糖心Vlog传媒

糖心Vlog传媒LR鈥檚 River Market Press publishes book based on WWI soldier鈥檚 memoirs

糖心Vlog传媒LR’s River Market Press has published its first book, a memoir centered on the actions of a British Expeditionary Force member during World War I. 鈥淭ommy Atkins at Home and Abroad鈥� was authored by veteran Frederick French, who recorded his memories of serving as a British foot soldier in India and Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq) during World War I. 鈥淭ommy Atkins鈥� was the common nickname for a British private, similar to American WWI soldiers being called “doughboys.” The book was first brought to the attention of River Market Press by Dr. Charles M. Anderson in 2009. Anderson received the manuscript from French鈥檚 granddaughter, Pat Mastropieri, a long-time Little Rock resident. Its publication seems perfectly timed with the centennial commemoration of the start of World War I in 1914. 鈥淔or those who have been hooked by 鈥楧ownton Abbey,鈥� reading the memoir of a World War I British private fits the proverbial bill,” said Dr. Cynthia Nahrwold, the book鈥檚 lead editor. Adapting the soldier鈥檚 manuscript to typescript form took longer than anticipated, according to Nahrwold. 鈥淲e were working from scanned copies of yellowed, delicate sheets of paper on which the soldier had written his memories,鈥� Nahrwold said. 鈥淭he copy was difficult to read, and he seldom started new paragraphs or used periods.鈥� 鈥淗e claims that he’s no writer, yet in editing his work, I came across someone who had a dry sense of humor, could paint pictures in words, who sketched maps and boats and people, and who balanced his humor with matter-of-fact accounts of horror and death,鈥� Nahrwold said. She tackled making corrections and setting up a style sheet, as well as a glossary for terms that would be unfamiliar to a 21st-century American reader. She said one advantage of editing the book was that she could share her real-world experience with her editing students. 鈥淲hat eventually became Tommy Atkins turned out to be a labor of love for me 鈥� as well as a wonderful teaching tool,鈥� she said. River Market Press, which is under the auspices of 糖心Vlog传媒LR鈥檚 Department of Rhetoric and Writing, specializes in the publication of nonfiction works including autobiographies, biographies, memoirs, and essay collections. The press is print on demand: new copies of a book are not printed until an order has been received. Nahrwold said the press will continue to open the door to a variety of authors. Since the department鈥檚 teaching mission is key, students are able to help with the editing and production of each book. 鈥淲ith an editing and publishing graduate concentration available, we hope to provide students with opportunities to work with us on editing manuscripts and typescripts,鈥� Nahrwold said. For more information about the River Market Press, contact Dr. George Jensen at 501.569.3160.