Greater Kennebec & Androscoggin River Valleys
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Marquis King’s Bestseller A work of Oxford history by Charles Francis
M
arquis King published a book in 1903. The word ‘published’ is used here in the sense of self-published. The book is, in part, a history of the town where King was born and grew up, Oxford. Just one hundred and twenty-five copies of the book were printed in 1903. Today that book may be regarded as a significant piece of Maine historical research and as a bestseller. Just how significant is King’s book? And why might it be considered a bestseller if just a hundred and twenty-five copies were printed back in 1903? Marquis King’s book as first published was intended for a select group
of readers. King was a member of several historical societies. The work was intended for them. In other words, the book was aimed at a limited and sophisticated readership. It would seem that while King wanted his work recognized, he wanted the recognition with the critical few who are supposed to know that his intent was not to ‘throw caviar to the crowd,’ as some writers of the period were seen as doing. The book may be called a bestseller because King’s work is in print and available even today. You can get it from Barnes & Noble, Amazon, or most any major bookseller. You can order the book through a bookstore. You
What’s going on in there?
can find it in a fair number of Maine libraries. In short, the book has gone through numerous editions. Marquis King’s book is Annals of Oxford Maine From its Incorporation, February 1829 to 1850. Annals is a work of local history. It is also a treatise on the families who first settled what is now Oxford and the communities in close relationship to Oxford. Treatise means in part a methodical investigation of a subject. Marquis King’s Annals includes an in-depth investigation of the genealogy of Oxford’s first families. This is why Annals is a bestseller. Annals continues to be in demand not for its history but for its genealogy.
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