Literary courage

At least, in its best light. Cynics may counter, Same old greed since obviously sales will be brisk.

Attack Won’t Stop Publication of Book

By SARAH LYALL; Compiled by Dave Itzkoff
Published: September 29, 2008

Martin Rynja, the British publisher whose house was attacked over the weekend, is going ahead with plans to publish “The Jewel of Medina,” a novel about the early life of A’isha, a wife of the Prophet Muhammad. The book’s original American publisher, Random House, canceled publication after being warned that the novel might inflame Muslim extremists. (It has since been bought by another American publisher, Beaufort Books, and is to be published in 15 countries.) A firebomb was apparently pushed through the mail slot of the home of Mr. Rynja, the publisher of Gibson Square in London, this weekend. (His home is also the headquarters of Gibson Square.) He did not respond to messages, but Natasha Kern, the agent who represents Sherry Jones, the author of “The Jewel of Medina,” said Mr. Rynja was “fine and uninjured.” She added, “He is planning to go ahead with the book, as are other publishers worldwide, despite this shocking attack.”