via Crikey - Media & Arts

Date: Thursday, 9 August 2007
By Jane Nethercote

Cough up or you're dumped.

Book publishers and distributors choked on their cafe lattes when they were issued the ultimatum recently by Australia's largest book chain, Angus & Robertson, which is owned by private equity group Pacific Equity Partners.

I can hardly believe this ... it's just so groteseque! Fastest way to completely do away with any concept that Australia has a healthy publishing industry not to mention any sort of book buying audience!

I am just to tempted to visit my local A&R and tell them why I will not be patronising them and point them to this website and that of the SMH.
Mind you, for someone who is fascinated by the idea that Mr Angus and Mr Robertson started their collaboration in the 1880s and developed as one of the leading booksellers of the world and certainly of Australia, with a vast and enduring history of investment in Australian literature typified by our small publishers, just playing 'whack-a-mole' with Australian publishers ... is just ludicrous!

One could almost think that it is a bad dream or a particularly distasteful April Foolery ... however, I shall be investigating my local Angus&Robertson stores to find out which is a franchise and which is actually owned by A&R and direct my book buying appropriately (Franchisees shouldn't have to suffer, but I'm tempted to 'make comment' so that a racket is roused anyway!)