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9:34 pm
April 9, 2011
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Just wondering how this works with a biography or any other academic work. After purchasing lots of books on the Tudors lately, I like to just check out what sources were used and I've discovered that lots of authours like to use their own previous works as sources. And this confused me a bit, cause if they wrote about it in another book shouldn't they really be listing the source that they used in that book as opposed to using their book. And if it was an original idea of theirs presented in the previous book, can't they just use their original idea without having to reference it in their new book. My gut feeling is that its just a sneaky form of cross promotion, but I am interested to know what others think, especially those with experience in the world of writing a history dissertation.
2:34 am
April 11, 2011
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Bill, If the original reference is by somebody else, then by giving the citation from their previous own work it would appear to be nothing more than blatant self-promotion. If the original idea is their own, then they not only have self-promotion, but also the added bonus of carte blache in adding to and/or dissecting these “facts” to suit their own ends. A win, win situation, until such time as any such writings are discredited. Just my opinion on this issue, but I am with you on this one Bill, a case of self-interest and promotion on behalf of the author.
4:28 am
February 10, 2010
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Hi Neil – not necessarily. If their work appeared in a journal then they will have had to sell the copyright to the journal publisher. I think I got a £1 stamp when I supplied an article to a journal. As part of that 'deal' if you quote from your previous work you have to reference it. It's not just promoting yourself it's promoting the publisher.
However that only applies to journal articles with books it may depend on the contract they have with their publisher.
You are right though that if it's their own idea they're promoting and that idea is wrong then it serves to exacerbate the problem. So I'd have a problem with Warnicke referencing herself but not Starkey or Ives.
5:11 am
April 11, 2011
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Thanks Anne fan, your knowledge of copyright is better than mine. As to our “friend” Retha Warnicke, I think we'd all have a problem with her references, self or otherwise!
12:13 pm
December 5, 2009
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Neil Kemp said:
As to our “friend” Retha Warnicke, I think we'd all have a problem with her references, self or otherwise!
I would have even more problems with Alison Weir's self referencing, particularly as she never bothers referencing anything else. Even mentioning that woman's name out loud makes my gums itch!
