A frustrated author has confirmed what other unpublished writers have long suspected: even Jane Austen would have difficulty finding a book deal in the 21st Century.

But what really astonished David Lassman was that only one of 18 publishers and literary agents recognised her work when it was submitted to them under a false name.

Mr Lassman, 43, had spent months trying without success to find a publisher for his own novel Freedom’s Temple. Out of frustration – and to test whether today’s publishers could spot great literature – he retyped the opening chapters of three Austen classics: Pride and Prejudice, Northanger Abbey and Persuasion.

He changed only the titles, the names of the characters and his own name – calling himself Alison Laydee, after Austen’s early pseudonym “A Lady” – then waited for the offers to roll in.

Instead he received yet another sheaf of rejection letters, including one from Penguin, which republished Pride and Prejudice last year, describing his plagarised chapters as “a really original and interesting read” but not right for Penguin.

That was one of the gentler rejections. But Mr Lassman said: “Penguin neither requested to see the rest of the novel nor did they recognise a work they already publish.

“I wasn’t surprised that the publishing process rejects people out of hand, but I was staggered that no one recognised the work. Here is one of the greatest writers that has lived, yet only one recipient recognised them as Austen’s work.

“At best their letters were mildly apologetic about declining the material and at worst completely indifferent to what they had in their possession. If major publishers can’t recognise great literature, who knows what might be slipping through the net.”

Mr Lassman concocted his plan after returning from the Greek island where he had been writing his own novel and found himself facing a brick wall. “I was having a hard time getting it published and I was chatting to friends about it, saying I wondered how Jane would have fared today.

“Getting a novel accepted is very difficult unless you have an agent first, but I had no idea at the scale of rejection poor old Jane suffered.”

The literary agency Christopher Little, which represents J.K. Rowling, regretted that it was “not confident of placing this material with a publisher”. Jennifer Vale of Bloomsbury publishers turned down Northanger Abbey,renamed Susan, saying “I didn’t feel the book was suited to our list.”

The one publisher to recognise the deception was Alex Bowler, assistant editor at Jonathan Cape. His reply read: “Thank you for sending us the first two chapters of First Impressions; my first impression on reading these were ones of disbelief and mild annoyance, along with a moment’s laughter.

“I suggest you reach for your copy of Pride and Prejudice, which I’d guess lives in close proximity to your typewriter and make sure that your opening pages don’t too closely mimic the book’s opening. After all, there is such a thing as plagiarism and I’d hate for you to get in any kind of trouble with Jane Austen’s estate.”

Last night a spokeswoman for Penguin admitted that Mr Lassman’s submission may not actually have been read. She said: “We don’t take anything that is not agency-led, so I doubt the person would even have read it. I can’t comment on this individual case but I don’t think we have done anything bad.”

Neil Blair at Christopher Little said Mr Lassman had received a standard response. He said: “As you can imagine we get hundreds of submission each week – some from genuine writers or would-be writers, but also some from cranks. Our letter was a polite note declining representation and provided a standard response.

“However, our internal notes did recognise similarities with existing published works and indeed there were even discussions about possible plagiarism. We chose an approach was designed to end the chain of communication with this person and not start a whole new one. Sadly, we have had experience of where accusations of plagiarism can lead to.”

Bloomsbury declined to comment.

The verdicts

First Impressions (Pride and Prejudice)

“It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of wife.

Penguin’s response: Thank you for your recent letter and chapters from your book First Impressions. It seems like a really original and interesting read. Unfortunately we are unable to accept...

Susan (Northanger Abbey)

“No one who had even seen Susan Maldorn (Catherine Morland) in her infancy would have supposed her born to be an heroine. Her situation in life, the character of her father and mother, her own person and disposition, were all equally against her.

Blake Friedmann: All material received is considered carefully... In order to take on a new author, several of us here would need to be extremely enthusiastic about both the content and the writing style. I’m sorry to say we don’t feel that strongly about your work

The Watsons (Persuasion)

“Sir Walter Watson (Elliot), of Steventon Hall (Kellynch Hall), in Somersetshire, was a man who, for his own amusement, never took up any book but the Baronetage; there he found occupation for an idle hour and, consolation in a distressed one . . .

Christopher Little: Many thanks for sending in a sample of your work The Watsons for consideration. I’m really sorry but as an already very busy agency we need to be extremely highly selective with new writers. This is not for us I’m afraid as I’m not confident of placing this material with a publisher

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