NMLP P-006837 · True-first precedence · minted 2026-07-04

Briefing for a Descent into Hell

Doris Lessing · Jonathan Cape · 1971

The UK Cape edition (1971) is the true first. The US Knopf edition appeared the same year and is the first American edition; the UK edition is conventionally regarded as preceding it. The novel was shortlisted for the 1971 Booker Prize.

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New Mexico Literacy Project — True-first precedence NMLP P-006837 for "Briefing for a Descent into Hell" by Doris Lessing (https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/id/point/p-006837, CC BY 4.0, dataset DOI 10.5281/zenodo.21184548).