# Is "Byrne" by Anthony Burgess a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Byrne by Anthony Burgess (Hutchinson, 1995) is identified by: First printing; a verse novel in the manner of Byron's 'Don Juan,' completed shortly before Burgess's death and published posthumously. UK Hutchinson 1995 true first (published September 1995, posthumously); US Carroll & Graf 1997.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- First printing; a verse novel in the manner of Byron's 'Don Juan,' completed shortly before Burgess's death and published posthumously
- UK Hutchinson 1995 is the first edition; a US Carroll & Graf edition followed in 1997
- Publisher imprint reads Hutchinson
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Anthony Burgess |
| Publisher | Hutchinson |
| Year | 1995 |
| True first | UK edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | First printing; a verse novel in the manner of Byron's 'Don Juan,' completed shortly before Burgess's death and published posthumously |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
First printing; a verse novel in the manner of Byron's 'Don Juan,' completed shortly before Burgess's death and published posthumously. UK Hutchinson 1995 is the first edition; a US Carroll & Graf edition followed in 1997.

## Is this the true first?
UK Hutchinson 1995 true first (published September 1995, posthumously); US Carroll & Graf 1997.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Posthumous; no book-club issue.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Byrne* by Anthony Burgess a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/byrne
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.