Most of the houses are simply vestigial bits of nomenclature, like "Lakers" or "Pontiac." Most people pay no mind to who published the book they are reading. Most books reach most readers as paperbacks, which are typically issued by reprint houses rather than the publisher that originally acquired and edited them. Top authors—as their agents are quick to point out in negotiations—can be moved from house to house with no obvious effect on their books or reputations.
And all that was true before the advent of e-books, which dispense with the jackets and bindings that conveyed the character of each house for so long. And before digital publishing enabled an author to simply upload his masterpiece for all the world to read.
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