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Date: Sun, 10 Feb 2002 08:14:24 -0500
From: "John M. McMahon" <mcmahon@mail.lemoyne.edu>
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To: classics@u.washington.edu
Subject: Re: Putnam Penguin's drop policy
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"Steven J. Willett" wrote:
> 
> I've found numerous instances
> where Penguin Books has abruptly cut important translations from its
> lists.  The authors of some of the discontinued books confirm that
> the cuts were for "insufficient sales."  

[snip]

> Penguin listings are so important for
> undergraduate teaching and for the general dissemination of Classical
> culture that its sales policy needs to be aired and, if necessary,
> attacked.

This is more of a (politically philosophical?) observation
than anything else (who me?), I guess; but it's funny how
the supply side model somehow does not seem to work for
certain things (in this case, books) while it is perfectly
OK to promote the extraction and prodigal use of natural
resources via, say, a deregulated electricity market or
rugged individualist ads for 12mpg "light trucks." 

Maybe we could get the pulp/paper industries to bail us out
on this. I'm sure the Interior Department and the USF would
be more than happy to participate in any negotiations. 

Using three PP editions this semester,

John McMahon
Le Moyne College
.