Publishers and Authors
SIR,—May I offer some emendations to Mr. Vulliamy's letter on publishers and authors? It is true that publishers are not in the business entirely far the sake of their health, but to write that the publisher is a business man to whom books are merely saleable or unsaleable commodities sadly exposes Mr. Vulliamy's intelligence. There is, I imagine, hardly a week in publishing when a publisher does not issue a work which he knows full well will never make money—indeed will lose it—but that the qualities of the work in question make it an obligation- to learning for them to publish it. That is why with his main list a publisher has to try to be businesslike—not that 1, personally, have ever found authors or their agents unbusinesslike.
In regard to the "over-generous terms to booksellers." The bookseller is even now aggrieved with the terms he receives from the publisher. 1 he recent disclosure in the trade journal of the average bookseller's balance- sheet is a grievous affair. The rents, rates and his overhead expenses are driving him from the High Street, his property being bought by a multiple store, and the fact that the "landed gentry," who had large houses and therefore room to house books, no longer exist, and that money is tight. are just two of the bookseller's troubles.
Lastly, Mr. Vulliamy talks of publishers having restraint on publkity and advertising. Mr. Vulliamy must be alone among authors if he desires neither. I wonder what he would say if his very able publishers omitted his latest work from advertisement and catalogue?
But this is just touching on a problem too vast and wearisome. But how is it that everyone aside from the publisher and bookseller knows how to run his business for him? After all, the reduction of royaltis was just a proposal, as one cannot charge more for books, and the printers' and paper-makers' unions will certainly not reduce wages. and surely it is better for all that sales be maintained at a lower selling
price.—Yours, &c., H. VAN THAI. P.S.—Thank you for an admirable Spring Number. Arthur Barker Ltd., 30 Museum Street, W.C.I.
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