Media / Talk of the Trade: Net support

THE Society of Authors has recruited 58 writers to support its campaign for keeping the Net Book Agreement, the cartel that prevents shops from cutting the price of most new books. The 58, including Monica Dickens and Lady Antonia Fraser, have contributed to a pamphlet called What Price Reading? in which they give their reasons for supporting the agreement. Sir Victor Pritchett sums up the general view by saying he does not want his books 'treated purely as merchandise'.