# Is "Questions of Heaven: The Chinese Journeys of an American Buddhist" by Gretel Ehrlich a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Questions of Heaven: The Chinese Journeys of an American Buddhist by Gretel Ehrlich (Beacon Press, 1997) is identified by: Beacon Press (Boston) hardcover first edition, 1997, in the Concord Library series; issued in dust jacket (ISBN 0-8070-7310-5). True first US edition.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Beacon Press (Boston) hardcover first edition, 1997, in the Concord Library series; issued in dust jacket (ISBN 0-8070-7310-5)
- Slim volume on her journey up the sacred mountain Emei Shan
- Publisher imprint reads Beacon Press
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Gretel Ehrlich |
| Publisher | Beacon Press |
| Year | 1997 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Beacon Press (Boston) hardcover first edition, 1997, in the Concord Library series… |
| Book-club edition exists? | — |

## Points of issue
Beacon Press (Boston) hardcover first edition, 1997, in the Concord Library series; issued in dust jacket (ISBN 0-8070-7310-5). Slim volume on her journey up the sacred mountain Emei Shan.

## Is this the true first?
True first US edition.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Distinguish the hardcover first (ISBN 0807073105) from the later paperback (ISBN 0807073113).

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Questions of Heaven: The Chinese Journeys of an American Buddhist* by Gretel Ehrlich a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/questions-of-heaven-the-chinese-journeys-of-an-american-budd
CC BY 4.0. Part of the Canonical First-Edition Points of Issue dataset (https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/api/first-edition-titles.json). Last reviewed 2026-07-03.