Books: Poor Little Research

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Publisher Charles Scribner Jr. speaks for most of his colleagues: "There but for the grace of God go we." Unlike many newspaper and magazine publishers, book publishers make little effort to check on their authors' accuracy. House attorneys review potentially libelous statements, and copy readers check manuscripts for style, but authors are solely responsible for verifying facts. "My company does 700 books a year," explains Thomas J. McCormack, president of St. Martin's Press. "We would go bust examining them a11." Recalling them may prove more expensive. Random House is spending an estimated $150,000 to buy back Heymann's book, and will forfeit a prospective six-figure paperback sale.

Nonetheless, plans for the film are proceeding as if nothing untoward had happened, and several publishers have expressed interest in reprinting Poor Little Rich Girl, factoids and all. "If it ever comes out again," claims Heymann, "because of all the publicity it would do extraordinarily well.

It would sell because it created such a stir. It shows how bizarre people are."