# Is "The Devil's Stocking" by Nelson Algren a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of The Devil's Stocking by Nelson Algren (Arbor House, 1983) is identified by: First English-language edition. The Arbor House 1983 edition is the first edition in English, but it is not the true first appearance of the text.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- First English-language edition
- Published by Arbor House, New York, 1983
- Posthumous novel based on the life of boxer Rubin 'Hurricane' Carter, whose fictional counterpart is named Ruby Calhoun
- Confirm the first printing by the copyright-page printing statement, with later printings noted there
- Publisher imprint reads Arbor House
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Nelson Algren |
| Publisher | Arbor House |
| Year | 1983 |
| True first | UK edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | First English-language edition |
| Book-club edition exists? | — |

## Points of issue
First English-language edition. Published by Arbor House, New York, 1983. Posthumous novel based on the life of boxer Rubin 'Hurricane' Carter, whose fictional counterpart is named Ruby Calhoun. Confirm the first printing by the copyright-page printing statement, with later printings noted there.

## Is this the true first?
The Arbor House 1983 edition is the first edition in English, but it is not the true first appearance of the text. A German translation by Carl Weissner, titled 'Calhoun: Roman eines Verbrechens,' was published by Zweitausendeins (Frankfurt) in 1981, two years earlier. The 'Calhoun' title is the German edition's, not a UK one; the later UK edition retained 'The Devil's Stocking.' Algren died in 1981, so all editions are posthumous.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later printings are noted on the copyright page.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *The Devil's Stocking* by Nelson Algren a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/the-devils-stocking
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.