Would you publish Jane Austen?

Summary:

Rejection slips for slightly amended literary classics Most failed to identify novelist's celebrated work

Would you publish Jane Austen?

SusanatLulu 1184828833|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover

Hello

I heard a piece on the Today programme this morning about a chap who had sent the opening chapters of some of Jane Austen's books to various publishers, with just the title and character and place names changed. Were the books recognised? Read on!

http://books.guardian.co.uk/news/articles/0,,2129738,00.html#article_continue

Since having the freedom to publish what I want through Lulu I have not tried mainstream publishers but it does make you wonder about the "quality" of some publishers' readers.

Susan

Re: Would you publish Jane Austen?

Peter Rogerson 1185107183|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover

Is it any wonder that we all end up turning to Lulu? But I've just read the article linked above and the phrases of rejection used by publishers and agents are word-for-word familiar to me. I don't even think there's an office boy. I think there's a crazed answering machine that's been faulty this past fifty years.
Peter