The points of issue
First edition limited to 500 copies, published 21 December 1942; red cloth gilt-lettered to spine. The unfinished-novel fragment; many copies are author presentation copies inscribed at Christmas 1942.
Is this the true first?
London Chapman & Hall 1942 limited issue of 500 is the true first. A revised and expanded version later appeared in 'Work Suspended and Other Stories' (1948).
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Scarce limited issue; no separate trade first edition.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Work Suspended: Two Chapters of an Unfinished Novel a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First edition limited to 500 copies, published 21 December 1942; red cloth gilt-lettered to spine. The unfinished-novel fragment; many copies are author presentation copies inscribed at Christmas 1942.
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. London Chapman & Hall 1942 limited issue of 500 is the true first. A revised and expanded version later appeared in 'Work Suspended and Other Stories' (1948).
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Scarce limited issue; no separate trade first edition.
I have a first edition of Work Suspended: Two Chapters of an Unfinished Novel — 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.