MR. JUSTIN M'CARTHY AND HIS PUBLISHERS.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XII, Issue 23, 26 September 1884, Page 22

MR. JUSTIN M'CARTHY AND HIS PUBLISHERS.

AooODstoryof Mr. Justin M'Carthy is told in the Boston Herald by Joseph Hatton, the special London correspondent of that newspaper. The correspondent was interviewing Mr. Andrew Chatto of the publishing firm of Chatto and Windus, when the following conversation ensued :—: —

" I have beard there is a good story behind the publication of Mr. Justin McCarthy's 'History of Our Own Times.' Will you tell me what it is?"

11 Yes," he replied ; " Mr. M' Car thy conceived the idea of writing a book entitled ' The Victorian Era,' which was to be an historical narrative. Introduced to a well-known firm of publishers, he entered into an arrangement with them to sell them the work for £600 (4,000 dolfl). After a little, the publishers, learning that Mr. M'Oarthy was a Hump Ruler, if not a Parnellite— they did not even know, it appears, that he was an Irishman— a9ked to be allowed to withdraw from the contract. Mr. M'Carthy, who was greatly annoyed at the suggestion that he might mutilate history to suit his own private or political views, demanded compensation, and the publishers referred the settlement to the friend who had introduced the author to them. Then Mr. M'Carthy came to me, and I at once agreed to publish the work for him on a basis of mulnnl profits. I suggested, however, that instead of ' The Victorian Era,' be should call the book « The History of Our Own Times.' In the it.tervai, the other publishers reconsidered the situation, and asked to be allowed to revive the lapsed contracts. It was too late. The woik was in my hands, which, as it turned out, was a good thing for the author, as well as for me. I have paid Mr. M'Carthy, up to the present time, over £5,000 (25,000d015.) on account of his profits on f Tne History of Our Own Times.' "