Interesting article over at the New York Times about book publishers doing away with DRM on their audiobooks. Out of all the digital distribution methods, they found that the audiobooks WITHOUT DRM were the ones NOT getting pirated. Funny that CD audiobooks and DRM-decoded audiobooks were the greater source of piracy. Who knows what the numbers are, but I have to wonder if the audience for audiobooks are ones to engage in piracy in the first place.
Naturally, Apple and their dominance in online music is wrongly characterized as a hazard in the direction that book publishers might take. The reason music labels went with Apple in the first place is that they had a system that worked. Up to that point, purchasing music online was an abysmal experience. They forced Apple to use DRM and are now using it against them to bolster the position of other stores such as Amazon’s.
Nevertheless, I’m glad that book publishers are seeing the light when it comes to DRM.
As I have mentioned previously I had the privilege of working on the latest edition of Co. Aytch. Co. Aytch is among the most beloved of all books about the Civil War in that it offers the best account of a soldier’s life from his point of view. Sam’s great-granddaughter, Ruth Hill McAllister approached Providence House Publishers with a first edition copy of the book that belonged to Sam Watkins, the book’s author. Sam always intended to republish Co. Aytch with changes to certain things that he felt were inaccurate in the first edition. With the original printing sold out, Sam set out to raise half of the $500 needed to have a second printing that would include the changes. Sam passed away before the money was raised and the changes were never incorporated in the book.Ruth Hill had been shown this first edition years earlier by an uncle that owned it. As time went by, the book was put away and forgotten by other members of the family. Ruth Hill’s interest in family history led her to inquire about the book. Eventually, she was contacted by a cousin who had discovered it in an old desk that belonged to her uncle and offered to sell it to her. Meanwhile, over the years there have been many printings of Co. Aytch which are now rendered obsolete by this definitive edition.
“The only thing better than Sam Watkins is more Sam Watkins. This is a marvelous expansion of the best memoir of a fighting soldier south of the Mason-Dixon Line we have.”
Ken Burns, Filmaker
The most challenging aspect of the new edition was what to do about the proposed deletions, additions, and changes. Some things Sam intended to take out because, it was believed, he recalled things incorrectly. In other cases possibly because of economics. From the Publisher’s Preface:
In paging through Sam Watkins’s own faded and written-in copy of the 1882 edition, we were struck by how much of the original book Sam proposed omitting. Further research allowed us to conclude that Sam’s proposed omissions were primarily based on economics. We believe Sam only wanted to omit them because he was faced with financing the typesetting and printing of his revised edition himself, and therefore, it was to his benefit to omit text and thus lower the cost for publishing.
Ultimately because the text is so sacred, it was decided to develop a system by which all the original text stayed intact while the additions and corrections were weaved in. The system was this:
Original text as published in 1882—Roman text (plain) and italics where used in originalSam’s additions or substitutions—BoldSam’s suggested deletions—[Italic within brackets]Sam’s additions that he later omitted —[Bold within brackets]
Also included in this edition are photos that have never been used in previous editions. Most importantly, are Sam’s actual written notes from the margins of the original edition that have been included as art. These are placed in close proximity to where the text occurs in the book. Many examples of this are included throughout the book. Here a a couple of them.
It was a great thrill to be involved in producing a new edition of Co. Aytch and made even more special by the early response the book received from reviewers. Even if you have only a passing interest in Civil War history, I encourage you to check out the new version of Co. Aytch, First Tennessee Regiment: Or A Side Show of the Big Show available from Providence House Publishers.
As I have mentioned, one of the facets of what I do is book design. Recently, Co. Aytch, First Tennesee Regiment, or a Side Show of the Big Show was published by Providence House Publishers. I had the distinct privilege to be able to design what I believe to be the definitive edition of this book.
For those who are not familiar with Civil War history, Co. Aytch is considered to be THE memoir about the common soldier’s life in the war. It has been published numerous times over the years but never with the detail and added features to be found in this version.
Joe Avalon over at Civil War Interactive has reviewed the book and given it his blessing. If you’re a Civil War history buff, check out his review and also pick up a copy of Co. Aytch. In the coming days, I’ll have an in depth case study about the challenge that this new edition presented and how those problems were resolved. Stay tuned.
JM
