# Is "One Hand Clapping" by Anthony Burgess a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of One Hand Clapping by Anthony Burgess (Peter Davies, 1961) is identified by: First printing published under the pseudonym 'Joseph Kell' (Burgess's first of two Kell novels, the other being Inside Mr Enderby). UK Peter Davies is the true first, issued as by Joseph Kell.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- First printing published under the pseudonym 'Joseph Kell' (Burgess's first of two Kell novels, the other being Inside Mr Enderby)
- First-issue point: title page and binding credit Joseph Kell, not Burgess
- Publisher imprint reads Peter Davies
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Anthony Burgess |
| Publisher | Peter Davies |
| Year | 1961 |
| True first | UK edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | First printing published under the pseudonym 'Joseph Kell' (Burgess's first of two Kell novels, the other being Inside Mr Enderby) |
| Book-club edition exists? | No |

## Points of issue
First printing published under the pseudonym 'Joseph Kell' (Burgess's first of two Kell novels, the other being Inside Mr Enderby). First-issue point: title page and binding credit Joseph Kell, not Burgess.

## Is this the true first?
UK Peter Davies is the true first, issued as by Joseph Kell. Later editions credit Burgess; US Knopf 1972 appeared under the Burgess name.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club issue. The pseudonymous Joseph Kell first issue is the key point.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *One Hand Clapping* by Anthony Burgess a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/one-hand-clapping
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.