The points of issue
Libretto/oratorio text (words by McEwan, music by Michael Berkeley); slim volume of about 32 pages; copyright page reads 'First published 1983'. A separate Oxford University Press musical score followed in 1984.
Is this the true first?
UK Cape (1983) is the true first appearance of the text. Minor collectible.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book club edition; the 1984 OUP score is a separate music publication, not a reprint of the Cape text.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Or Shall We Die? a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Libretto/oratorio text (words by McEwan, music by Michael Berkeley); slim volume of about 32 pages; copyright page reads 'First published 1983'. A separate Oxford University Press musical score followed in 1984.
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. UK Cape (1983) is the true first appearance of the text. Minor collectible.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book club edition; the 1984 OUP score is a separate music publication, not a reprint of the Cape text.
I have a first edition of Or Shall We Die? — 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.