The points of issue
Won the 2006 Pulitzer Prize for Poetry. The first edition was published by Louisiana State University Press in 2005 in the Southern Messenger Poets series (ISBN 9780807130841), issued simultaneously in cloth and paper.
Is this the true first?
The US LSU Press edition (2005) is the true first.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book club edition.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Late Wife a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Won the 2006 Pulitzer Prize for Poetry. The first edition was published by Louisiana State University Press in 2005 in the Southern Messenger Poets series (ISBN 9780807130841), issued simultaneously in cloth and paper.
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 US LSU Press edition (2005) is the true first.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book club edition.
I have a first edition of Late Wife — 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.