Book Launch New book out

[MarylandLine]

None of which tells us whether he's a good researcher or author.

Then buy the book and find out, that's why I have 4000 civil war books. It's not my job to figure out if you believe it's a good book or he is a good author.

I find it fascinating people can suggest a book is Confederate propaganda, question the author's abilities without reading the book.

 

[dlofting]

In your original post you said the book was "interesting reading". As I haven't read anything else by this author nor seen any in depth reports on this book I won't buy it.

I do agree that the topic interests me, but I want to know if the book is well researched and based on the results of that research regardless of the author's bias.

 

[MarylandLine]

In your original post you said the book was "interesting reading". As I haven't read anything else by this author nor seen any in depth reports on this book I won't buy it.

I do agree that the topic interests me, but I want to know if the book is well researched and based on the results of that research regardless of the author's bias.

Suit yourself.

 

[Militarybooks]

Savas Beatie might be republishing this. If you have an interest, I suggest you wait a while.

 

[MarylandLine]

Savas Beatie might be republishing this. If you have an interest, I suggest you wait a while.

My man Uncle Teddy of course one of your authors heartily endorsed it as well after reading it. But I'm not throwing their name out there. But yeah let's say a book is confederate propaganda based on the cover or the author is a nobody so "I'll pass on this one." lol

 

[GilbertFarney]

In your original post you said the book was "interesting reading". As I haven't read anything else by this author nor seen any in depth reports on this book I won't buy it.

I do agree that the topic interests me, but I want to know if the book is well researched and based on the results of that research regardless of the author's bias.

For what it's worth, I've been reading it too, and can vouch for the fact that it is generally well written and sourced. I don't feel as if reading it has been a waste of my time. It has led me to ask deeper questions about the policies of the national government, and it has helped me to understand why Maryland's history during the war evolved as it did.

 

[Josh The Lighthouse Guy]

But yeah let's say a book is confederate propaganda based on the cover or the author is a nobody so "I'll pass on this one." lol

In the history field, a previously unknown author who is not a professional historian self-publishing a history book is cause for hesitation. Some promising authors do start off that way. However, such works are often inadequately edited, and some have much bigger problems than editing.

Reading the author's lengthy Amazon biography, he's pretty explicitly motivated by modern politics in the writing of this book.

 

[Militarybooks]

In the history field, a previously unknown author who is not a professional historian self-publishing a history book is cause for hesitation. Some promising authors do start off that way. However, such works are often inadequately edited, and some have much bigger problems than editing.

Reading the author's lengthy Amazon biography, he's pretty explicitly motivated by modern politics in the writing of this book.

How many bestselling or award-winning titles published by Savas Beatie began as self-published books, and/or are not written by professional historians?

Non-professionals comprise some of the absolute best people working in the field when it comes to original research and thinking--not to mention their writing skills.

 

[MarylandLine]

In the history field, a previously unknown author who is not a professional historian self-publishing a history book is cause for hesitation. Some promising authors do start off that way. However, such works are often inadequately edited, and some have much bigger problems than editing.

Reading the author's lengthy Amazon biography, he's pretty explicitly motivated by modern politics in the writing of this book.

You are using a broad brush to slander hundreds of hard working men and women who produce outstanding books each year, while simultaneously calling all of the people who read and enjoy them idiots. Is that really your position?

 

[Josh The Lighthouse Guy]

How many bestselling or award-winning titles published by Savas Beatie began as self-published books, and/or are not written by professional historians?

With regard to the former: I haven't the slightest idea.

With regard to the latter: when Savas Beatie publishes it then an experienced publisher has vetted and vouched for it. Not so when self-published. Someone's personal friend vouching for it is not a meaningful endorsement.

You are using a broad brush to slander hundreds of hard working men and women who produce outstanding books each year, while simultaneously calling all of the people who read and enjoy them idiots. Is that really your position?

You're jumping to quite the conclusion there, especially since I explicitly acknowledged "Some promising authors do start off that way."

Maybe you've had better experiences with self-published books then I have. My skepticism comes my experiences.

 

[Militarybooks]

I have no disagreement with you that many self-published books are not very good, and it can be a further red flag if they are not professionally trained.

What has surprised me after spending more than three decades in the publishing world is that most of the good material in the Civil War field is being produced by those without history degrees, or with perhaps only a BA in history but who are not working in academia. I would not have made that bet when I first entered this field.

 

[PaulC]

Hello all, I am the author of When Democracy Fell and I just got approved by admin to post. I see many have questions about my book and myself. As Mark stated I am a former Marine Officer and naval aviator. For some this will tell you that I am about as patriotic as any American you will find, but also as a Marine and a naval aviator there is a certain "attention to detail" that is an inherent trait which I believe I bring to my book. As for the cover, it is my artist's rendition of the beating and imprisonment of Judge R.B. Carmichael at the Talbot County courthouse on May 27, 1862. In my mind the government physically removing judges and imprisoning them without charges or trial is the image of when our Constitution is voided and our democracy has fallen. It certainly was for many of Talbot's citizens who lived during that event. I am not however, hearing the question that should be asked, and is the reason why so many of us purchase and read so much Civil War history. Does this book provide well sourced information that has never before been presented? Is there something new here that could blow my socks off and which I will find so hard to believe that I will double check the sources myself? If that is the case, then that information written on the back of a napkin would be of the greatest interest to you - never mind the cover or who or how it was published. Now one person mentioned the Union orders to attack Baltimore in May 1861, though they got it a bit off by stating the attack was called off at the last minute. That is incorrect since Gen. Scott issued the attack order once Gen. Butler was in position at Relay, and it was only because Gen. Patterson refused to advance that the attack was delayed. You can read the rest in the book , Can you imagine the Union attacking the 4th largest city in the U.S. in a state that had not seceded and which held the largest population of free blacks in the country? That is not new history however since it had been told by G. Radcliffe in 1901 published by the John's Hopkins Press but not by any historian since. hmm. The information I wrote in chapter 10 and 11 is why I wrote the book. I was researching Gen. Tench Tilghman of Talbot County whose grandfather was a great revolutionary war patriot. From that research I discovered a series of interrelated newspaper articles from Washington that was distributed both nationally and internationally. The articles were about how Gen. Tilghman in August 1861 was to lead an army up the Delmarva to act as a blocking force in support of a Confederate attack upon the Capital and to support the Maryland Legislature in seceding Maryland. The articles stated that the Legislature was coordinating with Beauregard and Johnston in that they would issue a secession ordinance and the Confederate army would immediately cross the Potomac to "liberate" Maryland and attack the Capital from the flank. All the major papers in the North and Europe carried this "news." My book documents that this was "fake news," meant to inflame the war passions of the North, control public opinion and to provide an acceptable reason to imprison the Maryland Legislature and to continue the take-over of Maryland. The actual reasons they imprisoned the legislature was to silence their protests regarding the violations of the Constitution, to silence their calls for peace and to ensure that the 25,000 copies of their written protest that they were to disseminate to American public was confiscated and destroyed. This is the history that has never before been told - and my book has much more. Thanks.

 

[GilbertFarney]

Hello all, I am the author of When Democracy Fell and I just got approved by admin to post. I see many have questions about my book and myself. As Mark stated I am a former Marine Officer and naval aviator. For some this will tell you that I am about as patriotic as any American you will find, but also as a Marine and a naval aviator there is a certain "attention to detail" that is an inherent trait which I believe I bring to my book. As for the cover, it is my artist's rendition of the beating and imprisonment of Judge R.B. Carmichael at the Talbot County courthouse on May 27, 1862. In my mind the government physically removing judges and imprisoning them without charges or trial is the image of when our Constitution is voided and our democracy has fallen. It certainly was for many of Talbot's citizens who lived during that event. I am not however, hearing the question that should be asked, and is the reason why so many of us purchase and read so much Civil War history. Does this book provide well sourced information that has never before been presented? Is there something new here that could blow my socks off and which I will find so hard to believe that I will double check the sources myself? If that is the case, then that information written on the back of a napkin would be of the greatest interest to you - never mind the cover or who or how it was published. Now one person mentioned the Union orders to attack Baltimore in May 1861, though they got it a bit off by stating the attack was called off at the last minute. That is incorrect since Gen. Scott issued the attack order once Gen. Butler was in position at Relay, and it was only because Gen. Patterson refused to advance that the attack was delayed. You can read the rest in the book , Can you imagine the Union attacking the 4th largest city in the U.S. in a state that had not seceded and which held the largest population of free blacks in the country? That is not new history however since it had been told by G. Radcliffe in 1901 published by the John's Hopkins Press but not by any historian since. hmm. The information I wrote in chapter 10 and 11 is why I wrote the book. I was researching Gen. Tench Tilghman of Talbot County whose grandfather was a great revolutionary war patriot. From that research I discovered a series of interrelated newspaper articles from Washington that was distributed both nationally and internationally. The articles were about how Gen. Tilghman in August 1861 was to lead an army up the Delmarva to act as a blocking force in support of a Confederate attack upon the Capital and to support the Maryland Legislature in seceding Maryland. The articles stated that the Legislature was coordinating with Beauregard and Johnston in that they would issue a secession ordinance and the Confederate army would immediately cross the Potomac to "liberate" Maryland and attack the Capital from the flank. All the major papers in the North and Europe carried this "news." My book documents that this was "fake news," meant to inflame the war passions of the North, control public opinion and to provide an acceptable reason to imprison the Maryland Legislature and to continue the take-over of Maryland. The actual reasons they imprisoned the legislature was to silence their protests regarding the violations of the Constitution, to silence their calls for peace and to ensure that the 25,000 copies of their written protest that they were to disseminate to American public was confiscated and destroyed. This is the history that has never before been told - and my book has much more. Thanks.

I'm the reader who got the attack order detail incorrect. For that I apologize. Thank you for posting and welcome to CivilWarTalk!

 

[PaulC]

I'm the reader who got the attack order detail incorrect. For that I apologize. Thank you for posting and welcome to CivilWarTalk!

I'm sorry, I didn't mean to correct you. It's just that that historical fact is so fascinating, both because it happened and then it got dropped from our history in all relatively modern publications. It's good to be here btw, I will learn allot. Thank you so much for your interest in my book!

 

[Josh The Lighthouse Guy]

What has surprised me after spending more than three decades in the publishing world is that most of the good material in the Civil War field is being produced by those without history degrees, or with perhaps only a BA in history but who are not working in academia. I would not have made that bet when I first entered this field.

I would guess academics are encouraged to pursue other subjects for their research.

On the other hand, besides the niche filled by Savas Beatie, some university presses seem more willing to publish non-academics like Hampton Newsome.

Can you imagine the Union attacking the 4th largest city in the U.S. in a state that had not seceded and which held the largest population of free blacks in the country?

After residents of that city attacked federal troops passing through it no I don't find it surprising.

What does Baltimore's free black population have to do with it?

My book documents that this was "fake news," meant to inflame the war passions of the North, control public opinion and to provide an acceptable reason to imprison the Maryland Legislature and to continue the take-over of Maryland.

Civil War newspapers were full of rumor, innuendo, and horse hockey.

I hope your book uses more paragraph breaks than your forum post.

 

[PaulC]

I would guess academics are encouraged to pursue other subjects for their research.

On the other hand, besides the niche filled by Savas Beatie, some university presses seem more willing to publish non-academics like Hampton Newsome.



After residents of that city attacked federal troops passing through it no I don't find it surprising.

What does Baltimore's free black population have to do with it?



Civil War newspapers were full of rumor, innuendo, and horse hockey.

I hope your book uses more paragraph breaks than your forum post.

I don't debate folks about my book when they havn't read it. Kinda like someone that has never even been in an aircraft telling me how to land a Hornet on the deck of a carrier. I can tell them what it is like and how it's done but they already knew everything there ever was about it.

 

[PaulC]

I would guess academics are encouraged to pursue other subjects for their research.

On the other hand, besides the niche filled by Savas Beatie, some university presses seem more willing to publish non-academics like Hampton Newsome.



After residents of that city attacked federal troops passing through it no I don't find it surprising.

What does Baltimore's free black population have to do with it?



Civil War newspapers were full of rumor, innuendo, and horse hockey.

I hope your book uses more paragraph breaks than your forum post.

After residents of that city attacked federal troops passing through it no I don't find it surprising

 

[PaulC]

Whoa, I just saw this comment. Are you saying that you are ok with the government attacking and bombarding an entire U.S. city and slaughtering innocent Americans because there was an anti-war protest / riot in that city? Really? I hope you just said that out of hand without truly thinking about what you were writing.

 

[Josh The Lighthouse Guy]

I don't debate folks about my book when they haven't read it.

But you have yet to convince me it's worth my time to read.

Are you saying that you are ok with the government attacking and bombarding an entire U.S. city and slaughtering innocent Americans because there was an anti-war protest / riot in that city? Really? I hope you just said that out of hand without truly thinking about what you were writing.

It's not clear to me what the proposed attack on Baltimore would have even entailed. All mentions of it so far in this thread have been too vague for me to have any idea what Lincoln or Scott or whomever ordered the attack intended.

What did the orders actually entail?

 

[PaulC]

But you have yet to convince me it's worth my time to read.



It's not clear to me what the proposed attack on Baltimore would have even entailed. All mentions of it so far in this thread have been too vague for me to have any idea what Lincoln or Scott or whomever ordered the attack intended.

What did the orders actually entail?

You have to read the book….