# Is "Confessions of a Barbarian: Selections from the Journals of Edward Abbey" by Edward Abbey a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Confessions of a Barbarian: Selections from the Journals of Edward Abbey by Edward Abbey (Little, Brown, 1994) is identified by: Little, Brown and Company, Boston, 1994. First edition thus of Abbey's selected journals, assembled posthumously by David Petersen.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Little, Brown and Company, Boston, 1994
- First printing carries the full number line ending in 1 on the copyright page
- Quarter red paper over blue paper boards, silver spine lettering; illustrated with Abbey's own drawings; jacket designed by Michael Leary
- Edited and introduced by David Petersen
- Posthumous
- Publisher imprint reads Little, Brown
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Edward Abbey |
| Publisher | Little, Brown |
| Year | 1994 |
| True first | — |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Little, Brown and Company, Boston, 1994 |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
Little, Brown and Company, Boston, 1994. First printing carries the full number line ending in 1 on the copyright page. Quarter red paper over blue paper boards, silver spine lettering; illustrated with Abbey's own drawings; jacket designed by Michael Leary. Edited and introduced by David Petersen. Posthumous.

## Is this the true first?
First edition thus of Abbey's selected journals, assembled posthumously by David Petersen.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club edition concern for the Little, Brown first trade printing.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Confessions of a Barbarian: Selections from the Journals of Edward Abbey* by Edward Abbey a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/confessions-of-a-barbarian-selections-from-the-journals-of-e
CC BY 4.0. Part of the Canonical First-Edition Points of Issue dataset (https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/api/first-edition-titles.json). Last reviewed 2026-07-03.