Words at cheap - especially at Woolworths
The publishing industry, after several years of fearing that the Chancellor would impose VAT on books and newspapers, had something new to worry about last year; the longstanding Net Book Agreement was finally abandoned. Customers used to shopping around for the best price on carrots and turnips could now do the same with Tolstoy and Delia Smith.
David Porter
Some said it was the best development in publishing for a very long time, and welcomed the increased competition. Others pointed out that publishing isn't the same as groceries. You don't stock good-looking carrots for the sheer prestige of it or because you think the farmer is worth encouraging, without reference to how many carrots you actually sell. But a surprising number of books are published for reasons that have nothing to do with profitability. 'Exactly', says the anti-NBA lobby. 'Try telling that to the struggling first-time novelist', respond the pro lobby.
