I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all.

Ecclesiastes 9:11

Publishers rejected classics in disguise

Can the publishers recognize a reputable work of genius when the famous name is detached from it? During a period of over a century several people, apparently independently, decided to check.

The first of these experiments [1] performed an anonymous correspondent of St. James’s Gazette back in 1887. Afterward some other newspapers identified him with the poet Robert Buchanan. The experimenter copied John Milton’s poem “Samson Agonistes,” re-titled it ‘Like a Giant Refreshed,’ and sent it out to five publishers pretending to be the author. Three of the publishers rejected the poem giving the following reasons

The market is now so flooded with sensational stories in shilling form that it is questionable whether yours would find its way to the bookstalls

In ‘Like a Giant Refreshed’ we find writing in our opinion equal to the best of the minor poets (if you will pardon our saying so), but nothing to promise a sale.

We have, however, already made out our list of new books for the coming season

Two of the publishers offered to publish the poem at author’s expense. The experimenter tried several magazines afterward, but the editors rejected the poem saying it was too long. The experimenter did not reveal the identities of the philistine publishers and magazines.

The second experiment that I know of took place almost a hundred years later [2]. In 1977 Chuck Ross retyped the novel “Steps” by Jerzy Kosinsky. He sent the novel, signed with the name Eric Demos, to fourteen publishers (see the table). Though Kosinsky’s book won a 1969 National Book Award, Demos’ book was far less successful. All of the publishers rejected it, including Random House, the original publisher of the novel. Most of the rejection letters were formal. However, the editor of Houghton Miffing, the publisher of two other Kosinsky’s novels, wrote the following

Several of us read your untitled novel here with admiration for writing and style. Jerzy Kosinski comes to mind as a point of comparison when reading the stark, chilly episodic incidents you have set down. The drawback to the manuscript, as it stands, is that it doesn't add up to a satisfactory whole. It has some very impressive moments, but gives the impression of sketchiness and incompleteness. We do not see our way to publishing this particular work as it is, but if you should ever have other manuscripts in progress now or in the future, we would he happy to consider them.

Since the experimenter only changed the authorship, it must be Kosinsky’s important name what adds his novels thoroughness and completeness.

Publisher Response Alfred A. Knopf rejected David McKay rejected Doubleday returned unopened Farrar, Strauss & Giroux rejected Harcourt Brace Jovanovich rejected Harper & Row rejected Houghton Miffing (publisher of other Kosinsky’s novels) rejected McMillan rejected Prentice Hall rejected Random House (original publisher of “Steps”) rejected Seymour Lawrence rejected The Atlantic Monthly Press rejected Viking rejected William Morrow rejected

In addition Ross sent the novel to 13 literary agents all of whom showed no interest. To another 13 agents he sent a letter of inquiry, which included a brief description of the novel. He used Kosinsky’s own brief description. Only one of those agents had shown interest but requested an $25 reading fee (equivalent of $100 in 2014). Upon receiving the fee and reading the novel the agent rejected it.

In 1991

Jonathan Calvert and Will Iredale of sent to

Calvert and Iredale St. James’s Gazette showed that already in the 19th century

Mikhail Simkin

September 13, 2014

References