# Is "Going to the Dogs" by Dan Kavanagh (Julian Barnes) a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Going to the Dogs by Dan Kavanagh (Julian Barnes) (Viking, 1987) is identified by: Fourth and final Duffy novel under the Dan Kavanagh pseudonym. UK Viking (London, 1987) is the true first; the reported first printing was small (about 4,000 copies).

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Fourth and final Duffy novel under the Dan Kavanagh pseudonym
- Boards with gilt-stamped spine; the copyright page states 'First published 1987' with no later-impression line
- Octavo, 208 pages
- The first-issue dust jacket carries artwork by John Martinez and the original printed price should be present on the flap
- Publisher imprint reads Viking
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Dan Kavanagh (Julian Barnes) |
| Publisher | Viking |
| Year | 1987 |
| True first | UK edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Fourth and final Duffy novel under the Dan Kavanagh pseudonym |
| Book-club edition exists? | No |

## Points of issue
Fourth and final Duffy novel under the Dan Kavanagh pseudonym. Boards with gilt-stamped spine; the copyright page states 'First published 1987' with no later-impression line. Octavo, 208 pages. The first-issue dust jacket carries artwork by John Martinez and the original printed price should be present on the flap.

## Is this the true first?
UK Viking (London, 1987) is the true first; the reported first printing was small (about 4,000 copies). A US Pantheon edition also appeared in 1987, but the UK Viking issue takes precedence.

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

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Going to the Dogs* by Dan Kavanagh (Julian Barnes) a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/going-to-the-dogs
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.