Summary

Hyde opens the book by discussing a line of cheap romance novels that can be purchased at his local drugstore. These books, what he calls “Silhouette Romances” (xvi), are conceived, written, and sold according to certain formulae developed by meticulous market research. These trite novels are obviously different from the great works of literature that have stood the test of time. They are created in order to be consumed and to turn a profit. These observations lead Hyde to wonder why astute readers might suspect that Silhouette Romances are not enduring works of art. This suspicion supposes that there are some characteristics of the work of art that set it apart from pure commodities that are bought and sold in the marketplace. Art works may be bought and sold, to be sure, but this is not their defining purpose.

Hyde uses these observations to...