Simon & Schuster imprint will no longer ask authors to obtain blurbs for their books

Publisher says expecting authors, agents and editors to secure blurbs can create an incestuous and unmeritocratic literary ecosystem that often rewards connections over talent'

When you buy a new book, you can usually expect to see praise from other authors emblazoned on its cover. A writer slightly more famous than the author of the book you're buying might have called it whip-smart", illuminating" or a tour de force", for example - presumably so that fans of the more famous writer will take a punt on the less famous one.

But soon we may not see so many of these author blurbs - Sean Manning, publisher of Simon & Schuster's flagship imprint in the US, has written an essay for Publishers Weekly explaining that as of this year he will no longer require authors to obtain blurbs for their books".