# Is "Free Love and Other Stories" by Ali Smith a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Free Love and Other Stories by Ali Smith (Virago, 1995) is identified by: Short story collection of twelve stories; first edition published by Virago in 1995 (ISBN 1-86049-190-1), cover bearing a still of Louise Brooks chosen by the author. UK Virago (1995) is the true first.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Short story collection of twelve stories; first edition published by Virago in 1995 (ISBN 1-86049-190-1), cover bearing a still of Louise Brooks chosen by the author
- Smith's debut book; winner of the Saltire First Book of the Year award and a Scottish Arts Council award
- Publisher imprint reads Virago
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Ali Smith |
| Publisher | Virago |
| Year | 1995 |
| True first | UK edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Short story collection of twelve stories; first edition published by Virago in 1995 (ISBN 1-86049-190-1), cover bearing a still of Louise… |
| Book-club edition exists? | — |

## Points of issue
Short story collection of twelve stories; first edition published by Virago in 1995 (ISBN 1-86049-190-1), cover bearing a still of Louise Brooks chosen by the author. Smith's debut book; winner of the Saltire First Book of the Year award and a Scottish Arts Council award.

## Is this the true first?
UK Virago (1995) is the true first.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Distinguish the 1995 first issue from the later reissue under a different ISBN (1-86049-584-2).

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Free Love and Other Stories* by Ali Smith a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/free-love-and-other-stories
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.