Can I have some feedback?

[Rob Wick]

Dear fellow forum members,

For a while now, I've bored you all with my ramblings about writing about Carl Sandburg. I've talked about how hard it is to get material due to the cost of researchers, etc. It's getting to the point where I'm hitting a pretty serious roadblock in terms of some material that I will need even to get the first chapter written.

When I was in college, I took a philosophy course. The text was Will Durant's Story of Philosophy. I found out that Durant wrote the book in part to help fund his writing his massive Story of Civilization series. While I have no delusions that I am another Durant, I've been mulling over something in my mind for quite a while now.

If I've bored you with Sandburg, I imagine you find my Tarbell rantings excrutiating. However, it strikes me that there has only been two full-scale biographies of Tarbell written, and while both talk about her Lincoln studies, neither does so in much detail. I've found in her papers the basis for what I think would be an interesting, and needed, study of her work as a Lincoln scholar, in the same vein that I'm going with my Sandburg book.

OK, here's the bottom line. What would be your reaction, advice, etc., if I proposed to write such a book first, and then use whatever proceeds, etc., I may accumulate to work on Sandburg? I also have the idea that if I was to write such a book, likely for a university press, that it would give me enough credibility to approach bigger publishers for the Sandburg work (which might even result in an advance).

Understand, I am not abandoning my Sandburg idea. I have far too much invested in time, work, and interest to give it up at this point. One of my own criticisms of the idea is that it seems I can come up with good ideas, but I'm terrible in the execution. However, with the biography I had hoped to write on Everton J. Conger, a lack of primary material is what has stopped it. The opposite problem exists with Sandburg. There is far too much material that I need access to before I can do a good job.

The material on Tarbell, with very few exceptions, is readily available and I think the project is more than doable.

So, what do you all think? And please understand, I want you to be candid and open with your remarks. Short of badmouthing my dog, nothing you say will offend me.

Best
Rob

[Laurie Verge]

As I have stated many times before, I am not well-versed in Lincoln history. Therefore, I am not an expert on what general Lincoln studies appeal to publishers and the public. However, I think your idea of focusing on a biography of Tarbell first makes good, hard common sense.

The material is there, ready to be written; her name is known to Lincoln historians, but probably not much more about her; any publisher has to be looking for something new and different related to Lincoln - and the name Sandburg might hint of "just more of the same" to many. The name Tarbell might make them perk up their ears. And, finally, the Tarbell work seems cost effective and less time consuming for you. Certainly the Sesquicentennial is a perfect time to stick your toes into the Lincoln tide.

[Rob Wick]

Thanks, Laurie. I honestly think I could have the book written over the winter and ready for publication in the summer of 2013. The only research trips required would be to Springfield and Urbana, which I had planned to do next spring anyway. In the meanwhile, I have a couple of articles (one of which I'm already working on) in mind that, I think, would look good to a publisher.

I think in the long run, as I said, it would also enhance my chances of getting a bigger publisher for the Sandburg work, which I think still has a pretty broad appeal.

Again, thanks for the words of encouragement.

Best
Rob

[Gene C]

Since you have some info about Conger, how about a book on the men that captured Booth. You have a chapter on Conger, you can easily find info on Corbett and Doherty. Steve Miller found a diary written by one of the soldiers (he sent me an article he had written about it). Add a little about the Baker brothers.... add a chapter or two detailing the capture, one on the Garrett's, ( You have eight chapters right there)

It doesn't all have to be primary sources, as long as you note that. You would have an interesting book. It doesn't have to be a long book either. You can compile information that is now all spread out in several other publications.

I'd buy it, if you promise to autograph it for me.

[Joe Di Cola]

Rob,

Your idea of starting with Ida Tarbell intrigues me because she had some access to primary sources in the people she contacted. I see a possible progression in your research and publications: Tarbell, Sandburg, Benjamin Thomas. They are the people who come to my mind when I think of Lincoln biographers from the late 19th and into the mid-20th centuries. This would give you a veritable trifecta on Lincoln biographers (perhaps trilogy would have been the better word!).
Contending with cost issues in order to conduct research is antithetical to scholarship but, I have been advised, is a necessary evil in order for archives to maintain their collections, etc. With ready access to Tarbell material at less cost you can perhaps build the resources needed later to delve into the Sandburg materials.
For more years than I wish to remember I have wanted to do a history of Chicago's 1893 World's Fair--a manageable and portable volume instead of a coffee table tome. Well, it will be out in October. So, even though it might take time, don't give up the dream of ariting about Sandburg.

[Rob Wick]

Gene,

I had been working on a full-scale biography of Conger for about 15 years now, but a lack of primary material from his early years and a run-in I had with my local library which resulted in my not being able to get microfilmed newspapers put the kibosh on it. I have been working from time to time on a manuscript but haven't touched it for a few months with all the other irons I've got in the fire.

My problem (if you can call it a problem) is that I have to have as much information as possible before I'm comfortable writing something. I'm not sure if it comes from my newspaper days or if I'm just obsessed that way. I have enough material on Conger's Civil War service, his capture of Booth, his time in southern Illinois and his time on the Territorial Supreme Court of Montana, but without the other material I just don't feel like I can do it the way I want to do it.

Steve's working on a biography of Boston Corbett, which will be a major contribution and is sorely needed. To be honest, my interest in the assassination was more a means to an end, i.e., getting myself back into a serious study of history. My main interest has always been in historiography, or the study of the study of history. I like the idea of getting the story behind the story (which is definitely a holdover from my newspaper days).

Whatever I end up writing, you will certainly get it autographed.

Best
Rob

---

Joe,

I am very interested in what you are writing about the 1893 World's Fair. I read Devil in the White City, which is one of the top 5 books that I've ever read.

I also think it would be a natural progression. I will say that John Hoffman, who is in charge of the Lincoln and Illinois History room at the University of Illinois, wrote a major article on Thomas for the Journal of the Abraham Lincoln Association that is quite comprehensive, so I'm not sure how practical that would be.

Best
Rob

[Laurie Verge]

Like Rob, Joe, I read and loved Devil in the White City and want to know more about the Fair. I have a number of friends who loved that book also. Please let us know when it is published.

[Joe Di Cola]

Rob and Laurie,

My book will be out on October 8 and I will go to Chicago for that event.

Rob, I have read the article about Benjamin Thomas, but I still think something about the historiography used in writing both the biography of AL and the book about New Salem (2 of the best of the best of the best ever) might be warranted--even as a shorter work. Also, I own and have read Thomas' last work--a bio of Edwin Stanton (completed by Harold Hyman). That also might figure into an expanded work on Thomas. All of this is meant to be food for thought and an encouragement in that direction.

[Craig Hipkins]

Rob,
The Tarbell book seems like a good idea to me. You can bet that I will be one of the first buyers...maybe an autographed copy? As far as Sandburg goes, don't feel like you are boring anyone with these posts. In fact, at least as far as I am concerned you have sparked in interest in Sandburg. To tell you the truth I knew very little about him except for the fact that he wrote a Lincoln bio, and was a poet. My Sandburg collection is The Readers Digest Illustrated Edition of The Prairie Years, and The War Years.
I live in Dallas, North Carolina which is not too far from Flat Rock. I have been by there numerous times but have never stopped. I plan on taking my son there in a few weeks. Not sure where you live, but let me know if I can do anything for you while I am there.

Craig

[Thomas Thorne]

It is always good literary strategy to write books in the sequence that will maximize their publication. Thank you Rob for giving me the courage to read the Prairie Years. This fall I will track down a complete War Years but don't think I will find a $1 set as I did for the former.
Tom

[LincolnMan]

Rob: I am not a professional writer nor historian so my comment comes as a "man on the street" who loves history and, of course, Lincoln. I think the need for something further on Tarbell is there and the timing is right. As I mentioned on a previous post, Tarbell is popular. I had checked Youtube and found school-age girls giving presentations on her. What I'm saying is that there is an interest right now on her that justifies your strategy as stated-both with professional and nonprofessional readers. So go for it!

[Rob Wick]

Craig,

Thanks for your kind words and offer. There very well may come a day when I'll need some assistance from that neck of the woods. I hope you and your son have fun!

Thomas, maybe you'll get lucky like I did and find your War Years for $17. Most of the others were around $50 to $75, but the bookseller where I bought mine must not have known what they had.

Bill, I appreciate your comments, especially since they are from the "man on the street." It will be that person who would be more likely to buy anything on Tarbell (or Sandburg for that matter).

Thanks everyone for your words of encouragement. I think I'm going to do it.

Best
Rob