The points of issue
Seventeen essays on literature and one short story ('Homage to Hemingway'); trade paperback original with full number line. The US Vintage International paperback followed. Minor title.
Is this the true first?
UK Vintage paperback original (2012) is the true first; the US Vintage International edition followed. Not to be confused with the separate, much shorter 'A Life with Books' (Cape, 2012).
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club edition known.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Through the Window a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Seventeen essays on literature and one short story ('Homage to Hemingway'); trade paperback original with full number line. The US Vintage International paperback followed. Minor title.
How do I tell the first printing from a later one?
Check the copyright page for the publisher's first-printing convention and confirm the points above. UK Vintage paperback original (2012) is the true first; the US Vintage International edition followed. Not to be confused with the separate, much shorter 'A Life with Books' (Cape, 2012).
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book-club edition known.
I have a first edition of Through the Window — what should I do?
If you're clearing books, New Mexico Literacy Project offers free pickup in Albuquerque, any condition, and makes sure collectible copies aren't lost. To sell, see the author's collecting guide. Either way, nothing valuable ends up in a landfill.