Red State Reports: In a medium that prides itself on free expression, publishing has become hesitant to sign certain voices and writers are self-censoring.

In another sign of how the intellectual elites of our culture are intent on damaging themselves in the name of virtue and social activism, the New York Times delivers an update on the state of book publishing over the past few years. The book imprints are going through something of a cultural reorganization it seems, and this shift serves as a macrocosm of our contemporary culture, one beholden to the cranks and self-appointed arbiters of propriety.

What brings about this particular study, by columnist Pamela Paul, is that she recognizes the anniversary of a watershed event in the literary industry and looks at the after-effects. It is a disturbing revelation in many ways.



Three years ago this month saw the release of the novel “American Dirt,” written by Jeanine Cummins. It was a fictional exploration of immigrants crossing the US southern border, and the advanced word on the title was such that it seemed poised to be elevated into the strata of “great American novels.” The manuscript was competed over by numerous publishers, Cummins struck a deal in the millions of dollars, and the initial critical raves were so widespread that it was assured of becoming a massive seller.