# Is "The Dogs Bark: Public People and Private Places" by Truman Capote a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of The Dogs Bark: Public People and Private Places by Truman Capote (Random House, 1973) is identified by: Collected nonfiction and profiles, in red cloth. US first; a first-thus collection of previously published pieces.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Collected nonfiction and profiles, in red cloth
- First printing is identified by the number line on the copyright page reading down to "2" as the lowest figure, per Random House's first-printing practice of the period; the back panel of the jacket carries a photograph of Capote
- Publisher imprint reads Random House
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Truman Capote |
| Publisher | Random House |
| Year | 1973 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Collected nonfiction and profiles, in red cloth |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
Collected nonfiction and profiles, in red cloth. First printing is identified by the number line on the copyright page reading down to "2" as the lowest figure, per Random House's first-printing practice of the period; the back panel of the jacket carries a photograph of Capote.

## Is this the true first?
US first; a first-thus collection of previously published pieces.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club issue has a blindstamp to the board and lacks a flap price.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *The Dogs Bark: Public People and Private Places* by Truman Capote a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/the-dogs-bark-public-people-and-private-places
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.