# Is "Little Wilson and Big God" by Anthony Burgess a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Little Wilson and Big God by Anthony Burgess (Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 1986) is identified by: First printing; volume one of Burgess's autobiography, subtitled 'Being the First Part of the Confessions of Anthony Burgess.' Unlike most of Burgess's books, the American Weidenfeld & Nicolson (New York) edition appeared first, in 1986, and precedes the UK William Heinemann edition of 1987. US Weidenfeld & Nicolson (New York) 1986 is the true first; the UK William Heinemann edition followed in 1987.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- First printing; volume one of Burgess's autobiography, subtitled 'Being the First Part of the Confessions of Anthony Burgess.' Unlike most of Burgess's books, the American Weidenfeld & Nicolson (New York) edition appeared first, in 1986, and precedes the UK William Heinemann edition of 1987
- Collectors seeking the true first should look for the New York Weidenfeld & Nicolson 1986 issue
- Publisher imprint reads Weidenfeld & Nicolson
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Anthony Burgess |
| Publisher | Weidenfeld & Nicolson |
| Year | 1986 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | First printing; volume one of Burgess's autobiography, subtitled 'Being the First Part of the Confessions of Anthony Burgess.' Unlike most… |
| Book-club edition exists? | No |

## Points of issue
First printing; volume one of Burgess's autobiography, subtitled 'Being the First Part of the Confessions of Anthony Burgess.' Unlike most of Burgess's books, the American Weidenfeld & Nicolson (New York) edition appeared first, in 1986, and precedes the UK William Heinemann edition of 1987. Collectors seeking the true first should look for the New York Weidenfeld & Nicolson 1986 issue.

## Is this the true first?
US Weidenfeld & Nicolson (New York) 1986 is the true first; the UK William Heinemann edition followed in 1987. This reverses the usual UK-first pattern for Burgess. The original record's claim that Heinemann 1987 was the true first is incorrect.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club issue.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Little Wilson and Big God* by Anthony Burgess a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/little-wilson-and-big-god
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.