# Is "The Given Day" by Dennis Lehane a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of The Given Day by Dennis Lehane (William Morrow, 2008) is identified by: William Morrow (New York) hardcover, September 2008; the copyright page states 'First Edition' with a full descending number line ending in 1. The US William Morrow hardcover is the true first edition; it is the first novel in the Coughlin family trilogy.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- William Morrow (New York) hardcover, September 2008; the copyright page states 'First Edition' with a full descending number line ending in 1
- Thick hardcover of roughly 704 pages with deckle (rough-cut) fore-edges, issued in a printed, unclipped first-state dust jacket
- Publisher imprint reads William Morrow
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Dennis Lehane |
| Publisher | William Morrow |
| Year | 2008 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | William Morrow (New York) hardcover, September 2008; the copyright page states 'First… |
| Book-club edition exists? | — |

## Points of issue
William Morrow (New York) hardcover, September 2008; the copyright page states 'First Edition' with a full descending number line ending in 1. Thick hardcover of roughly 704 pages with deckle (rough-cut) fore-edges, issued in a printed, unclipped first-state dust jacket.

## Is this the true first?
The US William Morrow hardcover is the true first edition; it is the first novel in the Coughlin family trilogy.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
None significant; identify the trade first by the 'First Edition' statement, the complete number line ending in 1, and the deckle edges.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *The Given Day* by Dennis Lehane a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/the-given-day
CC BY 4.0. Part of the Canonical First-Edition Points of Issue dataset (https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/api/first-edition-titles.json). Last reviewed 2026-07-03.