The points of issue
First English edition, translated by Ann Goldstein, issued as a paperback original by Europa Editions, 2012 (ISBN 9781609450786, 331 pp.). There is no hardcover trade first. First book of the Neapolitan Quartet; identify by the Europa Editions imprint and absence of later-printing statements on the copyright page.
Is this the true first?
True first English edition is the Europa Editions US paperback original of 2012 (Goldstein translation). Italian original published as L'amica geniale by Edizioni e/o, 2011.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
The title sold heavily after the later television adaptation, and reprints carry advanced number lines and tie-in cover art. The first printing precedes the TV tie-in cover and any later one-volume or deluxe editions.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of My Brilliant Friend (L'amica geniale) a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First English edition, translated by Ann Goldstein, issued as a paperback original by Europa Editions, 2012 (ISBN 9781609450786, 331 pp.). There is no hardcover trade first. First book of the Neapolitan Quartet; identify by the Europa Editions imprint and absence of later-printing statements on the copyright page.
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. True first English edition is the Europa Editions US paperback original of 2012 (Goldstein translation). Italian original published as L'amica geniale by Edizioni e/o, 2011.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
The title sold heavily after the later television adaptation, and reprints carry advanced number lines and tie-in cover art. The first printing precedes the TV tie-in cover and any later one-volume or deluxe editions.
I have a first edition of My Brilliant Friend (L'amica geniale) — 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.