The Kite That Won the Revolution

168 Pages·1963·6.768 MB·English

by  Isaac Asimov

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MUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT
2 0000 00228
‘The KITE
that Won the
Illustrated by V
ictor Mays
Isaac Asimov
The KITE
that WON the
REOLEY T ON
How could it be that a middle-aged man
flying a kite in a thunderstorm should bring
down with it not only the lightning but victory
for the American Colonies in the Revolution?
To find the answer, Isaac Asimov goes back
to the prehistoric pine forests of northern
Europe and a substance called amber; to the
Greek philosophers who named it elektron and
to the laboratories of eighteenth Century
Europe where scientists were trying to explain
why this “‘elektron’’ had such extraordinary
magical powers. His search leads him from the
frontiers of the New World to the frontiers of |
|
|
science; from the shores of the Delaware to the |
courts of France and England.
Moving expertly from scientific to political
history, Professor Asimov builds a fascinating
case for Benjamin Franklin’s crucial role in
winning the American Revolution. For Franklin
was almost the only American at the time who
had a reputation in Europe. It was Franklin
who had harnessed the awful power of the
thunderstorm and whose lightning rods were
protecting buildings all over Europe. If any
American had the stature to persuade France to
lend help to the Colonies it was the plain-
speaking, peaceable hero from Philadelphia.
By bringing together many diverse strands
from history, this book focuses a fresh beam of
light on our past. Even more important, it also
shows that more history is made in the
laboratory than on the battlefield.
aan unity College,
Ages 11 up ¥4 ry
$3.00
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https://archive.org/details/kitethatwonrevolOO00asim
Th KITE
that Won the
REVOLUTION
Other Houghton Mifilin books
by Isaac Asimov
Breakthroughs in Science
Realm of Numbers
Realm of Measure
Realm of Algebra
Words of Science
Words on the Map
Words from the Myths
Words in Genesis
Words from the Exodus
apo IM IE IP le
‘y that Won the ‘W
Roge WOREIBE IMEOMI N|
Isaac Asimov
Illustrated by Victor Mays
HOUGHTON MIFFLIN COMPANY BOSTON
The Riverside Press Cambridge
Riverside City College Library
Riverside, California
[email protected] AB 1963
Asimov, Isaac, 1928-199e.
The kite that won the
Revolution.
SECOND PRINTING Cc
COPYRIGHT ©) 1963 By ISAAC ASIMOV
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INCLUDING THE RIGHT TO REPRODUCE
THIS BOOK OR PARTS THEREOF IN ANY FORM
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CATALOG CARD NUMBER: 63-15272
PRINTED IN THE U.S.A.
GeO sINe ee INS
France to the Rescue!
Gold from the Sea
The Ball of Sulfur
The Two Fluids
The Shocking Jar
The Self-Made Man
Positive and Negative
The Hammer of Thor
The Pointed Umbrella
oOHDWBWNYOROowOD
The Idea of Union 101
Failure in England LZ
Success in France 2
—_YEO eOe
13 The Nation Completed 136
Postscript A Hundred Years Later 144