Gunpowder : The Explosive That Changed the World - Hardcover

Kelly, Jack

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1843541904 ISBN 13: 9781843541905

Publisher: Atlantic Books London, 2004

Synopsis

When Chinese alchemists fashioned the first man-made explosion sometime during the tenth century, no one could have foreseen its full revolutionary potential. Invented to frighten evil spirits rather than fuel guns or bombs - neither of which had been thought of yet - their simple mixture of saltpeter, sulphur and charcoal went on to make the modern world possible. As word of its explosive properties spread from Asia to Europe, from pyrotechnics to battleships, it paved the way for Western exploration, hastened the end of feudalism and the rise of the nation state, and greased the wheels of the Industrial Revolution. With dramatic immediacy, journalist Jack Kelly depicts the era in which the 'devil's distillate' rose to conquer the world, and brings to rousing life the eclectic cast of characters who played a role in its epic story, including Michelangelo, Edward III, Vasco da Gama, Cortez, Guy Fawkes, Alfred Nobel and E. I. DuPont. A must-read for history fans and military buffs alike, Gunpowder brings together a rich terrain of cultures and technological innovations with authoritative research and swashbuckling style.

About this title

About the Author:

Jack Kelly is both an accomplished novelist and an experienced author of popular history. He writes regularly for American Heritage, and also has written features about the DuPont family's involvement in the gunpowder industry and the history of fireworks in America. He lives in Milan, New York.

Review:

"A faced-paced book that is historical reporting at its very best, with surprises on almost every page. Kelly's writing style is crisp and edgy, perfect for his subject matter."

About this edition

• Publisher: Atlantic Books London
• Publication date: 2004
• ISBN 10: 1843541904
• ISBN 13: 9781843541905
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 320
• Illustrator: Illlustrated