The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-12-08
Pertinent Views on the Pre-
sent Literary Outlook.
A NEW AUTHOR HELD UP
What's What" Opens up a Mine
Information For Editors.
A NOVEL PLAN FOR PRICING BOOKS
A Notable Work is the Life and Letters Of John
Richard Green, Which is Reviewed
Together With Other New
Literary Ventures.
Literary Ventures.
THE LITERARY OUTLOOK.

IOSelHef Win VtneI NEW
Literary Ventures.
THE LITERARY OUTLOOK.
The unit system of publication has
not yet invaded America, but it is so
sane method of regulating prices by
quantity, that doubtless we shall have
it before long, The system has only
been recently introduced in London,
though it has been in use by Leipsig
publisher for some thirty odd years. 1t
consists merely in fixing the price Of
books according to the number OF
pages. The pages are supposedly OF
the uniform 12mo. size. and twenty-five
make unit in the case of the London
publisher, who has just taken the mat
ter up. The price for unit is one-half
pence Zone cent? For paper cover
one pence is added; for cloth binding
five pence and for leather ten pence.
A book of $50 pages bound in cloth,
therefore, will cost twenty cents. Thus
far the London publisher has brought
out books of kind on which there is
no royalty to be paid, but they have
been books which are worth having or
keeping. 1t would be good thing if
this system could be introduced here,
simply because there is great need of
some method for publishing books
which would be simpler than the pres
ent. There is a most leplorable lack
OF harmony, both as to size and price
of books. A sort of unwritten law in
sists that a copyrighted novel, exceed
ing $4,000 words in length shall be made
up in book form at retail price of 81. So
AS the system of net selling has not
been extended to books of fiction, this
price of $3.50 is itself fiction. No one
nowadays expects to pay more than
$100 or s1.15 for novel which is listed
at $1.50.
i was told on reliable authority the
other day that one of the prominent
New York publishers had bound up but
five copies of a novel, which since has
been selected as one of the best Amer
lean novels by a leading English critic.
The circumstances came about in this
manner: The novel was accepted dur
ing the absence of the senior member
of the firm, and on his return this gen.
tleman expressed great displeasure. The
author insisted upon holding the pub
fishers to the contract, and IN spite OF
the fact that the publishers stated to him
that they would not announce the book
or advertise it in any way whatever, he
was foolish enough to allow them 20 set
up the copy and bind five books in ac-
corance with the letter of the contract.
Since that time the author has been
wise enough to secure the rights of the
book and another publisher is going to
bring it out next spring The book
stands a good chance of being one of
the successes of the season, and it seems
very strange that the matter should have
had such history as it has. The au-
thor has been taken up by his present
publishers and is now receiving from
them regular stipend. Under this ar
rangement he is engaged on another novel
which he will have finished early in the
spring. With the praise of the London
Academy for. this young writer ringing
in our ears, it is reasonable to infer that
his former publishers will regret not hav-
ing given him better treatment. The
binding up of five copies of a book in or
der to carry out all that the publishing
contract legally demands is one of the
most unheard of proceedings-particula
difficult to understand in the light of the
authors cordial reception by the leading
critics of England into the ranks Of the
best authors of the year.
Enough books have been published this
fall to make interesting companions. The
most noted authors-kipling, Hope, Wey-
man, lack, etc-were first in the field,
a fact which on the whole is an advantage
to the lesser literary lights who were
fortunate enough to be delayed until the
season was under way. But the most
noteworthy feature of the present output
is the falling off in sales of the famous
authors. Kipling's Kim easily ranks as
the best book of the year in tctiol yet
as one said of it recently. "Kiplng has
written book in Kim that will make
more fame for him than money. How
ever, as Kipling received 900 for the
serial rights of Kim, he may be re-
garded as ahead Of the game. OF the
twelve best books of fiction selected by
London committee, only two or three
have exceeded sale of $4,000 copies
But for the blessed prop and stay OF
serial rights says one author, Il
should be in the poorhouse,' and doubt
less this is the situation with many other
of the notables. Some of these have had
falling off of ninety per cent. in book
sales.
The publication of "The Life and Let
tiers of John Richard Green recently
revealed to many the reason why the
History of the English People" by this
distinguished author, did not treat more
Of the part English literature played in
psrior fitness for editorial tasks by his
letters, Mr.. Green explains that when he
reached the year 1860. he was suddenly
impressed with the fact that sometimes
and somewhere his book must come to
an end. His publishers insisted that SCI
pages should be the limit 1t was ueces
sary then to let some of his matter GO
and the author deliberately chose litera-
ture as the part which he should throw
overheard. At some length he explains
his reluctance in coming to this decision
--he was anxious to do justice 10 the ia
nous writer's of his time, for one thing
but the true historical spirit, as he tn
derstood 1t, urged him to sacrifice lis
personal preferences. Literaturs, he cx-
planned. ceased to stand in the forsfront