Knowing he is too modest to post this himself, I thought I'd share the announcement of Trooper's new book,
To say this study is exhaustive is a gross understatement. About 99% of the material is taken from previously unpublished (and largely unknown) primary sources. As my colleague Stuart says, "He has re-invented the study of post-CW swords."
And, in the spirit of full disclosure I should say that I am the editor... so I'm intimately familiar with everything in it. It is really a treat to be able to publish something that is virtually all new information. It is printed and is currently in transit. We expect to have them by mid-November.
Thank you for your kindness.
If the work has merits they would be fewer without Joe's invaluable help and input.
By ruthless editing and masterly page setting he has made my manuscript and photographs into the handsome book I think you will appreciate if using the work.
I hope it will be of use and interest to any reader.
An excerpt from the book appears in the current issue of Man At Arms concerning the 1905 experimental saber. I just read it, and I have to say that it was a delight to read.
It was engaging and fascinating in a narrative fashion, which often isn't the case for works of this type. That's quite an accomplishment. The quote in the beginning of the article from a cavalry officer, regarding the utility of the saber, is an absolute classic and caused me to have to look up the meaning of the word "spontoon". Very well done indeed!
Thank you Joe and Pat. I hope you will find it of interest and service.
I used the narrative style where the found documentation would support it.
I find the developmental history of an arm as interesting as any other aspect of it and hope that you will too.
I received my copy a few days ago, and I must say it is an outstanding read and an excellent scholarly work. Of course I went to the chapter on the M1913 sabre, and was amazed at the amount of work that was done to bring it to the troops. For the truly detailed oriented, the CD is an outstanding addition. I believe that the use of a cd or maybe a dvd will be expected in future publications of this type.
