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| Abridged vs. Unabridged http://www.wargame.ch/board/acwgc/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=23964 |
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| Author: | Blake [ Mon Aug 11, 2025 8:58 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Abridged vs. Unabridged |
I see Timothy B. Smith's five-part series on Vicksburg and all I can think is... that's a lot of reading on a campaign that could probably be summed up in one decent sized volume - two volumes at most. Gordon Rhea's series on the Overland Campaign was very well done and I have no problem reading all of those books. But with other campaigns/battles I have a harder time justifying the cost of buying three or more books when maybe one will do. I guess everyone has a limit as to what level of detail they are willing to dive into when reading history. But I am going to have to pass on Timothy Smith's five-volumes on Vicksburg I believe. Maybe if the price drops of if I find it second-hand for cheap I will pick it up. I don't usually like abridged books but that seems like an ideal situation where an abridged volume could be produced. Because reading 2,500 pages on the Vicksburg Campaign is a tall order. |
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| Author: | M. Johnson [ Wed Aug 13, 2025 9:42 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Abridged vs. Unabridged |
I believe the longest single volume I've read was the Rise and Fall of the Third Reich. |
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| Author: | Kent Scarbough [ Tue Aug 19, 2025 7:40 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Abridged vs. Unabridged |
Mitch, that may well have been the longest single volume for me as well, but it did not seem stretched or redundant at all. I never found myself bored or overloaded with details when reading it. I think I am probably going to agree with Blake on that series, it seems excessive for the Vicksburg Campaign. I can see how it could end up that length, there is a lot of that took place and with extreme detail it could easily hit that size, but again I think it maybe a bit much detail for me. A number of years ago I read the "Guide to the Vicksburg Campaign", edited by Leonard Fullenkamp, Stephen Bowman and Jay Luvaas. Including index it is 482 pages of fine (ie small) print and it is primarily the words of the participants in letters, orders, and reports organized in the book by date and command. That format comprises about 3/4 of the book total. The remainder is a very comprehensive driving tour guide, giving specifics for every location that can be visited. I used it during the days that I spent visiting Vicksburg. In that book, from the words Grant and Sherman, David Porter and every level of command on both sides of the conflict, I got a very good picture of the entire campaign and struggles they all dealt with. I would go into more detail but it has been a number of years since I read it, but suffice it to say I do not think any part of the campaign was ignored. Some of it could have been expounded upon and that has to be what takes up the difference in Timothy Smiths books. But reading it without an interpreter between me and the reports and orders forced me to form my own opinion on all that was being presented and I found that refreshing. |
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