The points of issue
First English edition (translation of the German 'Kairos'): Granta, London, published 1 June 2023, narrowly preceding New Directions, New York, 6 June 2023. Both carry a dated 'first published 2023' verso statement. Winner of the 2024 International Booker Prize. Hofmann translation.
Is this the true first?
The German 'Kairos' (Penguin Verlag, 2021) is the true first of the work. The Granta UK edition (1 June 2023) is the true first in English by a few days; the New Directions US edition (6 June 2023) is a near-simultaneous first US printing. A 2024 New Directions softcover is a later paperback reissue, not the first.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Granta UK and New Directions US firsts are distinguished by imprint and the dated verso statement. No known book-club edition.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Kairos a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First English edition (translation of the German 'Kairos'): Granta, London, published 1 June 2023, narrowly preceding New Directions, New York, 6 June 2023. Both carry a dated 'first published 2023' verso statement. Winner of the 2024 International Booker Prize. Hofmann translation.
How do I tell the first printing from a later one?
Check the copyright page for the publisher's first-printing convention and confirm the points above. The German 'Kairos' (Penguin Verlag, 2021) is the true first of the work. The Granta UK edition (1 June 2023) is the true first in English by a few days; the New Directions US edition (6 June 2023) is a near-simultaneous first US printing. A 2024 New Directions softcover is a later paperback reissue
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Granta UK and New Directions US firsts are distinguished by imprint and the dated verso statement. No known book-club edition.
I have a first edition of Kairos — what should I do?
If you're clearing books, New Mexico Literacy Project offers free pickup in Albuquerque, any condition, and makes sure collectible copies aren't lost. To sell, see the author's collecting guide. Either way, nothing valuable ends up in a landfill.