NF Civil War Series Books

[dlavin]

Has anyone read any of these books and have an opinion? Or other books in this "series" I saw a lot of them while driving down the Valley, and was hesitant to pull the trigger. I purchased Wert's book on 1864 Valley and was considering these others, but didn't (for the moment).

 

[Jamieva]

Not familiar with those. I read Wert's book in the last 6 months, it's very good.

 

[Jimklag]

Has anyone read any of these books and have an opinion? Or other books in this "series" I saw a lot of them while driving down the Valley, and was hesitant to pull the trigger. I purchased Wert's book on 1864 Valley and was considering these others, but didn't (for the moment).

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I have read the Cedar Creek book and just got my copy of @Eric Wittenberg 's The Battle Of Brandy Station also in the series. The Cedar Creek book was good and I trust Eric's book will be up to his usual high standards.

 

[Mark F. Jenkins]

I'm sure quality varies with the ability of the author. "Series" books can have weaknesses based on the layout/format imposed and if the series editor isn't quite up to it, but authorship ultimately matters most IMHO.

 

[nitrofd]

I'm sure quality varies with the ability of the author. "Series" books can have weaknesses based on the layout/format imposed and if the series editor isn't quite up to it, but authorship ultimately matters most IMHO.

I think on some of the series books that they might have a limitation on the amount of pages it can be.

 

[AUG]

The book on Pickett's Mill by Brad Butkovich of this series is a good one. For a small book it had lot of detail and good maps. Other than that I have not read any others from this series and, as mentioned above, would guess that the quality varies by the author.

 

[Eric Wittenberg]

My book on Brandy Station is the only one in the series that significantly deviates from the 35,000 word limitation imposed. I presented them with a 65,000 word manuscript and told them that if they wanted to publish it, it was at 65,000 words. Mine is the only exception in the entire series. The length issues obviously affect detail.

 

[Jimklag]

My book on Brandy Station is the only one in the series that significantly deviates from the 35,000 word limitation imposed. I presented them with a 65,000 word manuscript and told them that if they wanted to publish it, it was at 65,000 words. Mine is the only exception in the entire series. The length issues obviously affect detail.

I actually have two other books in the series, The Battle Of Cedar Creek and Hood's Tennessee Campaign. I wondered at the difference in length to yours. Both were fine books, by the way, given their brevity.

 

[Eric Wittenberg]

I actually have two other books in the series, The Battle Of Cedar Creek and Hood's Tennessee Campaign. I wondered at the difference in length to yours. Both were fine books, by the way, given their brevity.

They agreed to my conditions for two reasons: one was that the manuscript was finished and ready to go--it was already done when I approached them--the maps were done, and I had all illustrations in hand. That meant it could immediately go into production with no delay whatsoever. The other was that by adding me to the series, it gave the series some instant credibility. They made a business decision. From my perspective, publishing it as written was a non-negotiable deal breaker. If they had asked me to cut even one word out of it (other than routine editing, of course), I would have refused to sign the contract, and they knew it.

 

[Jimklag]

They agreed to my conditions for two reasons: one was that the manuscript was finished and ready to go--it was already done when I approached them--the maps were done, and I had all illustrations in hand. That meant it could immediately go into production with no delay whatsoever. The other was that by adding me to the series, it gave the series some instant credibility. They made a business decision. From my perspective, publishing it as written was a non-negotiable deal breaker. If they had asked me to cut even one word out of it (other than routine editing, of course), I would have refused to sign the contract, and they knew it.

There is a place in the literature for series like The Civil War Sesquicentennial Series. It provides a service to those who don't want to read 800 pages on a campaign but want a solid overview. And there are some other really great short works on the Civil War. Steve Woodworth's Six Armies In Tennessee comes immediately to mind along with several good studies edited by Gary Gallagher.

 

[Eric Wittenberg]

Another interesting note....

In 2001, Brassey's published my The Union Cavalry Comes of Age: Hartwood Church to Brandy Station, 1863. Over my loud and unhappy protests, they allowed it to go out of print in 2007. Covering Hooker's tenure in command of the Army of the Potomac, this book is well over 100,000 words in length--about 125,000, if I recall correctly. For years, I tried to find someone who would bring it back into print, as my publishing rights reverted to me when Brassey's refused to reprint it. The History Press offered to bring back a version of it at 35,000 words as part of the sesquicentennial series, but I absolutely refused. It would have required me to cut nearly 75% of the content, and there was no way I was going to eviscerate my book like that--this is one of my favorites of my own work. Having refused the offer, I resigned myself to continuing to try to find someone else who would bring it back into print.

Unexpectedly last year, just as I had concluded that if I wanted the book back in print, I was going to have do it myself, I got contacted by an acquisitions editor for The History Press who indicated that THP was going to start a new impression to bring back public domain and out of print works, and asked if I had anything I would consider having included. I immediately thought of The Union Cavalry Comes of Age, had a copy sent to the guy (I had to buy a used copy since I have only my personal copy of the original edition left), and eventually signed a contract to do a new edition.

Ironically, THP decided not to proceed with the new impression, and the book was brought back out earlier this year under the standard THP impression. The cover design looks just like the sesquicentennial series books, but at 400 pages, it obviously greatly exceeds the length of the 150 series books by a lot. It may very well be the longest book in terms of number of pages ever published by THP, which has always been known for short books done entirely in softcover.

I actually like the new edition better than the original, if the truth be told. In the original, the photos were all clumped in the center of the book. In the new edition, they're scattered throughout the text (I placed them myself), and there are 15 more of them now than there were in the original edition. I just wish it was available in a hardcover edition. That said, though, I am just thrilled that it's back in print and readily available again after ten years.

This is it: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0738503576/?tag=civilwartalkc-20

 

[dlavin]

Eric I saw your books on display while in the Valley. Either they were at New Market or Winchester Old Courthouse. Or both...I know I saw the Brandy Station book all over but the Union Cavalry book I distinctly remember seeing and thinking, huh haven't seen that before in a shop...kudos.

 

[Andrew]

I read a part of the Antietam book by Ted Alexander and was kinda disappointed. It seemed to me that the writing was a bit on the rambling side and not as well-written or edited as I had hoped. But I only read one chapter. Definitely get a second opinion from someone else.

 

[Eric Wittenberg]

Eric I saw your books on display while in the Valley. Either they were at New Market or Winchester Old Courthouse. Or both...I know I saw the Brandy Station book all over but the Union Cavalry book I distinctly remember seeing and thinking, huh haven't seen that before in a shop...kudos.

Thank you!

 

[Eric Wittenberg]

There is a place in the literature for series like The Civil War Sesquicentennial Series. It provides a service to those who don't want to read 800 pages on a campaign but want a solid overview. And there are some other really great short works on the Civil War. Steve Woodworth's Six Armies In Tennessee comes immediately to mind along with several good studies edited by Gary Gallagher.

I agree completely. The same purpose is served by the Emerging Civil War Series published by Savas-Beatie. Those are specifically intended to be gateway books.

 

[Jimklag]

I agree completely. The same purpose is served by the Emerging Civil War Series published by Savas-Beatie. Those are specifically intended to be gateway books.

I have a couple of the Emerging Civil War Series - Bushwhacking On A Grand Scale and Bloody Autumn. The first is about Chickamauga and the second is about the 1864 Valley Campaign. Pretty good books.

 

[Jamieva]

I have read 3 or 4 of the ECW books. They are well done as a 1 volume limited (for length) history of a certain battle or subject.

 

[cash]

I'm sure quality varies with the ability of the author. "Series" books can have weaknesses based on the layout/format imposed and if the series editor isn't quite up to it, but authorship ultimately matters most IMHO.

Exactly. Noyalas is a good historian, so his books are pretty good.

 

[DixieRifles]

I have a few of these books and I like most of them. I've even bought some to give as gifts to my California buddy.
I recently obtained one that has the appearance of being from this series but it isn't since it was published this year. So before I make any comments, I should check to see if all of my books are part of this series.

 

[Mark F. Jenkins]

My wife just bought me one of that series, too: The Battle of Port Royal, by Michael D. Coker. If there's another book specifically about that action, I'm not aware of it. I suppose that's another benefit from series like that-- some topics might get covered that otherwise might not have been published.