THE CURRENT SITUATION

   In July, the publisher of the Arden Shakespeare unjustly terminated Professor Patricia Parker’s editorship of a planned third edition of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, a project on which she has been working diligently for over ten years. The results of her work on the edition thus far, which are both scholarly and path-breaking, have met with widespread  acclaim from academic Shakespeareans and from the theater world. Pat’s inability to complete the edition has resulted largely from extraordinary delays–often years at a time--on the part of the Arden’s general editors and publisher in replying to her queries and requests for instruction and clarification. The process as a whole casts doubt on the professional procedures of the Arden’s publishers and on the transparency and accountability of its editorial process. Further, ownership of the Arden Shakespeare has passed to a private equity company, and there is concern that Pat’s termination is in part an effort to elevate corporate profitability over the principles of scholarly diligence and thoroughness. Beyond the personal outrage that those of us who know and admire Pat inevitably feel, then, this episode raises general issues of scholarly integrity and labor to which it is crucial to respond. Pat’s termination must be reversed, and she must be granted the necessary time and editorial cooperation to bring her important work to a successful conclusion. 

FOR MORE INFORMATION

   An account of the roadblocks that Pat has faced in attempting to complete her edition, along with details of the termination itself, are contained in her letter to the Arden general editors, the text of which can be accessed here.  

Some of the early letters sent to the Arden editors can be read here.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

1.  Send an email--as soon as possible--to  Margaret Bartley and Ronald Dunn    at Cengage Learning (publisher of the Arden Shakespeare) and cc both Arden’s general editors and the editors of individual volumes. This last step is especially important, since Arden seems to be imposing restrictions on its general editors about communicating on this matter. A list of the necessary e-mail addresses, which can be copied and pasted into the address box of your message, is available here. Margaret Bartley should be the formal  addressee of your letter.  

2.  Sign a petition to the publisher, expressing our dismay at Pat’s termination and urging her reinstatement. We need as many names as possible, so please sign even if you have already written a letter to the publisher.                 

                               

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