# Is "The Only Story" by Julian Barnes a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of The Only Story by Julian Barnes (Jonathan Cape, 2018) is identified by: Novel (ISBN 9781787330696). The UK Jonathan Cape edition (18 January 2018) is the true first, preceding the US Alfred A.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Novel (ISBN 9781787330696)
- Hardcover in boards with gilt spine lettering, issued in dust jacket
- First printing carries a full descending number line ending in 1 on the copyright page
- Publisher imprint reads Jonathan Cape
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Julian Barnes |
| Publisher | Jonathan Cape |
| Year | 2018 |
| True first | UK edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Novel (ISBN 9781787330696) |
| Book-club edition exists? | — |

## Points of issue
Novel (ISBN 9781787330696). Hardcover in boards with gilt spine lettering, issued in dust jacket. First printing carries a full descending number line ending in 1 on the copyright page.

## Is this the true first?
The UK Jonathan Cape edition (18 January 2018) is the true first, preceding the US Alfred A. Knopf edition (2018).

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later impressions adjust the number line or add an impression statement on the copyright page.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *The Only Story* by Julian Barnes a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/the-only-story
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.