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Title: Gunpowder: Alchemy, Bombards, and Pyrotechnics : The History of the Explosive That Changed the World by Jack Kelly ISBN: 0-465-03718-6 Publisher: Basic Books Pub. Date: 13 April, 2004 Format: Hardcover Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $25.00 |
Average Customer Rating: 5 (5 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: Fascinating History
Comment: Gunpowder is the sort of history book that should be written more often: it shows the larger history of the world through the story of one small, but highly important, component. In this case that component is, of course, gunpowder. Jack Kelly traces the history of this material from China through the Middle East into Europe and the rest of the world. Kelly explains the different ways in which gunpowder changed the course of events. He gives vignettes of battles like Crecy and the Siege of Petersburg to illustrate the important role gunpowder weapons played. Along the way he drops fascinating little nuggets of material, like the real reason Joan of Arc was a success, that are intriguing enough to encourage further study.
Kelly is not a professional historian but a novelist, and his writing flows smoothly. He does not bother with footnotes, but he does provide a good summary of his sources (which are excellent) at the end. This is a book which will be well worth the reading and many subsequent rereadings.
Rating: 5
Summary: KaBoom!
Comment: The story of gunpowder is odd enough - initally made from dove droppings by the Chinese, it is the only explosive ever concocted by mixing entirely natural materials. And when it's described by such compelling writing, an irresistible book results. Kelly charts the migration of the stuff across the globe over centuries. His explanation of its chemistry is fascinating and clear, his description of its devastating effects in war horrifyingly real. The wealth of peculiar details the author weaves into his narrative will entice even those who may think initially that they have little interest in the subject. This book shows what a talented writer can do when he is deeply interested in his subject.A really great book!
Rating: 5
Summary: Gunpowder and It's Huge Impact On History
Comment: I've been a great fan of Jack Kelly's for some time, having read all of his riveting "noir" novels. He now changes hats and delves into historical narrative with the astounding new book, "Gunpowder".
I'm not a huge consumer of historical non-fiction, but this book is a real page turner. Kelly obviously has a knack for bringing out the drama inherent in history.
I was astounded by the immense role gunpowder has played in the outcome of history, from the rise of the European nation-state, to the very map of the world as we know it today.
"Gunpowder" offers a fasinating take on the past thousand years of human history and the monumental influence one particular technology has had upon it.
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Title: Castles of Steel: Britain, Germany, and the Winning of the Great War at Sea by ROBERT K. MASSIE ISBN: 0679456716 Publisher: Random House Pub. Date: 28 October, 2003 List Price(USD): $35.00 |
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Title: Ripples of Battle : How Wars of the Past Still Determine How We Fight, How We Live, and How We Think by VICTOR HANSON ISBN: 0385504004 Publisher: Doubleday Pub. Date: 16 September, 2003 List Price(USD): $27.50 |
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Title: Intelligence in War: Knowledge of the Enemy from Napoleon to Al-Qaeda by JOHN KEEGAN ISBN: 0375400532 Publisher: Knopf Pub. Date: 21 October, 2003 List Price(USD): $30.00 |
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Title: Skeletons on the Zahara: A True Story of Survival by Dean King ISBN: 0316835145 Publisher: Little, Brown Pub. Date: March, 2004 List Price(USD): $24.95 |
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Title: The Great Influenza: The Epic Story of the Deadliest Plague In History by John M. Barry ISBN: 0670894737 Publisher: Viking Books Pub. Date: 05 February, 2004 List Price(USD): $29.95 |
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