But these are very cynical times, with amoral publishing executives throwing money at crooks and losers in ever growing wads, and public servants employing high-priced handlers to negotiate deals larger than the GNP of Third World nations. The Clark auction was a frenzied carnival, by all accounts. Eight publishing houses pitched the former O.J. prosecutor in person. There is nothing new in this, of course. Other houses still have post-O.J. dollar signs in their eyes.
Exceptions deserve to be noted.
Times Books, another division of Random House, refused on principle to enter the swamp. Very few publishers are coming out of this smelling like roses. The rush to profit from this tragedy has covered no one with glory. But nobody should mistake this for a David vs. Goliath story. In this battle, everyone's a Goliath.