I'm just catching up on this, so pardon me for chiming in a bit late. I think Mike hit the nail on the head. Most modern writers simply repeat the work of other historians (although sometimes with different conclusions), instead of going back to original sources and really researching the topic. It is a shame and it perpetuates critical errors in our written history. I can't begin to tell you how often I cringe while reading a book that I hope will break new ground.

Dale