Publishing Tactics

The front cover of the Penguin paperback edition of John Updike's Terrorist, published this week, says on the cover: ' "Brilliant" Sunday Telegraph'.

The review in question, however, also had this to say: 'oddly dated and out of touch', 'thoroughly creaky plotting', 'tired melodrama' and 'very shoddy'.

As the newspaper says: "In other words we did not recommend this novel. If West End theatres have had the gumption to refrain from this outdated, immoral practice, West End publishers should follow suit."