No more paid writing here
Archive-only for paid subscribers
To conform with the conditions of my US J-1 visa while I am at the Mercatus Centre, I am no longer putting a paywall on anything I write. Everything—Shakespeare, Jane Austen, book club calls—will be free in future. From now on, there are no paid posts, chats, calls or anything else. The paid tier is for archive access only. From today, the rest is free.
I understand that many of you will want to unsubscribe and I encourage you to do so if you no longer want archive access. I ask for no payment. I ask for no subscriptions to support me or to be nice. The only thing you can pay for now is archive access.
It’s been wonderful writing for you all. I am glad to be able to stay here and write about Shakespeare and Austen, which was never about the money anyway.
If you have questions, please email commonreader@substack.com.
This move is surely a bit scary now, but your readership and influence will only increase under the new terms. You are already a significant presence in cultural life. The larger audience will open larger opportunities for you, especially in the U.S.
I won’t wish you good luck because I know you will make your own good fortune.
The limitations of the US visas are sometimes insane fr 😔