The New Murrey and Blue blog

Yes, yes, before you point it out, I know part of the following is my own fault for not reading the samples on Amazon. I’ve just purchased two books concerning the above battles in the Hundred Years War, one book is 239 pages long, the other 245. If I’d inspected the Amazon details fully I’d have known that both books were in rather large print and double-line spacing. That reduces their actual size to around 120 pages each. Not good value at £8.99 each. In my opinion anyway.

On top of that there was no index in either of them. I’m disappointed and will be sending them back because they don’t actually help me in the research for which they were purchased. They seem more suitable for a school curriculum.

I won’t name them here because, as I said, the line spacing and font size would have been immediately apparent if I’d inspected the Amazon page thoroughly, but I was in a hurry and this is the result.

I’ve been taught a lesson in reading one’s screen to the full. I wouldn’t have bought either book had I been more diligent. So my advice is don’t on any account buy a book online without making absolutely sure about the form of its contents. And certainly never do it if you’re in a hurry!

Another morsel of advice concerns the hazards of purchasing any book (not necessarily on line, but just buying it) and then leaving it on the To Be Read pile. I’ve been guilty of that too, and yesterday discovered that a book I purchased some time ago has a faulty list of Contents at the beginning. The page quite clearly states List of Maps and Genealogical table, vi. It was the genealogical table that I was seeking yesterday, but was it there? No! The book itself didn’t even start until Abbreviations, vii. Annoying or what? In this case I will name the book because it’s the fault of the publisher. The book is from the 4-volume Dukes of Burgundy series….Philip the Bold by Richard Vaughan, published by Boydell & Brewer.

So folks, yesterday was a disagreeable experience for Yours Truly. The failings of all three purchases would have been evident from the outset if I’d paid more attention. But I didn’t. Don’t join me by falling into the same trap.