Will the Classics Soon Go Out of Print?

[Terrence]

Some years ago I lost my copy of Anthony Trollope’s “The Last Chronicle of Barset” and I went to a bookstore to get a fresh copy. There were none on the shelves, but they eventually found me a copy. It cost about $ 15. A few months later I bought a Kindle and discovered that I could download the eBook version of this book for free.

There are voluntary, non-profit organisations that have uploaded 19th century and some early 20th century books into the internet that can be downloaded free. They are books in the public domain. You can even download free, audio versions of many of these books.

Though many might like to read off physical books, can they afford this luxury when eBooks are available for free? Hence, the demand for physical books that are in the public domain will diminish and it may become economically unfeasible for publishers to print these books.

Hence, the big question: will the classics soon go out of print?

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Interesting topic Terrence :) I hope it doesn't happen - it probably won't in my lifetime but I suspect it will eventually...

[Elias]

I agree with Michael in that the availability of books, especially classics in print form will be either reduced to a niche market, or only be available for purchase as used copies on places like eBay or Gumtree, or both. It's also happening with films with sites like Netflix where you can download and stream them, rather than going to the cinema or having them as physical copies on DVD or Blu-ray.

[B the BookAddict]

Terrence, I like to read my classics as they were intended - in a physical book form. It just feels wrong somehow to me to read them via ebook. As long as I can afford it, I'll keep paying whatever to buy the real book version. I hope publishers keep producing the anniversary editions.