The points of issue
First edition, William Heinemann, London, 1985, hardcover; a biographical and critical study issued to mark the centenary of D.H. Lawrence's birth. The UK Heinemann edition precedes (or is contemporaneous with) the first American edition, Arbor House, New York, 1985 (276 pp., ISBN 0-87795-766-5).
Is this the true first?
UK Heinemann 1985 is the accepted true first; the first American edition was Arbor House, New York, 1985. Both bear the 1985 date; distinguish by imprint.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club edition.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Flame Into Being: The Life and Work of D.H. Lawrence a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First edition, William Heinemann, London, 1985, hardcover; a biographical and critical study issued to mark the centenary of D.H. Lawrence's birth. The UK Heinemann edition precedes (or is contemporaneous with) the first American edition, Arbor House, New York, 1985 (276 pp., ISBN 0-87795-766-5).
How do I tell the first printing from a later one?
Check the copyright page for the publisher's first-printing convention and confirm the points above. UK Heinemann 1985 is the accepted true first; the first American edition was Arbor House, New York, 1985. Both bear the 1985 date; distinguish by imprint.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book-club edition.
I have a first edition of Flame Into Being: The Life and Work of D.H. Lawrence — what should I do?
If you're clearing books, New Mexico Literacy Project offers free pickup in Albuquerque, any condition, and makes sure collectible copies aren't lost. To sell, see the author's collecting guide. Either way, nothing valuable ends up in a landfill.