Quote:
Originally Posted by speakingtohe
Not sure what you mean by crazy. At least 40% of the books I have read in the last year and a half (208 ot of 512 since I have been keeping track in calibre) were published prior to 1997. Probaly more as the dates ae oftennot the dates first published.
A reasonably good book does not have a sell-by date. For me a Nero Wolfe novel reads as good today as the day it was published. Margerie Allingham died in 1966 and her books are timeless as well IMO.
IIRC I have never even checked the first published date before buying a book or borrowing from a library. And I am totally missing the connection between enjoyment/value and first published date. But perhaps I am misunderstanding your post?
Helen
|
There is lot that's crazy in this story, none of which has to do with the quality of the book, which is independent of its age.
It's crazy that a book published over half a century ago is selling for the same price as a new work, not because it's inferior, but because there are no capital costs to recover for its production.
It's crazy that the book is already available in the UK but not in North America. In the age of digital distribution, it boggles the mind that antiquated laws meant to preserve this kind of artificial scarcity still exist.
Finally, it's crazy that a book written in 1966 by an author who died seven years ago will continue to be sold for profit until 2075. You may not have a problem giving money to publishers and the grandchildren of dead men for doing no work. I do.
Thankfully, fans have already created their own eBook version of The Magus which has been circulating online for some time.