The Only Story (Alfred A. Knopf, 2018; Proof)


Notes on this edition: Julian Barnes. The Only Story. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2018. Pp. 253 + [9]. 19 x 13 cm.

“Advanced Reader’s Edition” / Advanced proof published in paperback covers.

Der Lärm der Zeit | The Noise of Time (Kiepenheuer & Witsch, 2017; German)


Notes on this edition: Der Lärm der Zeit | The Noise of Time. Cologne: Kiepenheuer & Witsch, 2017. Pp. 244 [245] + [11]. 19.3 x 12.1 cm. Translated by Gertraude Krueger. ISBN: 9783462048889. (German).

The copy presented below is an advance copy with the following printed to the title page: “Unverkäufliches, unkorrigiertes Abeitsexemplar Sperrfrist: Bitted nicht vor dem 16.02.2017 besprechen.” The collation differs from the first German edition, excluding the advertisements at the end of the novel: Pp. 244 [245] + [1].

Staring at the Sun (Random House Canada, 1987; Advance Review Copy)


Notes on this edition: Staring at the Sun. Toronto: Random House Canada, 1987. Pp. 200.

This Advance Review Copy is identical to the First Canadian Edition, except for the stamps to the inside cover and front endsheets. This particular edition is inscribed by Julian Barnes to Greg Gatenby, former Artistic Director of the International Festival of Authors at Harbourfront in Toronto. Barnes’s inscription reads: “To Greg | (who didn’t even pay | money for this) | Julian Barnes | [line] | Toronto, April 1987”. Gatenby’s signature and date are also on the endsheet.

The book is stamped as a review copy, and a review notice is loosely inserted in to the book.

The Times Anthology of Ghost Stories (Jonathan Cape, 1975)


Notes on this edition: Julian Barnes. “A Self-Possessed Woman.” The Times Anthology of Ghost Stories. London: Jonathan Cape, 1975. Pp. 195 + [1]. 20.5 x 13.2 cm. ISBN: 0224011952.

Julian Barnes’s short story appears on pp. 132-149.

From a competition judged by Kingsley Amis, Patricia Highsmith and Christopher Lee. The Times sponsored the competition in conjunction with Jonathan Cape.

This constitutes Julian Barnes’s first book publication, as it was published five years before his first novel Metroland (Jonathan Cape, 1980). The book was published in hardback with dark green dust jacket. The top of the text block is stained yellow.

This edition was followed by a paperback edition (Corgi Books, 1977) and a German translation (Bastei Lübbe, 1979), also in paperback.

Below is pictured Julian Barnes’s advance copy sent to the author from his publisher Jonathan Cape. The copy bears Barnes’s personal ownership signature dated “MCMLXXV” [1975].