Comments for Alexander Rose -- Historian, Writer

Comment on How to Write a History Book, Part 3 by Nick Sarantakes

Nick Sarantakes — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 23:17:41 +0000

An interesting post. I still believe that it is possible for writers be they from an academic or journalistic background can write serious but entertaining history. It just ain’t easy. The past is alive with good stories that make for fantastic reads. The problem is that most graduate programs train their students to focus on analysis and research, critical tools—nay—fundamental tools for any type of historian, but the faculty in these schools place little emphasis on teaching them how to develop their accounts in an interesting manner and/or how to write well and in engaging fashion. For example, “American Rifle” is a highly inventive approach to an important topic.

Literary agents and editors at trade presses are aware of these problems. These individuals regularly assume that most academic historians cannot write and 80 percent of the time they are correct. The problem is that the average academic historian can only do about 75 percent of what is required to produce that type of book. The trick is to find the 20 percent that can go that last fourth of the way down the road.

On the other hand, it is much easier for a writer with a background in journalism to do the serious research and write well. Journalists do research for their stories regularly and write on a daily basis. This frequency gives them more experience in actual composition. The problem they face is that beat or even feature journalism is a quick dash of a race, while writing a book is a marathon. These durations require different types of writing skills. The adjustment is not always easy, and, yes, it is a lot more difficult than it looks. Finally, this blog entry really makes a good job of supporting all three of the concluding points.

Comment on John Honeyman, Washington's Spy? by C. Gordon Porter

C. Gordon Porter — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 02:57:29 +0000

I found the children of John Honeyman in a small museum on the east side of the Delaware near where Washinton crossed. I was from his WILL The story of his children were five sons and two daughters. What I found in the museum records was he had five daughters and two sons with dates of each and marriages. I am a descendent of his daughter Eleanor my third great grandmother who married Abram Porter my third great grandfather settled at Ossian Center near Dansville, New York
Children of John Honeyman:
1. Jane, who never married died in 1836, age seventy “she was tall, ststely woman large in frame and badly club footed in both feet. She was a dressmatker, but grace of manners and intelligence beyond her other sisters.” Aunt Jane named in Judge Van Dyke’s narrative.
2. Eleanor, born 1772 died? married Abram Porter and early removed to northwestern New York, settled in Ossian Center near Dansville, N. Y. Records at the Presbyterian Church built 1818 were members and daughter was confirmed there. Abram was born 1773 in Hunterdon N.J. died in Utica Mich.
3. Margaret, born 1767 dued un 1821 married first to William Henry lived in the vicinity of Lamington, second to George Armstrong.
4. John, born died 1830, a farmer residing near the parental home, married Catherine Covert. Among his living descendents os Rev. Melvin Honeyman, of Olean, N.Y. and Robert M. Honeyman, of Norristown, Pa. had six sons.
5. Mary, was known as the “Beauty” married Mattias Lane, resided in Bedminster township rented farms but did not own any.
6. James, born in 1776 died in 1824 lived in New Germantown, N. J. married Mary Miller of Warren County. He was the father of Dr. John Honeyman and Robert M. Honeyman, merchant, both of New Germantown.
7. Sarah, born 1780 died 1845 married Abraham Van Dyke, mothe of Judge Van Dyke, of the New Jersey Supreme Court, and grandmother of Dr. John C. Van Dyke amous author and litteraqteur, of New Brunswick, N.J. and Theodore S. Van Dyke of California.

Comment on American Rifleman Review of "American Rifle" by Rene Tyree

Rene Tyree — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 02:56:54 +0000

OUTSTANDING! Congratulations!

Comment on New Reviews, Part 1 — Booklist by rosewriter

rosewriter — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 15:25:03 +0000

Oh no, I just happened to see this Comment — dating from several months ago. My only excuse is that I was away on book tours, setting up a website, fiddling around with Facebook, and so on. Anyway, the delay’s very embarrassing, but I hope you’ll forgive me. Thanks for the kind words. Let me have a muse on the abbreviated bibliography.

Comment on New Reviews, Part 1 — Booklist by Smilin' Jim

Smilin' Jim — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 20:44:56 +0000

“a bumper crop of not-bad trade reviews”

The reviewers were possibly taken aback because the book was not what they had expected. I bought the book as a throw-away: A Christmas present for my gun-nut brother-in-law.

Then I read the opening. Tough luck brother-in-law, you get the DVD instead.

I found the pdf of the bibliography interesting and exhaustive but daunting. The success of the book may allow future editions to include this bibliography. Would you select, say, no more than twenty of the works in this bibliography which you consider to be suburb chronicles of either the technology or of the age and add your comment on them?

Comment on The Future of the M4 Carbine by New Reviews, Part 2 — Kirkus Reviews « The History Man

New Reviews, Part 2 — Kirkus Reviews « The History Man — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 23:17:54 +0000

[...] New Reviews, Part 2 — Kirkus Reviews 09Sep08 Here’s the next one, a Starred Review from Kirkus Reviews, which was mighty nice of them. Now, I know that I shouldn’t be looking gift horses in the mouth, but I just wanted to mention that there’s a niggling factual error in this one; namely, that I end with the Vietnam era and the advent of the M16, “which remains today’s infantry rifle.” Not quite so! American Rifle actually concludes with a chapter analyzing the current Iraq War and the controversy over the M4 (including the XM8, the HK416, and the SCAR). For those riveted by the story of the M4, see my earlier post on the topic here. [...]

Comment on The Future of the M4 Carbine by Toying With Guns « The History Man

Toying With Guns « The History Man — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 15:32:09 +0000

[...] I pointed out in a previous posting (on the future of the M4), the army has been searching for a quantum technological leap forward for [...]

Comment on How To Write a History Book, Part 1 by Alex Rose on Writing History « wig-wags

Alex Rose on Writing History « wig-wags — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 02:29:51 +0000

[...] a post here and added to my blogroll recently, has a superbly entertaining post on writing history here on his new blog. Looking forward to the next [...]

Comment on Hello world! by Mr WordPress

Mr WordPress — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 00:30:51 +0000

Hi, this is a comment.
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Comment on Custer and Indians and Guns and Technology by Custer and Indians and Guns and Technology

Custer and Indians and Guns and Technology — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 00:51:22 +0000

[...] Go to the author’s original blog: Custer and Indians and Guns and Technology [...]