LETTERS TO THE `EDITOR
From Peter Owen, L. E. Weidberg, the Rev John Bishop, C. H. G. Wood, Elizabeth Snowden and others,
Facts of fiction
Sir: With astonishment I read Auberon Waugh's comments (27 March) on 'the careless over-pric- ing of novels'. He seems to know more about fiction than about the facts of production costs. I can assure Mr Waugh that most of us publishers cost carefully. The oc- casional carelessness may be in underpricing by publishers who can afford to subsidise their gen- eral books from text book profits. Production costs have risen so drasically in the past eighteen months that most publishers have pruned their fiction. I am baffled how Mr Waugh and others with no publishing experi- ence can arbitrarily fix book prices. Shrinking markets for literary books mean smaller printings and higher unit costs. Paradoxically many pot-boilers sell well and cost less because more are printed. Lack of money, lack of space in modern homes, and the lack of real quality in most novels cause people to borrow books instead of buying them. Let's hope that when the Public Lending Right finally blooms (if ever!), and authors and publishers rake in a fee for each library reading, prices may stabilise. However, I'm not as sanguine as Mr Waugh that it will stop people slinking off to the 'indignity' of the public library. Personally, I find• them rather comfortable!
Peter Owen 12 Kendrick Mews, Kendrick Place, London sw7
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