OARS, SAILS AND STEAM; WEAPONS; WHEELS

by Edwin Tunis ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 20, 1977

The latest and the most specialized of the recent reissues of Tunis' enduring pictorial histories. In Weapons, Tunis admits in a foreword to some ambivalence (""We hate war at the same time that it fascinates us""--""we"" being ""all of us who have hair on our chests or the prospect of it""), and ends with a word of horror about the A and H bombs; but meanwhile the development of offensive weapons from prehistoric stones on up to the book's 1954 publication is chronicled and pictured with the usual thoroughness and devotion. Wheels (1955) is refreshingly short on automobiles and stylishly informative on carts, chariots, wagons, gigs, buggies, and the like. Oars, Sails and Steam (1953), the least of the three but a treasure nonetheless, departs from the usual integrated history to feature one ship at the top of each page and a readable, anecdotal description below. Sterling.

Pub Date: April 20, 1977

ISBN: 690-01284-5

Page Count: -

Publisher: T. Y. Crowell

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 1977

Categories: NONFICTION