# Is "The Narrow Corner" by W. Somerset Maugham a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of The Narrow Corner by W. Somerset Maugham (William Heinemann, 1932) is identified by: First edition, first printing, published by Heinemann (London) in 1932, a novel set in the Malay Archipelago; Stott A44a. UK Heinemann is the true first (Stott A44a), preceding the US Doubleday, Doran edition (Stott A44b), both 1932.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- First edition, first printing, published by Heinemann (London) in 1932, a novel set in the Malay Archipelago
- Stott A44a
- The binding is blue cloth stamped in black and gilt, with lettering to the upper board and spine and the Heinemann windmill device stamped on the rear panel
- First-state dust jacket carries the printed the printed price and should be unclipped
- The US Doubleday, Doran edition is Stott A44b
- Publisher imprint reads William Heinemann
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | W. Somerset Maugham |
| Publisher | William Heinemann |
| Year | 1932 |
| True first | UK edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | First edition, first printing, published by Heinemann (London) in 1932, a novel set in the Malay Archipelago |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
First edition, first printing, published by Heinemann (London) in 1932, a novel set in the Malay Archipelago; Stott A44a. The binding is blue cloth stamped in black and gilt, with lettering to the upper board and spine and the Heinemann windmill device stamped on the rear panel. First-state dust jacket carries the printed the printed price and should be unclipped. The US Doubleday, Doran edition is Stott A44b.

## Is this the true first?
UK Heinemann is the true first (Stott A44a), preceding the US Doubleday, Doran edition (Stott A44b), both 1932.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Distinguish the trade edition from any signed/inscribed copies; no separate book-club issue is a point.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *The Narrow Corner* by W. Somerset Maugham a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/the-narrow-corner
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.