Dead Books

The article analyses the paradoxical dynamics of the book market in the 20^th century, whose concentration on success simultaneously leads to the accelerated depopularization of literary works. Past popularity is interpreted as a structural side effect of uncertain aesthetic markets in which success can hardly be planned. Based on this observation, the article argues that the accelerated depopularization of works entails practices of repopularization. Formerly successful works are repositioned on secondary markets to create new value. Using the example of book communities and modern antiquarian bookshops, the paper examines how a change of perspective enables a new valorization of works on a second market. The aim is to show that the temporal structure of valorization has a decisive influence on the perception and value of literary works.