Surprised by Joy (1955)

Geoffrey Bles published the book in London on 19 September 1955; Harcourt, Brace followed in New York in early 1956. The Bles first is an octavo of 224 pages printed by Butler & Tanner of Frome, bound in grey cloth with the spine lettered in silver on a yellow panel. The jacket, designed by John R. Biggs, has the author's name in white on grey and the title on a yellow field, and carries a Book Society recommendation; the front flap of the first-issue jacket is priced 15s. net. The reverse of the title page states first publication in 1955. A second Bles printing appeared in November 1955 at the same price, so look for any reprint line on the copyright page and do not rely on the jacket price alone. The American edition (teal cloth, Philip Grushkin jacket, 238 pages, priced in dollars) is easy to tell apart. The standard reference is Hooper 29.