# Is "Empire Falls" by Richard Russo a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Empire Falls by Richard Russo (Alfred A. Knopf, 2001) is identified by: Knopf first states 'First Edition' on the copyright page, with the Borzoi colophon present, in the first-issue cloth and priced jacket. The US Knopf 2001 hardcover is the true first; the stated 'First Edition' on the copyright page is the operative point, corroborated by the first-state rear-jacket blurbs (Houston Chronicle and Annie Proulx).

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Knopf first states 'First Edition' on the copyright page, with the Borzoi colophon present, in the first-issue cloth and priced jacket
- The rear panel of the first-state jacket carries a photograph of the author together with review quotations, including one from the Houston Chronicle and a blurb from Annie Proulx, with the printed flap price present
- Publisher imprint reads Alfred A. Knopf
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Richard Russo |
| Publisher | Alfred A. Knopf |
| Year | 2001 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Knopf first states 'First Edition' on the copyright page, with the Borzoi colophon present, in the first-issue cloth and priced jacket |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
Knopf first states 'First Edition' on the copyright page, with the Borzoi colophon present, in the first-issue cloth and priced jacket. The rear panel of the first-state jacket carries a photograph of the author together with review quotations, including one from the Houston Chronicle and a blurb from Annie Proulx, with the printed flap price present.

## Is this the true first?
The US Knopf 2001 hardcover is the true first; the stated 'First Edition' on the copyright page is the operative point, corroborated by the first-state rear-jacket blurbs (Houston Chronicle and Annie Proulx).

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club editions lack the 'First Edition' statement, are of lighter construction, often blind-stamped on the rear board, with an unpriced jacket.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Empire Falls* by Richard Russo a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/empire-falls
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.