# Is "The Ploughman's Lunch" by Ian McEwan a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of The Ploughman's Lunch by Ian McEwan (Methuen, 1985) is identified by: Original screenplay issued as a Methuen Paperback original (about 34 pages) with an introduction by McEwan; copyright page reads 'First published 1985'. Methuen paperback original (1985) is the true first; the film itself dates to 1983.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Original screenplay issued as a Methuen Paperback original (about 34 pages) with an introduction by McEwan; copyright page reads 'First published 1985'
- No hardcover was issued, so the paperback is the true first
- Publisher imprint reads Methuen
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Ian McEwan |
| Publisher | Methuen |
| Year | 1985 |
| True first | — |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Original screenplay issued as a Methuen Paperback original (about 34 pages) with an introduction by McEwan; copyright page reads 'First… |
| Book-club edition exists? | No |

## Points of issue
Original screenplay issued as a Methuen Paperback original (about 34 pages) with an introduction by McEwan; copyright page reads 'First published 1985'. No hardcover was issued, so the paperback is the true first.

## Is this the true first?
Methuen paperback original (1985) is the true first; the film itself dates to 1983.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book club edition.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *The Ploughman's Lunch* by Ian McEwan a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/the-ploughmans-lunch
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.