The points of issue
States 'First published 1979' on the copyright page; cloth boards, dust jacket priced in sterling (ISBN 0 233 97140 8). The UK André Deutsch edition precedes the US Knopf 1979 edition.
Is this the true first?
True first is the UK André Deutsch 1979 edition; the US Knopf 1979 is a first American printing only. Among Naipaul's most sought-after later titles.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-of-the-Month Club editions derived from the US Knopf exist (blind stamp to rear board, no price on jacket); these are not the true first. Distinguish the UK Deutsch first from the US printings.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of A Bend in the River a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: States 'First published 1979' on the copyright page; cloth boards, dust jacket priced in sterling (ISBN 0 233 97140 8). The UK André Deutsch edition precedes the US Knopf 1979 edition.
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. True first is the UK André Deutsch 1979 edition; the US Knopf 1979 is a first American printing only. Among Naipaul's most sought-after later titles.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Book-of-the-Month Club editions derived from the US Knopf exist (blind stamp to rear board, no price on jacket); these are not the true first. Distinguish the UK Deutsch first from the US printings.
I have a first edition of A Bend in the River — 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.