New-York tribune., 1901-11-02
AUTHOR AND AGENT.
WHAT 4 LONDON PUBLISHER HAS TO
SAY ABOUT THEIR RELATIONS
William Heinemann, in The Author.

William Heinemann, in The Author
/ am asked to write down for The Author
my views on the literary agent. l am nattered
by this request. and hopeful that the future may
produce a much better understanding between
authors and publishers. from the very 1act lnat
the opinion of publisher should be considered
worth asking by the organ of the Authors So
Ciety. ! will give my opinion with perfect frank
ness relying upon the good faith of my hosts
that |, as the invited guest, shall, although
publisher be credited with honesty.
l am opposed TO the literary agent from the
point of % the publisher, 60 the author. and
90 literature.
First-The Publisher.-(a) Because the literary
agent prevents that free and intimate inter
course between publisher and author when IS
from my experience Of unquestioned mutual au-
vantage
-(bl Because have not always found literary
agents scrupuously honest in their dealings.
(c) Because | resent the implied imputation
that the publisher might take advantage or an
author unless his interests are looked alter py
a person deriving a benefit in the shape OF, per
centages from the party with whom am ooihs
business. ,..
(d) Because I do not consider it in the interest
of my individual business or in the interest or
publishers in general that one of us Should DE
plaved off against the other, as is the ha MT and
practically the raison detre or the hteldIS
agent. ,
(ey Because no author would be so quixouc
as to employ a literary agent II ne dld not
hone TO get as much more out Of the puolsher
as the agents commission represents
Second-The Author.-(a) Because l believe
il TO he in many instances of advantage TO au-
thors to be in personal communication Win
their publishers.
Cr because [ consider it infra dignitatem au7
toris 70 assume that he cannot take care OF MINI
self should he really come into contact with an
overrea ching publisher; he can IN an emergency
after all have recourse to the Authors society,
or TO his solicitor whose charges. dld he an
that the agent could do. would be lnhnitesi1nai
in comparison. e,
(c) because the authors agent Is successful
only after an authors reputation has been es-
1ablished by the publisher. but never win a
youn. and unknown author, so that ne mercy
comes in for enormous share OF proht al
time whe. a guinea or a solicitor tsay
the Authors Society's own) would insure better
drawn agreement and a more respohSlple man
agen1ant than could be got from an lrreSponslple
authors agent. who EFFORTS percentages which
are out of all proportion TO the services rem
dered.
0D Because the authors agent fosters in au-
thors the greed for immediate money re-
turn for this means cash percentages) al the
cost of all dignity and artistic repose' pleosihs
the authors time. thought. inspiration ana
work for years ahead and making or the author
a slave to contracts and victim to haste and
thoughtleSs waste Of his gifts.
-Iiterature-(aD Because / do not con
slider il to he in the interests Of literature that
books should be put up TO auction ana sou "
the highest bidder among publishers. who may
be incompetent give the best advantages u
the book in question.
IN Because II is certainly very much against
the interests Of literature that authors should be
pledged and sold body and soul to syndicates
and publishers time bargains years ahciu'
with no certainty that they can stand the strain
and pressure of production, from the point OF
view of their physical mental health
&c, Because Of the fact that it discouraGes
The Dnblisher from taking UP new authors, IF
they are as soon as he. has borne the tirst FISK
and launched them &c be put up 10 public auc-
ton; and thnre can be no doubt that 1t becomes
moro difficult for q young author to get a hear
ing In proportion to the prevalence ana success
OF the PARASITE that lives on his produce
To sum no. on behalf Of the publisher the
author and literature / am OF opinion that It Is
waste of money to keep an agent with efnoiu-
lnents which are enormous in comparison WIN
The services rendered when little mutual
+rIIthfulness a little give and take, ana. any
how. a careful solicitor at an ordinary legal iee
would enable publisher and author ana Htera-
tlIre 10 do without him