Harper Lee’s estate bans cheap US paperback edition of ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’

In the US, Hachette has told booksellers that Harper Lee’s estate will no longer allow publication of the mass-market paperback of To Kill a Mockingbird, reports the New Republic. The Hachette edition, which has sold more than 55,000 copies in 2016, retails for US$8.99 (A$11.95), while HarperCollins’ trade paperback editions retail for US$14.99 (A$19.95) and US$16.99 (A$23.64). In an email to booksellers, Hachette writes: ‘The disappearance of the iconic mass-market edition is very disappointing to us, especially as we understand this could force a difficult situation for schools and teachers with tight budgets who cannot afford the larger, higher priced paperback edition that will remain in the market.’ The ban on the sale of the mass-market edition will be effective from 25 April, with Hachette offering booksellers a discount on its remaining stock.

Category: International news