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¡°Hard-nosed publisher¡± Stuart Hay recently commissioned a monograph from me, although I am an unknown author. Like Hay, I¡¯m puzzled about Valentine Cunningham¡¯s withering view of publishers (THES, Soapbox, February 12). Last week I received Pounds 50 for writing a textbook chapter and, like others, I edit, review and write for journals for free. I think it is part of the job. Those of us who have experienced the disappointment of a rejected book proposal cannot demand publication as a right. I¡¯m grateful Hay is supporting my risky project, which deals with a little understood and unpopular yet important topic: marketing.

Chris Hackley Wheatley, Oxford