# Is "Heat and Dust" by Ruth Prawer Jhabvala a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Heat and Dust by Ruth Prawer Jhabvala (John Murray, 1975) is identified by: First UK edition, John Murray, London, 1975. The John Murray UK edition is the true first; the US Harper & Row edition followed (1976).

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- First UK edition, John Murray, London, 1975. 'First published 1975' stated on the copyright page, with no later impression line
- Original cloth in dust jacket; some copies retain the Booker Prize promotional wraparound band
- Winner of the 1975 Booker Prize
- Publisher imprint reads John Murray
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Ruth Prawer Jhabvala |
| Publisher | John Murray |
| Year | 1975 |
| True first | UK edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | First UK edition, John Murray, London, 1975. 'First published 1975' stated on the copyright page, with no later impression line |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
First UK edition, John Murray, London, 1975. 'First published 1975' stated on the copyright page, with no later impression line. Original cloth in dust jacket; some copies retain the Booker Prize promotional wraparound band. Winner of the 1975 Booker Prize.

## Is this the true first?
The John Murray UK edition is the true first; the US Harper & Row edition followed (1976).

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
The US edition carries a US imprint and is later. No prominent book-club edition.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Heat and Dust* by Ruth Prawer Jhabvala a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/heat-and-dust
CC BY 4.0. Part of the Canonical First-Edition Points of Issue dataset (https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/api/first-edition-titles.json). Last reviewed 2026-07-04.