This comparison of drafts of the General Theory deals with the following versions of the book:

Third proof: chapters 2–6 of the final text. This proof was circulated, along with second proofs of chapters 1, 7–9, 11–17 and first proofs of chapters 10, 18–22 of the final text, to R. F. Harrod, R. G. Hawtrey, R. F. Kahn and Joan Robinson in 1935.

Second proof: chapters 1–9, 11–17 of the final text.

First proof: chapters 1–14,16,18–22 of the final text. (Chapters 1–9,11–14 and 16 were circulated to D. H. Robertson early in 1935.)

Pre-first proof typescript: drafts of chapters written between Keynes's return from America in June 1934 and the appearance of the first proofs. On these drafts, see vol. XIII pages 471–84.

Pre-first proof index version: drafts whose titles follow the table of contents printed in vol. XIII pages 423–4 and which are not printed on pages 424–56 of that volume.

For each of the draft versions, the pages which follow list all of the differences between the final text of the General Theory which appears as volume vn in this series and that version. As the text of volume vn follows that of the original edition of the General Theory, except in a few cases, readers who possess only the original edition should find using this variorum a straightforward process. Throughout the pages that follow, Keynes's original footnotes appear in square brackets.