Let me get something off my chest:


I was asked for both of these books at work at recently.

We don't stock them, because they are offensively overpriced.

Schuyler's Collected is a 256-page paperback published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux, list price $32. To sweeten the deal, our distributor will charge us 40% more for this particular title. You know, to tempt us.

Strand's Selected is published by Knopf. It is 176 pages. It is a paperback book, and its list price is $19.95.

Both of these books are published by giant media companies. Take a quick look at their holdings and their imprints. You will see immediately that the prices of these titles are inconsistent with their catalogues.

I hate these people.