What is Canon?

[Dicentra spectabilis]

No: HPFGUIDX 55459

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "graniteworks at s..."
<graniteworks at s...> wrote:
> I keep seeing everyone refer to "canon". What is it?? I don't 
> understand the connection. Please Explain?? Also why does everyone 
> refer to the first book as Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone?? 
> As far as my knowledge goes in reading the book, it is called Harry 
> Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone.
> 
Hi again!

"Canon" refers to the first four (and soon to be five) books written
by JK Rowling as well as the two schoolbooks (Quidditch Through the
Ages and Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them).  Anything she says
in an interview is usually considered to be canon.  This means that
it's reliable information.  

Other sources of information, such as what is in the movie, what an
actor says, or fanfic, are not considered to be reliable information.
 So, for example, if the movie differs from the book, the book is
considered to be the true version, not the movie.

The original title of the first book is "Harry Potter and the
Philosopher's Stone."  It appears this way in all of the British,
Canadian, Australian, and other editions worldwide (including foreign
language).

Scholastic, JKR's publisher in the U.S., decided to change the word to
"Sorcerer's" because they thought that U.S. audiences would be turned
off by the word "Philosopher's" because it was too dull or something.
JKR approved the change.  

--Dicentra