Quote:
Originally Posted by ZodWallop
Aside from the Woody Allen memoir*, was there a book that was cancelled by the publisher due to outcry?
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Most books I read are major publisher non-fiction likely written only after acceptance of a book proposal and receipt of a research-funding advance. If a book proposal isn't accepted, one wouldn't know for sure whether there were non-commercial considerations.
When a weekly periodical column is spiked, as with Andrew Sullivan a few weeks ago, you can see it. With a non-fiction book, you cannot.
Fiction is different because novels are often a one-person project, and, if any good, are usually open to multiple interpretations. So any cancel culture effect more likely reflects hostility towards the author than the book. That can be seen by googling:
author fired
Are there many examples there? No. But there aren't many novelists who are on salary, and other examples would be hidden.
I don't think the Harper's letter signatories would make up this being a real problem. Historically, I see more societies without strong freedom to read than with it, and thus a need to be vigilant.