# Is "On with the Story" by John Barth a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of On with the Story by John Barth (Little, Brown, 1996) is identified by: edition published 1996 by Little, Brown (ISBN 0316082635). True first is the 1996 Little, Brown U.S.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- First U.S. edition published 1996 by Little, Brown (ISBN 0316082635)
- First printing states 'First Edition' with a complete number line on the copyright page; dust jacket carries the original price
- A story collection (framed as tales exchanged by a vacationing couple)
- Publisher imprint reads Little, Brown
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | John Barth |
| Publisher | Little, Brown |
| Year | 1996 |
| True first | — |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | First U.S. edition published 1996 by Little, Brown (ISBN 0316082635) |
| Book-club edition exists? | No |

## Points of issue
First U.S. edition published 1996 by Little, Brown (ISBN 0316082635). First printing states 'First Edition' with a complete number line on the copyright page; dust jacket carries the original price. A story collection (framed as tales exchanged by a vacationing couple).

## Is this the true first?
True first is the 1996 Little, Brown U.S. edition. Confirmed against dealer listings.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club issue is a recognized first-edition pitfall for this title.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *On with the Story* by John Barth a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/on-with-the-story
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.