The Editor's Fence

Editor's Fence 1880-1920 British Authors Series For several years Mike Case and I have shared sincere hopes for ELT Press. Our plans come to fruition in January of 1988 when two books in the 1880-1920 British Authors Series are published. Initial titles in the series are described on pages 389-90 of this issue. It is of course a truism to say that the enterprise of academic publishing is very much a business, where the sorcerer Profit regularly holds court. As a consequence, when press directors receive even a very good book on a turn-ofthe -century figure other than, say, Joyce, Lawrence, Yeats or Woolf, they are understandably wary of accepting it. They realize making the required return on the press's investment may be problematic. There remain of course some exceptions, mainly with small presses. ELT Press operates differently than its larger, more famous colleagues: it is not founded to serve their sorcerer. Rather, we will print handsome clothbound books on figures in the 1880-1920 period of British literature which merit publication but might otherwise not become available to scholars. We hope to meet our costs and keep the venture viable, so that worthy titles may be published and advertised. Is there a place in academic publishing for such a press? It is still another truism to say that small presses are created and pass into memory as unvaryingly as the turn of the seasons. With your assistance, ELT Press should not encounter such an unhappy fate. Please take the time to ask your librarian or subject specialist to make a standing order for titles in the 1880-1920 British Authors Series. American and Canadian Orders: Librarians, as well as individuals, in the States and Canada, should direct their orders to ELT Press Department of English University of North Carolina Greensboro, NC 27412-5001 Orders from Outside North America: We are pleased to announce that Colin Smythe Limited is distributing the titles in Europe. Our friends abroad must direct their orders to Colin Smythe Limited, P.O. Box 6, Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire , SL9 8XA England. 260 Subscription Increase: Unfortunately there is no avoiding an increase in subscription rates. The cost of paper has gone up annually, and now we have word that postal rates will also go up during the coming year, the third increase since 1983. We've not changed rates in three years and indeed very little in the last six. Even with an increase, though, ELT remains reasonably priced. Institutions prefer a three-year rate, and we hope individual subscribers will take advantage of this and save themselves some money: RATES 1988-1990___________________________________________________. United States Elsewhere Institution Institution 3-Year: $36.00 3-Year: $42.00 or or 1-Year: $13.00 1-Year: $15.00 Individual Individual 3-Year: $30.00 3-Year: $36.00 or or 1-Year: $11.00 1-Year: $13.00 Forthcoming: Volume 31: 1 and 2 (March 1988) will feature, among other essays, "Thomas Hardy and the Hardy Players: The Evans and Tilley Adaptations" (Keith Wilson, University of Ottawa); "The Criminal and the Community: Defining Tragic Structure in A Child of the Jago (Richard Benvenuto, Michigan State University ); "Suited for Satire: Butler's Re-Tailoring of Sartor Resartus in The Way of All Flesh" (Greg Sieminski, University of Virginia); "Establishing Identities : Exile and Commitment in Conrad's Non-Fiction Prose" (J. H. Stape, Universit é de Limoges); "Editing Hardy: A Review Essay" (Simon Gatrell, University of Georgia); "Securing Literary Values in an Age of Crisis: The Early Argument for English Studies (John L. Kijinski, Idaho State University). Bloom and Chelsea House: We will continue to offer readers a hearty selection of book reviews. In the coming year ELT will also review a number of titles edited by Harold Bloom and published by Chelsea House. In this issue Daniel Schwarz inaugurates ELT s look at Bloom's far-ranging editorial project with a review of D. H. Lawrence. Editors' Request: For an edition of the complete letters of George Gissing, to begin publication soon, editors Paul F. Mattheisen (SUNY-Binghamton, NY 13901) and Arthur C. Young (Russell Sage College, Troy, NY 12180) will appreciate hearing from anyone...