Steve Roud wrote:
> 
> Andy
> I don't understand. Do you really think that £42 is extortionate for a
> large-format, well-illustrated, self-published, 650-page book, encapsulating
> decades of research, and including shipping from Australia? And do you
> really think that informing people of new books is "making
> pseudo-adverts..for the benefit of its wealthier members"? I thought the
> purpose of the list was to disseminate information. Perhaps I was wrong.
> If you can't afford the book, or do not wish to buy it,  I presume you have
> access to some sort of library who could obtain a copy for you, now that you
> know of its existence. That's what libraries are for. In the meantime,
> whatever your opinion of the book or its price, why begrudge others the
> information which gives them the choice?
> Steve Roud
> 

Ed Cray wrote privately but offered circulation for the list that:

I can appreciate the anger or frustration you might feel when a book
seems
so overpriced.  One of the reasons is the small size of the press run.  
Anderson with 350 copies has to pay for setting the type, the
illustrations, and the paper.  (Paper constitutes half the cost of the
actual printing; ink, labor, press overhead the other half.)

Right now in the US, a university press has to price a book at 10 cents
per page retail -- just to break even.  Pictures, transcription of music
cost more.  If you have a 600 page book, it will cost $60 retail.

Perhaps the internet will provide alternatives, especially in highly
marginalized or niche areas like folk song/ballad.  But right now, the
alternatives are still aborning.  Xlibris is a strong possibility for
printing-on-demand, and the prices seem fair.  But if you want the book
hardbound (it can be) the cost balloons.

Feel free to post this on the ballad list /uk.  I can't, as I explained.

I add:

I was writing at a time when much frustrated because of failing to
obtain a book (rather more expensive at GBP 175) on the library system,
precisely because of the cost of the book. Sorry if I went overboard,
but I don't think Steve's argument about the price vis a vis the
scholarliness necessarily holds water. The author often gets the rawest
deal, and I know of several cases when he hasn't received a penny! I'd
be much happier - if no more able - to pay out if I knew the cash was
going to the writer! (-: ..never was any good at those smiley faces!

Andy


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