New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-04-17
Helr- York, April 8. 1891.
THE VIEWS OF A LITERARY AGENT
GREATER ADVANTAGES FOR AMERICAN THAN FOR
ENGLISH PUBLISHERS.

GREATER ADVANTAGES FOR AMERICAN THAN f"h
ENGLISH PUBLISHERS.
To the EdtfOF Or The TrtOuhe
SIR: VIII you allow me to say word or TWO
IN connection with the International Copyright discus
sonl For several years past have acted in London az
literary agent" TO wellknown firm ~ American pun
fishers Not unnaturaIy have gained some insight INTO
the business relations Of English authors with En1lish
publishers and latter with their competitors on
your side Of the Atlantic. feel convinced that were the
Dorsheimer bill passed tomorrow, American publishers
could not possibly be in worse position tau they arc
as regards English books. but in every probability
would be in far better Give me leave 10 explain only
yesterday called a London firm TO make inquiries ~
to a forthcoming book told thar there were already
several applications from American publishers for H. and
that any offer might make would be duly considered
with the Not word OF Information could eean
a. 10 the interest literary merits Of th" work ID
question; and not being willing 20 offer tl"o
for what might turn out 70 be not worth
100 pence. went on my way un'atsied
Now had the Dosheimer bill been law should not nave
gone the London publisher Long ago. n had been
on the alert should have addressed myself direct 10 the
l.ng,.sh author. He in all PROBABILITY would nave re-
ceiyed my apphcation with courtesy; would nave
given me possibly few hints 10 the books contents
and should have made my offer, based on what ne hau
To say and could show me- and should have ahided by H.
II that had accepted would have been clearly
!
The American publishers appear to be AFRAID that the
English publishers will food the American market WIN
English-made books. Do they really suppose mat an
English author hGs great affection for the Engsh
publisher that for pure love of him the author VIII ac-
cep his eighteen shiugs il the NewYork house offers
twentyi Are the American publishing firms 40 utterly
shortsieted that they cannot see that with inter
national copyright and open English MARKET
they might command not only their own
but the whole Engish-rcaiing supply by hiddlhg
for the authors Mss ourghti II the DOrsbcimer bill
passed am Inclined TO think that in nne cases OUT
Of ten the London firm woud nc TupouahI TOT tn n
sheraton OF tho NewYOr or Boston firm, uStea o. az
now the latter being the supp'an for the former con-
sideratiOn. tn" trouble now II that kugl-u hutoI- Dt
- "A rule suspicious of American publishers ana WINK
reasonably refer applications made 70 tht even
by English friends 10 their own publishers N London. Ii
Is needless that when n gets there the matter re-
solves itself into -f competition between half dozen
American firms So that the London house may eet Hf
but well FOR the american publishers To me IL Il
astonishing the latter have not Themselves quite
right with England surely the experience 81 HhrpeIS
with their magazine and the lack 81 success
uetitOrs might stand as some PROOF, III. y I
the English market itself IL worth Looking aiter', II
only a De- supplied with the right kind 0f BOOK hfr
the DOrsheimer Bill what IA there To prevent me AeSTs
Harper into treaty with Mr. Black et M saw 70
by his next novel FOR their periodical ana Ior
cation oOk form both in ENGLAND and the United -tesi
The American firms Wow with sOne mi-g1ying am
told. the position OF the English publishing hrnl@ IN new
Work in rho event Of that h becomtnR law But what Is
there prevent the Messrs Harper Mes1rs
else opening houses IN London, II they lnK NJ anu
the right kind OF books 10 offer rhc En2-h traei ,HVe
which wOu prevent the Mcssr5 HarperOccnpylhg IN
England similar position 10 Messrs Cassell Coz WINE
IT, sir that the English publishers have dGa more 20
from the passage Of Mr. DOr-hcmcrs bill than nave
the American At least such is the opinion OF yours
L9aioa' March L. 1894