I don't have any numbers to back this up, just twenty years of close observation, but it's become pretty clear that the total number of Civil War titles published each year is currently in an extended period of contraction. As an outside observer I can only speculate as to the factors involved and have no access to raw sales data, but at least when it comes to the kinds of books typically addressed on CWBA the downward trend started trickling in that direction somewhere around the mid-point of the Sesquicentennial, with the fade becoming much more pronounced in recent years. On the reader side of things I only have my own site to go from, but there's been no corresponding drop in visitation. 2020 was the site's best year in terms of total visitor numbers (though the pandemic trapping people at home in front of their computers surely played some role in that spike), but the subsequent others haven't been far off.
Thankfully, a core of independent publishers such as Savas Beatie, McFarland, and The History Press are still chugging along pretty nicely, but it's been an increasingly dry well for some time now when it comes to Civil War books put out by museums, research libraries, small local publishers, and historical societies. Perhaps the most startling trend in all this involves the university presses, traditionally one of the bedrocks of Civil War publishing and major source of review submissions to this site.
Indeed, what prompted me to make this post was my survey of the Fall/Winter catalogs of those UPs that for much of this new century typically produced 2 or more Civil War titles per spring and fall publishing season. From a list of fifteen of these old guard UPs, eleven had no 1861-65 titles in their respective Fall '24 catalogs, only two had two titles with considerable CW content, and one had a single offering. Sure, the thinness of this current season is a bit out of the ordinary, but the absence of CW titles has been part of a noticeable trend. A large proportion of those fifteen have ceased regular publication of CW books, and a significant number haven't produced a CW title of any kind in years. If this continues, we'll just have to get used to a new normal of high quality yet much more infrequent releases.
The UP numbers outlook isn't all gloomy, though. Quality of individual releases remains high. That Tennessee has become a positive outlier in actually expanding its number and range of yearly Civil War offerings is a welcome development. Always reliable LSU Press continues to be one of the kings by publishing five titles during this current cycle:
• Reckoning with the Devil: Nathan Bedford Forrest in Myth and Memory (Sept)
• Playing at War: Identity and Memory in Civil War Video Games (Sept)
• The Mexican-American War Experiences of Twelve Civil War Generals (Oct)
• Between Extremes: Seeking the Political Center in the Civil War North (Nov)
• The Confederate Resurgence of 1864 (Nov)
LSU's traditional partner in crime, UNC Press, took a bit of a breather this fall, but they come back strong next spring with a big line-up:
• The Sixth Wisconsin and the Long Civil War: The Biography of a Regiment
• The Second Manassas Campaign
• A Campaign of Giants: The Battle for Petersburg - Volume 2: From the Crater's Aftermath to the Battle of Burgess Mill
• Exceptionalism in Crisis: Faction, Anarchy, and Mexico in the US Imagination during the Civil War Era
Further on the UNC front, I haven't come across any solid indication online yet that Robertson's Chickamauga Campaign V2, as hoped for here, has been placed on the publisher's Spring '25 schedule. We'll have to await official release of their S/S catalog to find out for sure.
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Friday, October 25, 2024
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Excellent post yet again Drew. I too have noticed this trend in recent years. It was quite jarring to see UNC Press’ Fall/Winter 2024 catalog and not see at least 2-3 new Civil War titles in there (they do have a good Rev War title due out in November though). S/S 25’ does look good and I already have 3 on pre-order. Let’s hope some of the others follow thru as well.
ReplyDeleteDo you think that with the current social climate regarding the CW, Confederacy etc, that this may be a side effect? Just a thought.
John, I would guess that it's a combination of things going on. Hopefully, what you mention is not a big part of it.
DeleteAs the two guys say in unison on Airplane!, "we're aware of it."
DeleteIt is strange to me that such a important event as THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR would become taboo somehow and fewer books be published about THE event in American history. Astonishing. Of all the things we should teach our people about it is this war especially with nonsense mentions of Lincoln and Gettysburg and the war and the causes rampant in the ether from very, very uninformed individuals. It is strange to me who has studied this war his whole life to have it reduced to elementary type discussions when we need all the good books and authors with their expertise on the subject that we can get. I hope the books start flowing in their regular rate again as this war will never cease in its importance to this country until it no longer exists.
DeleteThanks for the mention re: Savas Beatie. Our publication schedule has not slowed down, sales are solid, and our readership is getting a bit younger, which is nice to see. Speaking as I have and do with insiders in the UPs, I know the biggest reason they cut back. It is (almost entirely) what you suspect, and they realize now the mistake that was and might be moving to correct it. I hope they don't. :)
ReplyDeleteOnward.
Theodore P. Savas
Savas Beatie
I'm very glad Savas keeps pumping out such excellent work. Love my collection of Savas books.
DeleteI can guarantee you it's precisely that thing that everyone's uncomfortable discussing. And I can also tell you that indie publishers like Savas Beatie, McFarland, History Press, and others are quite pleased with it.
ReplyDeleteI know for myself, I've made Savas Beatie in particular a considerable chunk of change the last several years, McFarland, too. (Though the size of their books is a bit wonky).
Hello Drew Thanks for the post. It is great to read the comments on this. As a CW collector for 40 years, I initially bought many books from UNC, LSU, Univ. Ark, Univ. Tenn, etc. I agree with some of the comments from others as to why we have recently seen the cutback in CW publishing from UP presses. I hope Ted Savas is right that they are correcting this. One bright spot is that we have seen an upturn in publishing from Kansas University Press and as one of your followers mentioned, Kent State. However, as a collector I rarely by paperback books based on how they hold up and the cost. Tuning to Savas Beatie, I think I bought my first book from him when it was Savas Woodbury. I've been buying ever since and have no plans to stop. Ted publishes stuff no one else will, David Powell, Jeff Hunt, Maps of series, and so many others. I agree with Chris's comments on the importance of the subject. Let's hope that this trend from UPs is on the decline.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the mention. I'm passionate about the subject as it has been part and parcel of my life since I was five and went to Fort Gaines at Mobile Bay. The epic nature of the war and its consequences has never left my thoughts. It speaks to all of us who love to study it and want to pass on this passion to others. I was recently watching 'The Twilight Zone' episode 'The Passerby' about the war and it gave me chills that we have this truly awesome event that we all share as Americans. I've collected over thirty five years and my life has been enriched by the great books and authors on the Civil War.
Delete