Fireworks

by George Plimpton

Book Overview

.1984 Doubleday & Company hardcover. ISBN: 0385154143. George Plimpton (Edie: American Girl). Classic history of celebrations involving fireworks w/ a focus on the fireworks use & industry in New... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0385263252
• ISBN13: 9780385263252
• Release Date: May 1989
• Publisher: Anchor Books
• Length: 288 Pages
• Weight: 1.70 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Fireworks: a History and celebration

This book is a Christmas gift. It looks good, but since I haven't given it yet, there isn't much to tell.

Plimpton Changes His Spots Again

George Plimpton is either the black cat or the leopard of the literary world. Or both. Like a black cat he has 9 lives -- or more. Unlike the leopard, he can change spots.In his earlier books, Plimpton has written of his participation in a variety of sports from football "The Paper Lion" to baseball in "Out of my League" to professional golf in "The Bogey Man." He changes literary spots by publishing such diverse works as "Writers at Work" and "American Journey; the Times of Robert Kennedy." In FIREWORKS he breaks new ground. He is the "unofficial official" Fireworks Commissioner of New York City and he takes his job VERY seriously. He begins with a bang. His personal memories of childhood and adulthood firecracker expeditions, covering both successes and traumas. In the second section he relates the history of explosives and follows this with accounts of "fireworks families" in the United States.The book bursts with glorious illustrations. I can't pick a favorite picture! It's an expensive book, but it's worth every penny. I read this book because I enjoy Plimpton's vicarious lives. Fireworks didn't interest me a bit. They do now.

Plimpton Changes His Spots Again

George Plimpton is either the black cat or the leopard of the literary world. Or both. Like a black cat he has 9 lives -- or more. Unlike the leopard, he can change spots.In his earlier books, Plimpton has written of his participation in a variety of sports from football "The Paper Lion" to baseball in "Out of my League" to professional golf in "The Bogey Man." He changes literary spots by publishing such diverse works as "Writers at Work" and "American Journey; the Times of Robert Kennedy." In FIREWORKS he breaks new ground. He is the "unofficial official" Fireworks Commissioner of New York City and he takes his job VERY seriously. He begins with a bang. His personal memories of childhood and adulthood firecracker expeditions, covering both successes and traumas. In the second section he relates the history of explosives and follows this with accounts of "fireworks families" in the United States.The books bursts with glorious illustrations. I can't pick a favorite picture! This isn't a cheap book, but it's worth every penny. I read this book because I enjoy Plimpton's vicarious lives. Fireworks didn't interest me a bit. They do know.

The best book about fireworks ever.

This book is great for anyone interested in fireworks. It gives you a special appreciation for fireworks.

Book talks about the history of fireworks.

I think this book provides a great deal of historical background on fireworks. It also talks about the most prominent families in fireworks