# Is "Swing Time" by Zadie Smith a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Swing Time by Zadie Smith (Hamish Hamilton, 2016) is identified by: UK Hamish Hamilton hardcover, published 15 November 2016, ISBN 9780241144152, 453 pages. UK Hamish Hamilton (15 November 2016) precedes the US Penguin Press edition (2016).

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- UK Hamish Hamilton hardcover, published 15 November 2016, ISBN 9780241144152, 453 pages
- Bound in black quarter cloth with red spine lettering over black paper-covered boards bearing a small red double-diamond device, with black endpapers; issued in a yellow dust jacket that should retain its printed cover price (unclipped as issued)
- First printing shows the full number line descending to 1 on the copyright page
- Booker-longlisted
- Publisher imprint reads Hamish Hamilton
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Zadie Smith |
| Publisher | Hamish Hamilton |
| Year | 2016 |
| True first | UK edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | UK Hamish Hamilton hardcover, published 15 November 2016, ISBN 9780241144152, 453 pages |
| Book-club edition exists? | — |

## Points of issue
UK Hamish Hamilton hardcover, published 15 November 2016, ISBN 9780241144152, 453 pages. Bound in black quarter cloth with red spine lettering over black paper-covered boards bearing a small red double-diamond device, with black endpapers; issued in a yellow dust jacket that should retain its printed cover price (unclipped as issued). First printing shows the full number line descending to 1 on the copyright page. Booker-longlisted.

## Is this the true first?
UK Hamish Hamilton (15 November 2016) precedes the US Penguin Press edition (2016).

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later impressions state the impression number on the copyright page rather than carrying the full line to 1.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Swing Time* by Zadie Smith a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/swing-time
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.