I paid $55 for it, and I think it’s about $35 too high – with the content, poor maps, and half-shallow research, this should be a $20 book. The libraries can have it… maybe I’ll put my copy for sale up on Amazon and reinvest the money on Bud’s Hall’s book when it comes out 🙂

J.D.

It will indeed, probably 25,000 words or so worth. That will be a good treatment, but not the sort of definitive work that it deserves and needs.

Eric

I hear you loud and clear. 🙂

Eric

Thanks for the review. I saw Downey’s book on Brandy Station at a half-price store and almost bought it as there is precious little on the subject. I did not know how precious little until your review.

This makes me look forward to your magnum opus on Gettysburg (I assume you will include Brandy Station in it–or will you?)

Thanks again for your input.

Best wishes always,
Lanny

“I can’t fathom the pricing. It’s astronomical. My guess is that their primary market is university libraries, where they don’t care about the cost. It’s the only explanation I can come up with for it.”

Eric:

Earlier this year I asked a publisher to explain the high pricing of a new book of about 300 pages. They said that they, for the most part, usually only sell to libraries. The more people that can read it, the higher the price was how it was explained to me. If they could have seen me while I was reading their E-mail they would have seen a man tilting his head like the RCA dog. Made no sense to me.

Mike

You’re very welcome, and thanks also for the kind words about my work. I’m lucky to have had Bud Hall as a mentor. 🙂

Eric

I can’t fathom the pricing. It’s astronomical. My guess is that their primary market is university libraries, where they don’t care about the cost. It’s the only explanation I can come up with for it.

Eric

Thanks for the review. I was considering buying this, but I was waffling due to the price tag. Given your review, I think I’ll pass on it.

Also, don’t sell yourself short on your account of the Battle in your book “The Union Cavalry Comes of Age”. While I know you were not concentrating on writing a definitive account, it is well written and easily understood. At this point, you can probably claim that your account is the best out there at the moment.

Even as a McFarland author who had a very enjoyable experience working with them, I must admit to being clueless as to how they set the prices for their new titles. I like their production values as well as the laminated board look, nevertheless $55 is fast approaching the university press realm where there is little apparent concern as to how many copies are sold.

I just finished reviewing a new paperback title from McFarland that carries a $35 price tag! And a slim book at that! Go figure.

Paul