SIR,—Mr. Rosselli's entertaining ramble round the book trade states that
there is 'an awkward water- mark of truth' about a publisher being a 'well- connected personage who takes his time over a good lunch, but is not specially competent at spotting either a financial manceuvre or an uncommon new writer.' Thus he continues to pin-point the image of a publisher to the luncheon table.
As an author I enjoy contractual relations with three publishers, Messrs. Michael Joseph, Evans Bros. and Hamish Hamilton. I have never in the course of business found it necessary to take luncheon with any of them. On the other side of the fence in my capacity as a director of Putnams I maintain that business can be done with authors, who, usually are sound businessmen, without ritual luncheoneering.
During the middle part of the day I think that an author or a publisher should sleep—preferably upon his ideas. Then he should go to a pub or a club to meet people who are reading, not writing, books. The business of publishing should be conducted in an office, in office hours. Sweet dreams are terribly important; human contacts are essential. I would have thought most publishers realised this: but evidently they have not sufficiently declared their social habits to Mr. Rosselli.
JOHN PUDNEY
Fairwarp, Sussex
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