A librarian in Brooklyn, N.Y., has been fined $500 for promoting his daughter’s graphic-novel adaptation of Macbeth in a newsletter he distributes at a local high school.
According to The New York Times, Robert Grandt listed Shakespeare’s Macbeth: The Manga Edition, which his daughter Eve Grandt co-created for John Wiley & Sons, as “Best New Book” under the heading “Grandt’s Picks.” He also displayed copies on a library table at Brooklyn Technical High School with a sign that read, “Best Book Ever Written.” The book was given for free to those interested.
On Monday the city’s Conflict of Interests board announced that it had settled its case against Robert Grandt, who agreed to pay a $500 fine and admit he had violated the city ethics code by promoting his daughter’s work.
Needless to say, Grandt isn’t pleased by the decision. “It’s unbelievable,” he told The Times.
October 22nd, 2008 at 12:10 pm
Ah the perks of being a librarian.
October 22nd, 2008 at 1:15 pm
When sarcasm is outlawed, only outlaws will be sarcastic.
Remember, kids. Hyperbole never wins in the end.
October 22nd, 2008 at 7:02 pm
Ha, this is crazy but also like, fuck that guy for doing that.
October 23rd, 2008 at 4:32 am
What a silly, stupid thing to get in trouble for. It’s a HIGH SCHOOL LIBRARY HANDOUT, right? You can’t just say outright that it’s your daughter’s book and that it’s [small letters]“adapted from” [big letters] “the greatest book ever written”?
October 23rd, 2008 at 4:34 am
I can see why the fine would be necessary if they were selling it or something, but I don’t think it’s that big a deal since it’s given out for free.
Still… “Best Book Ever Written!” HA! That’s good stuff.