That and I think the VAT makes them prohibitively expensive for most people. Trade paperbacks from Southern Europe often cost me $30 for the book (and another $30 or so for shipping). I guess few want to spend $50-60 for a good hardcover.
It varies from country to country, but a quick Google confirms that Spain and Italy, like Belgium, apply reduced VAT rates on books (at least physical ones; e-books don't seem to be included in that in Spain), of 4% in Spain and what looks like 6% in Italy (same as in Belgium, that). That's hardly going to make such a big difference.
Then it must be something with print cost/volume printing, because American paperbacks (and hardcover books) generally are much lower in price on average.
Illusions fall like the husk of a fruit, one after another, and the fruit is experience. - Narrator, Sylvie
Je suis méchant.
Je suis méchant.
WANT.
- 16/11/2010 10:52:33 PM
1155 Views
How long does it take for his books to be translated into English?
- 16/11/2010 10:54:10 PM
794 Views
From what I can figure out by glancing at the Italian cover description, it sounds awesome.
- 16/11/2010 11:10:02 PM
809 Views
That is what drew me in as well, besides it being a novel by Eco
- 16/11/2010 11:18:38 PM
812 Views
Hence the "not Eco".
- 16/11/2010 11:33:56 PM
870 Views
Re: Hence the "not Eco".
- 17/11/2010 01:06:58 AM
772 Views
But that's not to say there won't be more difficult Italian words he doesn't know.
- 17/11/2010 02:43:06 AM
738 Views
That's odd
- 17/11/2010 03:34:20 AM
767 Views
Re: But that's not to say there won't be more difficult Italian words he doesn't know.
- 17/11/2010 10:41:57 AM
910 Views
Eco in Italian IS very difficult if you're not fluent.
- 17/11/2010 03:09:52 PM
768 Views
True, but I'm much more familiar with the language than I think most here realize
- 17/11/2010 04:29:45 PM
794 Views
There's an interesting article in English on the book...
- 16/11/2010 11:11:49 PM
823 Views
I'm equally surprised you won't be reading it in the original
- 16/11/2010 11:17:47 PM
740 Views
Let me rephrase: I'm going to wait for a hardcover version in Italian or English.
- 17/11/2010 01:34:51 AM
762 Views
I guess it'll be English then
- 17/11/2010 01:36:45 AM
717 Views
I don't understand it. Are they cheap, poor or do they just not love books?
- 17/11/2010 05:05:08 AM
821 Views
Likely the first two
- 17/11/2010 04:32:23 PM
789 Views
VAT is fairly modest on books, actually.
- 17/11/2010 05:50:51 PM
1071 Views
Interesting
- 17/11/2010 09:43:36 PM
787 Views
It sounds like the French, Spanish and Italians don't read but the Germans do.
- 18/11/2010 01:44:21 AM
1000 Views
What are the American percentages, then?
- 18/11/2010 02:48:08 PM
1024 Views
Yes, I don't think percentages are relevant. Gross statistics would matter much more.
- 18/11/2010 10:52:24 PM
803 Views
Oh, and the Spanish translation is already availabe, I see
- 16/11/2010 11:49:54 PM
861 Views
I prefer the original. Like the stairs better than the dark doorway. *NM*
- 17/11/2010 12:16:11 AM
397 Views
I much prefer the original.
- 17/11/2010 02:52:30 AM
699 Views
I wonder if it might be published as Prague Cemetery
- 17/11/2010 03:36:32 AM
865 Views
Why do you think that, out of curiosity?
- 17/11/2010 04:27:55 AM
822 Views
Just seems more compact
- 17/11/2010 04:32:40 AM
864 Views
Oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooh
- 17/11/2010 01:04:32 AM
767 Views
That's the cover I was trying to recall!
- 17/11/2010 01:22:35 AM
759 Views
Re:
- 17/11/2010 02:43:12 AM
870 Views
Foucault's Pendulum
- 17/11/2010 03:33:09 AM
793 Views