# Is "Flaubert's Parrot" by Julian Barnes a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Flaubert's Parrot by Julian Barnes (Jonathan Cape, 1984) is identified by: London: Jonathan Cape, 1984. The UK Jonathan Cape (1984) is the true first, preceding the US Knopf (1985).

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- London: Jonathan Cape, 1984
- First printing in light-green cloth-covered boards lettered and ruled in gilt to the spine; the copyright page reads 'First published 1984' with no reprint line
- Cream dust jacket printed in black, with David Hockney's cover illustration 'Felicite Sleeping with Parrot' and the printed net price present (unclipped) to the front flap
- Booker-shortlisted 1984
- Publisher imprint reads Jonathan Cape
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Julian Barnes |
| Publisher | Jonathan Cape |
| Year | 1984 |
| True first | UK edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | London: Jonathan Cape, 1984 |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
London: Jonathan Cape, 1984. First printing in light-green cloth-covered boards lettered and ruled in gilt to the spine; the copyright page reads 'First published 1984' with no reprint line. Cream dust jacket printed in black, with David Hockney's cover illustration 'Felicite Sleeping with Parrot' and the printed net price present (unclipped) to the front flap. Booker-shortlisted 1984.

## Is this the true first?
The UK Jonathan Cape (1984) is the true first, preceding the US Knopf (1985).

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Because the title was reprinted twice within 1984, the surest first-impression tell is the copyright page: the second printing adds 'Reprinted 1984' to the 'First published 1984' statement, and later 1984 printings are found in black cloth boards rather than the first-issue light green. The US Knopf edition is a separate setting. No prominent BCE.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Flaubert's Parrot* by Julian Barnes a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/flauberts-parrot
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.