The points of issue
First English appeared as an unauthorized translation by Nicholas Bethell and David Burg, issued by The Bodley Head, London, in two parts: Part I in 1968 and Part II in 1969. This precedes the US Dial Press edition. Identify by the Bodley Head imprint and the first-impression statement on the Part I volume.
Is this the true first?
True first English is The Bodley Head UK issue (Part I 1968, Part II 1969), translated by Bethell and Burg, preceding the US Dial Press edition. These were unauthorized; Russian-language editions circulated in the West in 1968 before any authorized release, and excerpts appeared in the Times Literary Supplement in April 1968.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Confirm the Bodley Head two-part issue for the UK first; US Dial Press and later Farrar reprints follow. No legitimate Soviet edition existed at the time.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Cancer Ward (Rakovy korpus) a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First English appeared as an unauthorized translation by Nicholas Bethell and David Burg, issued by The Bodley Head, London, in two parts: Part I in 1968 and Part II in 1969. This precedes the US Dial Press edition. Identify by the Bodley Head imprint and the first-impression statement on the Part I volume.
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 English is The Bodley Head UK issue (Part I 1968, Part II 1969), translated by Bethell and Burg, preceding the US Dial Press edition. These were unauthorized; Russian-language editions circulated in the West in 1968 before any authorized release, and excerpts appeared in the Times Literar
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Confirm the Bodley Head two-part issue for the UK first; US Dial Press and later Farrar reprints follow. No legitimate Soviet edition existed at the time.
I have a first edition of Cancer Ward (Rakovy korpus) — 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.