# Is "Fiddle City" by Dan Kavanagh (Julian Barnes) a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Fiddle City by Dan Kavanagh (Julian Barnes) (Jonathan Cape, 1981) is identified by: Second Duffy novel under the Dan Kavanagh pseudonym. UK Jonathan Cape (1981) is the true first; the US Pantheon edition followed in 1986.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Second Duffy novel under the Dan Kavanagh pseudonym
- Black boards, gilt-lettered spine; title page reads Jonathan Cape, Thirty Bedford Square, London
- Copyright page states 'First published 1981' with no later impressions noted
- Publisher imprint reads Jonathan Cape
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Dan Kavanagh (Julian Barnes) |
| Publisher | Jonathan Cape |
| Year | 1981 |
| True first | UK edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Second Duffy novel under the Dan Kavanagh pseudonym |
| Book-club edition exists? | No |

## Points of issue
Second Duffy novel under the Dan Kavanagh pseudonym. Black boards, gilt-lettered spine; title page reads Jonathan Cape, Thirty Bedford Square, London. Copyright page states 'First published 1981' with no later impressions noted.

## Is this the true first?
UK Jonathan Cape (1981) is the true first; the US Pantheon edition followed in 1986.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club edition relevant; later printings/impressions are stated on the copyright page.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Fiddle City* by Dan Kavanagh (Julian Barnes) a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/fiddle-city
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.