Does anyone know much about borrowing little exerts from artists and philosophers. For example I found a nice couplet from Plato's Republic that would be a nice intro into a story. Obviously the guy has been dead for a while now but what are legality issues regarding such a thing. I know that other writers like to quote song lyrics at the start of a chapter. Is their a financial implication involved?
I believe you can get away with attributed quotes under 'fair use' guidelines, thought what exactly constitutes fair use is open to interpretation. Song lyrics are a different matter (unless classed as 'traditional') because the PRS seems to consider ANY unpaid use breach of copyright.
I'd agree with those who suggested avoiding anything post-19th century, but writing historicals that's easy for me to say.
Am I the only one who always misses out those bits in books? If I ever see anything in italics I take it as a sign that I don't actually need to read it.
Well said Adrian. I think that sums up entirely how I feel. When I wrote essays at Uni I would always begin with a relevant quotation and I think the lecturers appreciated it.
Katie, fishing quotations from Whittakers Almanack, just brilliant!
Oliver, eighteen months ago I was in Dharmsala with some friends. We tried to gain access to the Delhi Lama by pretending to be BBC reporters. It didn't go down well at all...