview, March 19, 1999, JK Rowling said below on this subject:

Quote :

Why did they change the name of the book from HARRY POTTER AND THE PHILOSOPHER'S STONE to HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER'S STONE in the US?

Well, once again that was my American editor's choice. He felt "philosopher's stone" gave a false impression of what the book was about. He wanted something more suggestive of magic in the title, so we tried a few alternatives and my favorite was "sorcerer's stone."

interview found here: http://www.quick-quote-quill.org/articles/1999/0399-barnesandnoble.html

Yeah I read that. And I guess Sorcerer's is a bit more magic inspiring than Philosopher's..oh well.

Yeah, it does, but Philosopher just makes more sense, because it is a Philosopher's stone and yeah...

Sorry, I'm not making much sense, but I just could never understand the logic behind the name change...

JKR said it one some site interview once upon a time that I read....something the publisher said to change, and JKR said "Okay, let's change it" and yep.

but if it were my book, i'd be quite miffed if someone wanted me to change something just for the sake of it...even though having a beta is a good thing...

I think it is silly how they changed the name - i mean - JK gave it athat name for a reason right?

Ok I know this post is old but I have some thoughts. I agree that "Sorcerer" makes it sound more magical but anybody who knows anything about alchemy knows that alchemist search for the philosophers stone. I watch Fullmetal Alchemist and their always talking about it, its kind of the point of the show. I didnt realize it at first when I saw the movie because there was no real emphasis on the fact the Dumbledore dabbed in alchemy and so sorcerers stone made sense. But now knowing more of the background to the story, philosophers stone makes a whole lot more sense. It figures they would dumb it down for us Americans with the bad rap we have but come on...I think we couldve figured that out.

Fullmetal alchemist is sooooooooo cool!!!! I to think its silly how they changed it but they did. Maybe they just thought that because americans have different works for some things the english do then it should be changed.

Jo said that she regrets changing the title. It does kinda get confusing when ur on international sites but I don't think thats such a big deal.

I'm only 11,and I grew up on "Sorserers Stone" *poof*