First published 1956

A Single Pebble

by John Hersey

A Single Pebble is a novel by John Hersey, first published by Alfred A. Knopf in New York in 1956, with a London edition from Hamish Hamilton the same year. It follows a young American engineer travelling up the Yangtze on a Chinese junk in the 1920s.

Editions tracked
2
First edition
Knopf, 1956
First published
Alfred A. Knopf, New York, 1956
First UK edition
Hamish Hamilton, 1956
Set text
Mensa Excellence in Reading list, grades 9 to 12

The first edition of A Single Pebble by John Hersey was published in New York by Knopf in 1956. We track 2 editions.

Editions

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First edition

  1. 1st Knopf1956 Hardback I own A Single Pebble, Knopf 1956 Log in to want this

Later and other editions

  1. Hamish Hamilton1956 Hardback I own A Single Pebble, Hamish Hamilton 1956 Log in to want this

We have not yet researched the issue points for this book. If you know how to tell the first from later printings, tell us and we will credit you once it is checked against a second source.

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Frequently asked questions

Who published the first edition of A Single Pebble?

The first edition of A Single Pebble by John Hersey was published in New York by Knopf in 1956.

How many editions of A Single Pebble are there?

We track 2 editions of A Single Pebble, including 1 first edition. Each has its own page with how to identify it.

Sources

Where these facts come from

Every fact on this page was checked against the sources listed. Checked 22 October 2026. Reviewed by Harriet Ellis; read how we check facts.