Penguin USA to release back-list titles as ebooks

[zelda_pinwheel]

Originally Posted by MaggieScratch

Yeah, if they could make the new Cambridge editions of the novels available as e-books...and not as spendy!

P.S. I have some connections at Penguin...I'll see if I can get a review copy in MOBI and will report back.

P.P.S. My understanding is that the enhanced Penguin editions will sell for about $8 MSP. Probably a little less retail.

hmm... see if you can get me a review copy in MOBI too !

8$ seems like a lot of money for an e-book of a text in the public domain, even *with* the enhancements.

[The Alternative]

Originally Posted by MaggieScratch

There was some news a couple of months ago that Penguin was going to release their classics as "enhanced" ebooks.

My inner copy editor heaves a giant sigh at "will feature an array of features."

At these prices the enhancment should come with a programmable elf who can turn the pages and make coffee in the morning.

Example:

Seeker
Jack McDevitt - Author

Seeker - Other formats:

Paperback: Mass Market: $7.99

eBook - Microsoft Reader: $24.95

eBook - Palm reader: $24.95

I can get the hardcover cheaper at Barnes and Nobles for cryin' out loud!

[AnemicOak]

Originally Posted by The Alternative

At these prices the enhancment should come with a programmable elf who can turn the pages and make coffee in the morning.

Example:

Seeker
Jack McDevitt - Author

Seeker - Other formats:

Paperback: Mass Market: $7.99

eBook - Microsoft Reader: $24.95

eBook - Palm reader: $24.95

I can get the hardcover cheaper at Barnes and Nobles for cryin' out loud!

This is typical of Penguin. They somehow 'forget' to lower price to equate when the book has a mass market release. I've seen it take up to three years for it to get changed, but that usually only happens if people bug them about it.

[pilotbob]

Originally Posted by The Alternative

Seeker
Jack McDevitt - Author

Seeker - Other formats:
Paperback: Mass Market: $7.99
eBook - Microsoft Reader: $24.95
eBook - Palm reader: $24.95

This is $7.99 on Kindle. Although it really should be less than a paper back. But, this is the main reason for my switch availability and price. Silly, I bought a $400 device to save money.

BOb

[MaggieScratch]

I bought it to save space! Though with all the free ebooks I've downloaded from here at MobileRead, I think I *have* saved money.

I haven't heard back from the publicist at Penguin yet, and don't expect to until next week now with the holiday. I have a blog dedicated to Jane Austen and we do book reviews, etc. so I'm hoping that will be enough to get a review copy. I wonder if they're even set up to do ebook reviews. I'll also mention that I'll do an informal review here at MobileRead for an audience of ebook enthusiasts.

It should be noted that this is the first time I've requested a review copy without being solicited by a publisher or author.

[nekokami]

Didn't Einstein prove that space is actually equal to money?

Anyway, I'd actually consider paying for an edition that includes recipes. I'm a sucker for recipes.

[MaggieScratch]

Ever see period recipes? "Cook for one hour in a slow oven." What the Ferrars is a slow oven?

[tlrowley]

Originally Posted by MaggieScratch

I have a blog dedicated to Jane Austen and we do book reviews, etc.

Oooh, could I have the address, please and thank you?

Tracey

[Patricia]

@MaggieScratch:

Oven temperature charts:
http://www.recipezaar.com/library/getentry.zsp?id=528
and a list with other useful conversions:
http://www.garvick.com/recipes/conversion.htm

And here's a link to Hearth: The Cornell Home Economics Research Archive:
http://hearth.library.cornell.edu/
which contains a lot of old recipe books.

[Strether]

I've downloaded my free copy and have started reading. It's slow going, though, due to the abundance of footnotes, most of which are interesting.

Did you know, for instance, that Mr. Bingley's income in today's terms would be approximately 180,000 to 220,000 pounds a year? Or in a footnote about Sir William Lucas' knighthood, the fact that he's called Sir William but his wife is only Lady Lucas because she didn't inherit the title. That explains Lady Glencora, though I'd never thought about it before. (I picture multiple eyerolls from our Great Britain friends.)

Jim

[igorsk]

Originally Posted by Strether

In my inbox this morning, a message from Amazon:

"Dear Amazon.com Customer,


As someone who has enjoyed classic literature on Kindle, we wanted to offer you the opportunity to download a free exclusive copy of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, the first title in Penguin's new Enhanced e-Book Classic line.

In addition to the full length version of this timeless title, the Enhanced e-Book Classic features a filmography, book reviews from the time of the original publication, a chronology of Jane Austen's life, recipes, instructions on period dancing, social etiquette, and how to prepare a tea, a literary tour of famous Austen sites, and much more."

Do you have URL for this one? I couldn't find in on Amazon

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by Strether

Or in a footnote about Sir William Lucas' knighthood, the fact that he's called Sir William but his wife is only Lady Lucas because she didn't inherit the title.

I don't quite understand that one. The wife of a knight is always called "Lady <whatever>". What does the footnote actually say?

[akiburis]

The point of the footnote, I imagine, is to enlighten those who may wonder why Lady Lucas seems to have lost her first name, while Lady Catherine de Bourgh gets to keep hers.

[Strether]

Originally Posted by igorsk

Do you have URL for this one? I couldn't find in on Amazon

It was only available via wireless download, Igorsk. They gave a code for you to insert in the search field, which then took you to the book.

Jim

[Strether]

Originally Posted by HarryT

I don't quite understand that one. The wife of a knight is always called "Lady <whatever>". What does the footnote actually say?

"A man who has been knighted, as Sir William has, is not a member of the nobility. He uses the title Sir in conjunction with his first name (Sir William), while his wife is called by the title Lady and her last name (Lady Lucas). A woman called by the title Lady and her first name has inherited a noble title from her own family; her father holds a minimum rank of earl."

It wasn't news to me that Sir William was not a member of the nobility, but I hadn't appreciated before that not using Lady Lucas' first name was an indicator of social status.

Jim