Product Description

The tale of explosives from gunpowder to the H-bomb. Laying the emphasis on the lives of those involved, on the diverse uses of explosives and their social and historical impact, the author relates a story of international human endeavour. Many of those involved - Roger Bacon, Guy Fawkes, Alfred Nobel, Robert Oppenheimer - are famed worldwide; others, such as C.F. Schonbein, William Bickford, Sir Frederick Abel and Charles E. Munroe, though less well-known, also played crucial roles. Alongside these individuals' achievements, the book highlights the uses and impact of explosives in both war and terrorism, and in civil engineering, quarrying, mining, demolition, fireworks manufacture and shooting for sport. In many cases, explosives are seen to have had a significant historical impact as, for example, in the early use of gunpowder in the American Civil War, the defeat of the Spanish Armada and the worldwide opening up of canals and railways.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1139972 in Books
• Published on: 1999-10-21
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Mass Market Paperback
• 256 pages

From the Author
Interesting, informative and entertaining
There are a number of good books on explosives written for the professional, but I have tried to tell their tale in a non-technical way by laying the emphasis on the people concerned, on the various uses of explosives,and on their historical and social impact. Dr.Adam Hart-Davis refers to my work as a 'splenid book', and writes that I have done an 'excellent job of weaving together the strands of history, biography, politics and science'. The British Army Review summarises the book as an 'interesting, informative and entertaining read'. Chemistry and Industry refers to a 'fascinating book which is an impressive undertaking.' The School Science Review says that 'it is a fascinating read' and 'so well written that the story flows along and holds the reader enthralled'. And Chemistry in Britain 'thoroughly recommends it to all school and university libraries'.

Customer Reviews

Wonderful historical meadering through an explosive subject
In a broadly chronological order, Brown covers the discovery and development of each significant chemical element that went into creating landmark explosives. In dong so, he unravels the life-histories of the personalities of the inventors and scientists involved and sets them and their inventions into an historical context that never quite looses continuity despite the numerous asides. The additional insights into well-known historical characters are illuminating and great fun, and one knows that in each section there will be a treat. Brown's style is dry, his humour and pithy comments wry and apt. I only wish I'd been a pupil of his.

brilliant bang book
This book does everything it sets out to do. It's a really good history of the development of explosives. It's well written - well sequenced, good detail, good use of language and engaging throughout. It gives plenty of detail about the explosives and for a largely texty book, has good pace and is a human read. You don't need to be a scientist to read this, but if you are, you won't be disappointed. It fills an information hole and contains plenty to get your teeth into and gives plenty of leads to move on. It's outstanding value for money and a really excellent book.

More of a history book than an explosives book.
This book is a fairly heavy going history book with extensive biographies of people such as Alfred Nobel. It is not light reading but is set out in an interesting manner. I would only reccomend buying it as a history book, not an interesting read.